Beauty in Suffering

It's not what they're supposed to look like. In fact they look very unhealthy. I had caught a glimpse of some leaves to the side of the forest road in Kamalasai and noticed the sickly leaves. "But", I thought, "they are very pretty".



The leaves appear to have some sort of disease that turned the edges white, but left a green pattern near the veins. There is beauty in the leaves that was brought about by the affliction. This got me thinking, what I am like when I am not well or when things are not going well? Do I get more beautiful? Or do I just turn withered and brown? Do I suffer gracefully? Or do I gripe and complain?

I always marvel at those who are inflicted with some kind of disability, but who seem to be consistently joyful. I'm not sure I could pull that off. There is a scripture related to this that I find particularly challenging. James writes, "My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials." (James 1:2 - NET) Paul writes in a similar vein, "in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NET)

In everything, really?! In good times AND bad?

When I read these verses, I'm tempted to answer, "No! I don't want to." For me to respond any other way definitely requires the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, and I don't always pull that off successfully.

It's interesting that the Bible's most famous book on the topic of suffering addresses this very point. When Satan was going to test Job, he said to God, "But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!” (Job 1:11 NET). Job's response to the temptation was, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!” (Job 1:21) And the writer adds this commentary to it: "In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety." (Job 1:22)

From this we see that the non-sinful response to trials is to respond with grace. The implication is that to respond in another fashion could be sinful.

God, by Your Holy Spirit enable me to go through trials with grace. May may life become more beautiful in the face of challenges, like these leaves I saw in the forest.