Learning Through Suffering

Hebrews 5:7-9

I remember the morning that we were informed that we had lost our first baby. It was as if time froze, and then slowly thawed as things began to move in slow motion. I remember looking at the lips of our doctor. Her lips were moving, but I’m not sure if I heard anything else that she was saying. My wife and I were devastated. We waited for 6 years to have a child after we were told by certain doctors that we wouldn’t be able to have children...and then God produced a miracle. My wife was pregnant. I remember decorating the baby room and reading books about being a good father. We made plans...and then...devastation. Have you ever experienced suffering that just knocked the wind right out of your faith? I remember praying to my Heavenly Father, begging him to preserve the life of my baby. I could not believe that He allowed my baby to die.

In Hebrews 5:7,8, it says, “While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.” Can you imagine that Jesus had to “learn” obedience? Didn’t Jesus already know everything? Sometimes I forget that Jesus Christ, the Word that became flesh, gave up his divine power to become a little lower than the angels. Everything that Jesus did on earth, he did it through the power of the Holy Spirit in accordance to the fulfillment of his Father’s will. So, as the time for his sacrificial death approached, he knelt down to pray, asking his Dad to take this cup of suffering away from him. Understanding the plan that was set in motion, before the foundation of the earth was laid, Jesus submitted to the will of his Father and said, “...not my will, let YOUR will be done.” God heard his prayer. God had the power to end his Son’s suffering, but His will was for Jesus to be the Savior of the world. During this experience, Jesus “learned” obedience through suffering. The word “learned” in Greek is “manthano”, and it means “to increase one’s knowledge” or “learn by use and practice”. Jesus’ knowledge of submitting to the will of the Father increased as he suffered the indignity and the inhumanity of the cross. His knowledge of suffering was for our benefit, and God qualified him as the perfect High Priest for us. Because of his obedience, there is nothing that you or I can experience or suffer, that Jesus Christ has not already experienced and defeated in victory. We have victory in Jesus because he learned obedience through his suffering. Our faith is increased because of his obedience. Our hope is not reality because of his obedience. We can walk in confidence because of his obedience.

Why did God allow us to lose our first child? Was it His will that I would suffer such a loss? Who knows? Perhaps I will never know the specific answer to those questions, but this is what I do know. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me. I know that he has only the best plans and intentions for me. I know that His perfect will is exactly what I need in my life. I also know, that if my baby was alive, I would have never invited Christina (Tina) and Christopher (Pablo) Suida into my life. These are our two eldest, out of the four beautiful children that the Lord has blessed us with. I love them just like they were my own flesh and blood. We provided a safe environment, in our home, for them to experience love and hope. I was able to see my eldest daughter graduate from high school and become a strong woman. I was able to witness my eldest son, serve his country in Iraq, and develop into a man with purpose. As much as I have provided love and security for them, they taught me how to love in ways I didn’t think was possible. Having these two individuals in my life have impacted how I pastor, how I serve, how I love, how I pray, and how I forgive. I learned obedience through my suffering. I became a better dad through my suffering. I became a better husband through my suffering. I became a better pastor through my suffering. Our Heavenly Father will always work things out together for our good. Just trust Him today, even as you increase your knowledge through suffering.

Now that’s Good Word!