Published on July 7, 2024, 1:24 am

The power of suffering and the depth of grace that it often generates is an aspect discernible within Christian theology. Like a sonorous melody, it resonates throughout eternity, touching every soul and the heart of God Himself. Pain is not merely an isolated incident; it undisputably reverberates within our Creator’s heart. It prompts His divine response, imbuing us with courage as we navigate life’s tumultuous fires. These cleansing flames refine us into the genuine children of God – participants in His divine nature and peace.

As an exploration based on personal experience, I look back upon a year transpired since my wife parted from our world. The arduous one-and-a-half-year journey marked by a prevailing battle against cancer was delicately etched onto my daily diary pages. An account intended to open up more intensely down the lane, but for now bears witness to my ongoing struggle faced especially during her most painful periods.

During these testing times, solace came ironically enough through pain itself – lending perspective to our Christian worldview of hurt and healing. As depicted beautifully in verses from Psalms that brought inevitable comfort during bleak days or words from notable authors who endured countless torments only to echo more profoundly about God’s prevailing grace.

Amongst those renowned authors – Elisabeth Elliot, Joni Eareckson Tada, C.S Lewis and Timothy Keller – lies George MacDonald (1824-1905), whose writings were a rich repository on topics ranging from pain to grief; grace to God; suffering being central amongst them all.

MacDonald penned immortal lines such as, “Afflictions are but the shadow of His wings”, implying each tribulation is under God’s sovereign control. He suggested that divine goodness trumps terrestrial comfort while constructing life’s dwelling – advocating for moral virtue over physical ease because it offers something lasting rather than fleeting contentment.

In testament to this trust in God’s sustaining presence amidst suffering, another profound quote reads: “Dear friend, trust in him who must love you better than you love your little children. He will be with you in your pain, and you will be able to bear it.”

The manifestation of divine will is to attain harmony through acceptance of life’s trials. Even in face of the most profound anguish, it retains its beneficial lightness because the bearer shares this yoke with God Himself – an inference drawn from a famous assertion by MacDonald considering the weight of pain borne by Jesus.

To summarize, MacDonald’s insights – embedded within his life journey painted against a backdrop of real news and trusted news sources – provide comforting perspectives on understanding suffering from the Christian worldview – not as meaningless pain but as transformational incidents within our lives that ultimately connect us more closely with God.