confusion about thriving amidst suffering

The second hand sandals on her feet couldn’t begin to protect from the harsh Haitian conditions, even if the strap on them wasn’t broken. You couldn't guess the original color of her shirt through all the dust and excessive wear. Her pants cut off at her shins, not as a fashion statement, but because her waist is so thin she needs pants five sizes short just so they stay up. With her limbs so slim it seems impossible she can even walk, the fact that she has the ability to carry her sister at the same time simply must be described as a miracle. Neck down she can be described as dismal.

Looking her in the eyes though that adjective seems laughable. While she might not always tote the childish gleam you wish every kid had, she certainly radiates. Whenever you look at her, you witness and unmistakable joy. It’s confusing, while you can’t miss her joy its source is all but unrecognizable. Her mother dropped off the grid nearly a month ago, her family just scrapes by, she’s only nine and as long as she can remember she has been the primary care giver of her two sisters and  yet she has this delight you can’t quite explain. Then you see her siblings smile and suddenly it makes sense! Her bliss exists simply in knowing she got her sisters through another day, that she has preserved their smiles over one more night.

The last couple weeks here have been hard. The work load has been heavy, exhaustion has had me in its grip and one thing after another discouraged me till it felt like I’d just burst. This Thursday though, reading 1 Peter 4, my purpose was revived. Repeatedly the Bible tells us to suffer like Christ. When we look at Christ’s greatest suffering on the cross we see that it was done for our sake, Christ suffered out of love for men. Without a doubt Jesus has no regrets, certainly every time someone puts their faith in God Jesus has immense appreciation for his suffering on the cross.

Life comes with a lot of suffering, sometimes we get called to it, sometimes we choose it unnecessarily, sometimes it simply falls in our laps. It’s easy to allow these trial to bind us, to retreat from honest pursuits in fear of persecution, to ignore your own decisions that have lead you to pain or to just wallow in misfortune. Easily this young Haitian girl could mope, drop her head in defeat and let her destitute situation rule her. Unknowingly though she has opted for something more. Everyday waking up and resolving to strive for her sisters betterment she gains a win over her tribulation. In spite of the rest she has joy because she suffers like Christ, in order to uplift others! Don’t grant trials the power to bog you down or make you stagnant, instead grow through them so your suffering is not in vain and love others because in that there is always joy! Suffer like Jesus, always loving others!