Pain and Suffering, Part 4 – Transformation
Cross in Silhouette, Photograph taken in Sri Lanka by AntanO, (CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported)
“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
–CS Lewis in “The Problem of Pain”
Our pain and suffering may be so great that they change our lives forever. We may be forced to abandon a career we valued highly, may no longer be able to complete household tasks that once came easily. We may lose a loved one who was dearer to us than life.
Hope
“When we become aware that we do not have to escape our pains, but that we can mobilize them into a common search for life, those very pains are transformed from expressions of despair into signs of hope.”
–Henri Nouwen in “The Wounded Healer”
Though Christians may grieve such eventualities, we do not grieve as the world does without hope. We know that our life is in Christ. Our identity, our purpose, and our Salvation derive from our relationship with Him. And Christ never abandons us (Phil. 4: 19).
A Calling
Since Christ is always with us, not only does He understand our pain, He agonizes with us. No tear goes unnoticed (Ps. 56: 8). Likewise, we are called to suffer with Him, to carry our cross and follow Him (1 Peter 2: 21).
We may consider our careers as a calling, a vocation, the very reason we were put on this earth. That is not wrong. But God’s view of us is far larger. He sees the full sweep of our lives – from infancy to old age. Suffering (whatever form it takes, however long it lasts) is a calling unto itself.
Some are called to be blind. Some are called to be cancer patients. Some are called to suffer from the ravages of Parkinson’s Disease, or to watch their loved ones suffer with that devastating illness.
“What is good in any painful experience is, for the sufferer, his submission to the will of God, and, for the spectators, the compassion aroused and the acts of mercy to which it leads.”
–CS Lewis in “The Problem of Pain”
This does not make Christians masochists. We do not relish pain or seek it out, certainly not for its own sake. Nor do we believe that we are entitled to nothing better. The best, however, we know will come in the next life. We are assured of that (John 14: 2-3; 2 Cor. 4: 17 and 5: 1; Phil. 1: 23).
Transformation
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3: 18).
Christians strive to imitate Christ’s conduct and His character. The ongoing work of the Holy Spirit transforms us into His image. Suffering plays a major part in this. There is no way around it.
“…it is natural for us to wish that God had designed for us a less glorious and less arduous destiny; but then we are wishing not for more love but for less.”
–CS Lewis in “The Problem of Pain”
Parts 1, 2, and 3 in this series were posted 9/14, 9/21, and 9/28/25, respectively
READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse
https://avoicereclaimed.com
A Lawyer's Prayers 
So appreciative of this series, dear Anna, and for the above. As you know, I also have great appreciation for the perspectives of CS Lewis and Henri Nouwen on the matter of pain and suffering. Just a few days ago I visited a member of my previous congregation. He was the church treasurer and did a very good job. I saw him in a frail care center just a few hundred meters away. I was shocked when first seeing him, enjoying a juice at a table with his wife. He only recognized me when I took off my specs. He is suffering from very severe Parkinson’s Disease. He looked thin and gaunt, somewhat lost, sitting in a wheel chair because unable to walk, his wife is no longer able to physically take care of him. When I read your blog above, I could immediately relate to John’s suffering, in a pastoral way at least. I always appreciate the practicality of what you write. Thanks and warm greetings!
You are so kind to me, Erroll. I’m truly grateful to have been of some small use. ❤
The issue of suffering is one I have wrestled over most of my life. I spent years as an atheist, as the result of childhood abuse. Innocent, unexplained suffering was the source of my anger at God. It was only when I realized He had suffered w/ me that I managed to regain my faith.
God’s love is overwhelming. Circumstances blind us to it. But it is what sustains us all.
Another wounded healer… praise God.
It is a wonder to me how that each facet of our lives is not only known by our Father, but that each facet is being woven into a vessel of honor. Every trial, every pain, every disappointment, and every tear is being used to conform us into the image of Christ. Further proof that we are not our own.
So true. Pain hurts, but in Christ it brings growth and hope. He never leaves us. 🙏
💕
Phil. 3:10 says, ““My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” I wonder if we do not experience “the power of His resurrection” the most through “the fellowship of His sufferings.” We have been called to this, as you rightly point out.
Pain is easier to bear when we allow God to use it as a means for transformation (that will bring its own form of shalom), and focus on the glorious hope to come, especially as we run our race with perseverance. Thank you for these meaningful scriptures and quotes, Anna. I too greatly appreciate the wisdom of C. S. Lewis and Henri Nouwen.
great posts. Glad I could drop By. Thank you dear and God’s richest Blessings always.
Thank you so much, Faye. May God bless you richly, as well. ❤