“The only way through it, is through it! Every day, I or someone in my life has an experience of suffering: pain, grief, illness, depression, heartache, disillusionment, loss-suffering is always present in life. God does not promise that faith will eliminate suffering. God does not require that we be grateful for, or happy about suffering. God promises that, in both our sufferings and our joys, he is with us, whether we are aware of it or not. If we ask, God will give us the grace we need to move through suffering to new life. I would prefer God to give me the grace to move around suffering to new life, but, as my Passionist friends are fond of reminding me, “The only way through it, is through it!”

A Passionist once said to me, “Life brings you to the foot of the Cross, but when you arrive, you see it isn’t you, it’s Jesus hanging there.” Our suffering is real, and Jesus totally understands suffering. It is difficult to stay faithful to God when we feel abandoned. Jesus has been through that too, and models how it’s done-by staying with the pain, dying if necessary, and allowing the Father to bring us back to life.”

Dianne Cotton, 2.28.08


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