Sorrow in Suffering

“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful” (Hebrews 12:11).  Trusting God in afflictions does not make those afflictions painless.  The effect of faith is patience in suffering; it does not make suffering enjoyable.  Faith enlightens the mind, so that we can rightly judge the outcome of suffering.  If we judge God’s care and love for us by how we feel in the midst of affliction, we will conclude that He has no concern for us.  Faith concludes that God is good and loving because it judges afflictions by the outcome, by the ultimate purpose of them.  Faith is necessary so that we look beyond the present pain to the blessed outcome.