240924 Suffering

 Suffering

Why is there so much suffering 

For it is such a dreadful thing

This world is full of pain and grief 

Feels never ending; no relief

Why do so many suffer so

Why their story a tale of woe

Be it from loss or some affliction 

Hardship, depression or addiction 

There's suffering for every man

But, that was never the Lord's plan

Exactly when did it begin

When the first man said yes to sin

For sin brought with it much distress

Creating world that's quite a mess

One filled with anguish, trauma, pain

Root cause of all of it - sin's stain

Yes, there is suffering everywhere 

And we all have a cross to bear

We Christians don't get off scot-free

When Jesus says to, "Follow me."

In fact, when Christ knocks at our door

We may be called to suffer more

But suffering in Jesus's name

Is how we defeat Satan's game

While no one welcomes suffering 

There's godly lessons it can bring

Gain strength, endurance, patience, more 

When tribulation, we endure

And oh, what empathy we bring

To those who share our suffering 

For when we share what we've been through 

It helps them to survive it, too

If suffering on earth's a must

Then, let it be a source of trust 

That, despite all suffering we do

Our God's in the midst of it too

For Christ suffered much more than we

When he hung on that cursed tree

Yet, willingly endured the price

For future glory in paradise 

And through Christ, we've that future, too

This suffering world - we're passing through 

And when we step through heaven's door

Pain, tears, mourning will be no more