Theophilus Cafe is a place where we can have a running dialogue based on a question or issue that I post. Think of the Cafe as a virtual coffee house where you can gather with your friends and discuss the posted topic or just reflect on it. Please post your thoughts or response on this topic in the comments. So the question today is: Can there be joy in suffering?
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Nothing is so joyous as the moment suffering ceases. Without distress, would we have an appropriate definition for joy? So often we define phonomena in terms of its opposite…right v. wrong, up v. down, high v. low, etc. One may take satisfaction is knowing that one’s suffering resulted in less stress or pain, and greater opportunity for happiness in another. Certainly the labor of love parents extend towards their children is designed to facilitate the ability of the children to succeed in life, ideally, without suffering the same agonizing experiences of the parents.
Sort of makes me think about 1 Peter 4,13 which says, “But rejoice insofar as you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when His glory is revealed.” By suffering we share in the meaning of Christ’s passion and our joy is eternal life with God.