How I Deal With Suffering

[Ziggamafu]

I used to struggle intensely with the reality of suffering and heartbreak. It is easy to, more or less, to be "okay" with suffering, given sin (etcetera), when it falls upon people that have tended to be blessed or when it falls upon people that have tended to act wickedly. However, when suffering falls upon a child or mentally handicapped person or the lonely elders it is much more heart-wrenching. It used to overwhelm me from time to time.

Now that I am Catholic, my perspective has changed immensely and has helped me to deal with suffering and the nagging, ever ready exclamation, "it isn't fair!"

1. We do not deserve to exist.
- Yet God wills us into being and, of and in God's love, we suddenly "deserve" to exist. By the choice of omnipotent infinity, to play a role in His plan, we gain the privilege of existence by God's grace.

2. Because of the stain of original sin, we do deserve (upon our initial existence) to immediately die.
- Yet by God's grace some of us may continue to exist...for awhile.

3. Because of a single sin (or because of sin's stain), if we exist for awhile, we deserve nothing but horrific suffering.
- Yet by God's grace, some of us suffer less than continuously, less than horrifically.

4. Because of a single sin (or because of sin's stain), if we suffer little, we certainly do not deserve luxuries, indulgences, or pleasures of any kind.
- Yet by God's grace, some of us may receive such enjoyments.

5. Because of a single sin (or because of sin's stain), all of us (no matter what quality of life we have been given) deserve to die a horrific death of terrible suffering.
- Yet by God's grace, some of us may have a less than horrific death.

6. Because of a single sin (or because of sin's stain), we all deserve eternal Hell.
- Yet by God's grace, we may choose Heaven.

[b]7.[/b] We all deserve to go through life with no hope, in despair of suffering and dreading sorrow.
[b]- Yet by God's grace in the Body of Christ - the afflictions and sufferings of which produce redemption, merit, and graces of all kinds - we may assign meaning to suffering and, in the midst of sorrow, yet offer it up with a mysterious joy, confidently hoping in the effects that suffering procures. [/b]

How do I apply all this to my life? Every day I remind myself - with each luxury and pleasure I enjoy, especially the love of / from my children - of the things I actually [i]deserve[/i], and that everything else, everything that I enjoy so undeservingly, is ever-so-fragile [i]grace [/i]from God. This helps me realize, concretely, how good God is (and consequently may grant me and anyone else the grace of perfect contrition). Although instinct sometimes prompts me to say something is "unfair", I am quickly able to check and correct myself. Such a correction is liberating.

Basically:

1. Suffering, while still remaining painful, now seems beautiful and joyful.
2. Suffering, while its timing may remain mysterious, now seems useful for prayer intentions.
3. I recognize God's goodness much more powerfully and with greater frequency.
4. I appreciate the loves and pleasures in my life (and recognize their fleeting nature) MUCH more.

As a Catholic, I now cannot fathom the Gospel being divorced from redemptive suffering / vicarious atonement.

[N/A Gone]

I disagree with parts of it, but I feel if that ideology helps your faith I will not comment on it. But I know that kind of theodicy would be a stumble for me to agree with.

I wrote something kind of related a little bit ago. Here you go

[url="http://catholicneophyte.blogspot.com/2007/09/sept-11th-is-it-gods-fault.html#links"]http://catholicneophyte.blogspot.com/2007/...ault.html#links[/url]

[Ziggamafu]

[quote name='Revprodeji' post='1385463' date='Sep 14 2007, 11:51 AM']I disagree with parts of it, but I feel if that ideology helps your faith I will not comment on it. But I know that kind of theodicy would be a stumble for me to agree with.

I wrote something kind of related a little bit ago. Here you go

[url="http://catholicneophyte.blogspot.com/2007/09/sept-11th-is-it-gods-fault.html#links"]http://catholicneophyte.blogspot.com/2007/...ault.html#links[/url][/quote]

What would cause a stumble?

Apart from Christ, according to a just God's infinite holiness, a single sin or even the stain of sin causes a person to justly deserve infinite punishment. Through, with, and (most especially) in Christ, we have God's grace, which not only gives us the opportunity for Heaven, but redefines suffering into a positive thing.

By definition, "grace" is not something one deserves.
Apart from grace we would still deserve all horror.

Certain graces are, with our cooperation, guaranteed (the opportunity of Heaven in the sacraments). Every other grace in this earthly life is fragile and fleeting; dependent on our own faith and / or dependent on God's plan.

Edited September 14, 2007 by Ziggamafu

[kafka]

I recommend this book concerning suffering:

Making Sense Out of Suffering by Peter Kreeft

[PapaHilarious]

[quote name='Ziggamafu' post='1385382' date='Sep 14 2007, 08:07 AM']1. Suffering, while still remaining painful, now seems beautiful and joyful.
2. Suffering, while its timing may remain mysterious, now seems useful for prayer intentions.
3. I recognize God's goodness much more powerfully and with greater frequency.
4. I appreciate the loves and pleasures in my life (and recognize their fleeting nature) MUCH more.

As a Catholic, I now cannot fathom the Gospel being divorced from redemptive suffering / vicarious atonement.[/quote]

Thanks for sharing, Z. I too have dealt with much personal suffering in my short lifetime, particularly years of severe depression, addiction, and my father's suicide. Though I can appreciate the light you've found in your trials, I would take a slightly different perspective as opposed to saying we "deserve" the negative things in life, like living with no hope.

Your thoughts are a reflection of The Fall, of course, but I would take it back further to Creation and remember that we were created in the image of God and always intended for faith, hope, and love. That we gravitate toward despair at times or share in genetic weaknesses and such is no surprise, being the consequence of our sin. (So it goes without saying that you are right on this.)

But I have found it to be a much more rewarding disposition to focus on the [i]half-full[/i] mentality of our original design over our acquired flaws. After all, what a brilliant, shining light it is to remember God's design for us when we are in our darkest hours! Obviously, it would be a tragedy if we were lost, but the fact that - as Catholics - we work toward the Kingdom of God in this lifetime even amidst our weaknesses is an awesome bit of the divine.

That's just some of my thoughts on the topic, but thanks again for bringing it up. God bless.


-Brian

ps - You can read more about my story in my new book [i][url="http://www.lulu.com/content/861316"]On the Death of My Father: Finding Community through Faith, Hope, and Love[/url][/i].

[PapaHilarious]

[quote name='kafka' post='1385477' date='Sep 14 2007, 11:21 AM']I recommend this book concerning suffering:

Making Sense Out of Suffering by Peter Kreeft[/quote]


Peter Kreeft isn't selling books to feed his unborn child, [url="http://www.lulu.com/content/861316"]like me[/url], but I guess you can check him out too

[Ziggamafu]

I am a big fan of Kreeft.

Wow, the intent of my post was definitely not to be a downer! Yes, we bear the image of God and we are fundamentally "good", though corrupted by sin. I don't mean to sound too Clavinistic, here. Nevertheless, because of sin we truly do deserve all horror. That's what makes our ability to pray for happiness and peace and our ability to enjoy the fruits of Heaven in (or from) the Church all the more awesome. The point of my post was to emphasize that and to make it easier to find a sort of contentment in the midst of sorrow.

[let_go_let_God]

I think that this is very well written. Thanks for posting it, it came at a really good time for me.

God bless-
LGLG

[N/A Gone]

[quote name='Ziggamafu' post='1385501' date='Sep 14 2007, 02:27 PM']I don't mean to sound too Clavinistic, here.[/quote]


Thats what I reacted to. Sorry about that.