Suffering Worthy of Honor

     What am I really made of? Do I have what it takes? How will I know? No matter what anyone tells me, until I know for myself, all comments are second-hand. In order for knowledge of myself to have depth of meaning, it must be discovered first hand. The only means for this knowledge is through suffering. When I have journeyed deep into the canyons of suffering, only then will I be in a position to experience a “rising up.”

     True and authentic character is formed in the crucible of suffering. Virtue is the deep-seated alloy of iron and carbon of character. It must be refined through intense hardship. Humility, temperance, courage, wisdom and justice; faith, hope and love (the nuclei of Christlikeness) are proven in the heart of suffering. Conversely, the notion that Christian faith provides a comfortable life suitable to our tastes quickly incinerates in the inferno of extreme adversity.

     What is real, what is truly worthy of honor, is all that will survive suffering. The resurrection of Christ emulates this principle. By looking into the Passion of the Lamb, we look into the marvelous mystery of character formation. We discover death to self and resurrection to eternal salvation.


“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered, and once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…”

- Hebrews 5:7-8

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the nave that is above every name…”

- Philippians 2:6-9