When You Have What You Don’t Want or Want What You Don’t Have

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NLT

 More that thirty years ago I was listening to a cassette recording (Remember those?!) of the well-known author and speaker, Elisabeth Elliot. In her message she defined suffering as “having what you don’t want or wanting what you don’t have.” That concept encompassed every listener. It changed how I viewed suffering.

Are you going through a hard time right now? According to Elisabeth Elliott’s definition, you are suffering. How are you finding comfort? What if the path to comfort is through your suffering?

Suffering is anything that disrupts comfort. At the time, we were living in my parents' basement with two toddlers. It seemed like that time would never end. I was unhappy, frustrated, and struggling. All I wanted was a home of my own. I wanted what I didn’t have and had what I didn’t want. By Elisabeth Elliott’s definition, I was suffering. Her message went on to describe a faith-filled response to suffering: Worship and Offering. She encouraged her listeners —she encouraged me — to bring the suffering to Jesus and offer it to Him as an act of worship. That changed everything. That led to comfort.

Suffering comes before comfort. If you are not suffering, you don’t need comfort, do you? We often think of comfort as a glassy, sunlit, calm sea. A life with no troubles. That isn’t comfort, although it is peace. Peace is a by-product of comfort. But comfort has to do with relief, and relief comes after trouble.

Dear friend, there is a promise from Jesus that we often ignore. In the Gospel of John 16:33, Jesus promises that in this world we WILL have trouble. There are no “ifs” in that statement. But He also encourages us to take heart because He HAS overcome the world. Receiving comfort, relief in trouble, starts with accepting that we are experiencing trouble instead of trying to skip over it. Once we accept that we are in a suffering situation, we know where to turn to receive comfort. We come to Jesus in worship and offer Him our trouble because He has overcome it. He gives us what we need to overcome it as well, even if the circumstance never changes. This is what I have learned through many, many experiences.

Comfort that lasts comes from Christ. You may try to comfort yourself in many ways, and there isn’t anything wrong with that as long as you recognize that it is temporary. Comfort that lasts only comes through your relationships with Christ.

I can remember so many moments over the years when Jesus showed up in my season of suffering. In my kitchen, in my car, in a worship service, in a conversation with a friend, or a moment of prayer with my husband, Jesus has met me. I might recall the perfect scripture that applies to the situation. Or I might remember a song full of His truth and sing it out loud. Or I might simply experience His presence in a way that reminds me He is walking with me through it all. Any of those experiences changed how I approached the suffering going forward. The situation causing the suffering did not change. I did. The best part of it all is that my relationship with Jesus was deeper and sweeter. Those moments have shaped who I am now, and I am grateful.

 Dear friend, whatever you are going through right now may be exceptionally difficult. Your tendency may be to try to skip over the suffering and try to make yourself feel better, to find comfort in something other than Christ.

May I encourage you to come to Jesus in worship and offer that suffering to Him? He will meet you right where you are, in the middle of that trouble. And He will give you the comfort you need. Comfort that lasts and comfort that will transform you.

 Key Question: How does suffering lead to comfort?

A Scripture to Consider: “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NLT

A YES Challenge: What would it look like to come to Jesus in the middle of your difficult situation and offer Him the situation and yourself as an act of worship?

Prayer: Dear Lord, You know exactly what is happening in my life right now. You know the thing that I want that I don’t have. You know the thing I have that I don’t want. I come to You now, Lord. Somehow, I have to believe that You want to bring good out of this in my life. I offer it to You now. I would love for You to change the situation, but if You choose not to, I ask You to change me. Amen.

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