Page 26 - Y Mind

Samson Basumatary SJ

CAN THERE BE

MEANING IN SUFFERING?

n Isaiah 49:15 the Lord says, “Can a woman He really loves and cares for each one of us.
Iforget her nursing child, or show no com- Today all the people, young and old, even
passion for the child in her womb’’. God as- children seem to be in despair. Hope itself
sures us that He would never forget us even seems to be threatened. In the place of hope,
if a mother should forget her child. In the we encounter fear and anxiety. Perhaps it is
present situation of the corona virus out- because God wants us to embrace the truth

break, this is one of the most reassuring vers- that our problems, difficulties and disap-
es in the Bible to those who live amidst this pointments are not means to punish but to
suffering of the pandemic to the point of sanctify us. Each suffering is an opportuni-
doubting whether God has abandoned them. ty to grow closer to God. The more we grow
God never abandons or forgets us, even if a closer to Him, the more we can love Him.
mother forgets her baby. In the following And the more we love Him, the more we de-
verse He goes on to say, “See, I have inscribed sire to serve Him. God carefully allows the
you on the palms of my hand’’, Is 49-16. trial of this world to be an opportunity to
Needless to say, no one desires or enjoys mould us and shape us more into His image.

suffering and pain. They are, however, inevi- We need to be convinced that every prob-
table parts of our temporal life on earth. Dif- lem is an opportunity to grow in becoming
ficulties are bound to come and they can be a better person and in our faith. However,
blessings in disguise. In times of difficulties, we tend to become bitter rather than bet-
we naturally turn to God and seek His help. ter, when we are faced with suffering. Suf-
If everything was always alright and wonder- fering can either make us or break us, de-
ful, do you think we would need God and pending on our reaction to the situation.
seek Him? Probably not. God whispers to We need to keep in mind that God never
us in our joy, speaks to us in our conscience gives us more suffering than we can bear. We

but cries aloud to us in our pain in sufferings. will never have to suffer more than we can en-
Perhaps if everything was always per- dure, especially if we have faith in God. Also

fect, we would become lazy, hedonistic we should remember that every trial, suffer-
and selfish. At times, it is through the suf- ing or hardship will come to an end. In fact,
ferings and difficulties that we are giv- if we have patience and trust in God’s care,
en the opportunities to develop our trust we are often able to look back on our past
in God and experience His love for us. For, trials with thanksgiving and appreciation..

25 Young Minds 2020