Is There Really Joy in Suffering?

Why me?  When something bad happens to us, don't we always resort to this question?  What if we turn that around and ask God the same thing when something good happens?  Why am I the one who got the first place ribbon in the contest?  Why was I chosen to receive that scholarship, versus someone else?  Why do I have abundant blessings when others around me seem to have less?  ​It's a mystery.  

I think we can all agree that no one likes suffering.  It stinks!  But it is a necessary part of this life.  Why?  Because our Savior, Jesus Christ suffered.  He suffered for us and opened those gates of heaven so we could be saved.  Why then aren't we willing to suffer too? 

​If we can think of suffering as a privilege instead of a curse, we can make it a joyful experience.  The privilege is being like Christ.  When we endure pain and suffering, we can make a free will act of offering that suffering up to God in an act of love for someone else or even for our own salvation.  We can attain grace through that act and apply it, with God's blessing, to the salvation of another soul. 

​God is so great about including us in His saving power.  He doesn't need our help in saving souls, but He gives us the opportunity to cleanse our own souls by being selfless and offering our sufferings for someone else.  It's a gift.  It's a grace.  It's love and that is what this life is all about...LOVE. 

​So the next time you want to say, "Why me?" just remember that this is your opportunity to pick up your cross, like Jesus, and carry it with joy.  Don't forget to offer that suffering up for the salvation of someone else and you will receive abundant grace in the process.