13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Even the best Christian can get discouraged at times. Sometimes we get discouraged, not because of our circumstances, but because of the circumstances of others. We care about the other to such an extent that when they are struggling, we feel defeated, pulled down by their struggle. There is something fulfilling is this type of genuine empathy. I know that sounds strange; how can feeling discouraged be a good thing? But in that empathy we are reflecting the character of God. When we hurt, He hurts. Remember that He was touched with the feelings of our infirmities (Hebrews 4:15). He can sympathize with us. So when we are connected to others in such a way that when they hurt we feel it; that is a godlike connection. When we hear news of Christians in other parts of the world being kidnapped and tortured because of their faith and our hearts breaks and we weep before the Lord on their behalf; that is a reflection of God’s response. When we callously flip the channel of our mind to a more pleasant topic and are untouched, that is not a response that radiates the character of God. Willingness to be in pain and suffering so that others benefit is. We should not necessarily run from suffering and pain. I’m not suggesting that we run to it, only that we don’t run away from it. Several years ago, during some of my pastoral training, a very wise supervisor told me that I should lean into the pain, rather than shying away from it. As I have done that over the years I have learned more from staying with the pain than I could every have learned from running away from the pain. Believe me when I say, I still don’t enjoy pain, either my own or someone else’s. But I don’t automatically run from the lessons to be learned either. And the glimpses and whispers of God that I have experienced in those times of leaning in are more precious than all the possessions of the riches man on earth. I now know the reality of God.
The Arnold Journey 