by Rev Douglas Brauner

God’s grace works even in suffering.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

The older I get, the more I feel like this tree. It has endured much throughout its long life.

There is beauty in the brokenness of life.

This tree rode out near hurricane force winds two days before I took this picture. Other trees in this park toppled to the power of the wind, trees that were more protected than this one. I would guess that some of the branches now littering its trunk were part of the tree before the storm.

This tree has experienced the brokenness of living, yet it is that brokenness that has shaped its character.

“We know that suffering creates endurance, endurance creates character, and character creates confidence. We’re not ashamed to have this confidence, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” 
Romans 5:3b-5 God’s Word to the Nations

Suffering is one way that God creates character. It’s not the only way he sculpts our lives. God uses all things for the good of those who love him, and who have been called by his gracious will (Romans 8:28). The ups, downs, joys, and sorrows we experience are all a part of God’s way of shaping our character.

However, we can not deny that God uses pain to mold who we are.

This tree is beautiful in part because of its suffering. We are beautiful in part because of our suffering. We don’t have to pray for suffering to come our way. Remember we live in world crushed by sin, which produces all sorts of suffering. God’s grace in Jesus’ suffering transcends the destructive power of pain.

I’ve dealt with chronic back pain for over four years. I’ve had procedures which have helped reduce the pain. I’ve been through physical therapy, and back adjustments. I had a long series of acupuncture treatments. I have good, and bad, days, but through it all God has shaped my character because of the pain.

As counter intuitive as it seems…pain has not destroyed me, but shaped my character. May God open our eyes to see how he uses suffering to shape our character, and may we see this movement as a gift of his grace.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado