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By Michaela Gordoni
Fox News’ Shannon Bream believes suffering is part of spiritual maturity.
“So I think suffering matures us and makes us more Christlike if that’s what our ultimate goal is to be more Christlike. I did not come out of the womb Christlike. I came out selfish and I came out self-centered,” she explained in a podcast with Allie Beth Stuckey.
“So while I wouldn’t choose suffering, I do see the purpose of it for maturing me,” Bream added.
Stuckey agreed, adding that suffering in short run is sometimes best in the long run.
“And I think like as a parent, there are things, disciplines that are good for my children that in the moment seem like suffering, eating vegetables, eating their chicken, things like that,” she said. “Yes, they would perceive in the moment it to be loving if I gave them ice cream and cupcakes for dinner, they would. But if I fed them that every night, they would actually look back and say, ‘Well, why didn’t my mom ever give me healthy food? Now I’m riddled with all of these health problems.’”
Her children don’t understand why it’s important, and sometimes Stuckey can’t explain it to them fully.
“It’s my 4-year-old, and she doesn’t have the capacity. It would make her angrier and more confused. Actually, sometimes I just have to say, ‘No, this is what you’re going to do. Trust that I love you,’” Stuckey said.
“And I think if that is the gap of understanding between two finite people who are just, you know, a couple decades apart, then how much of a gap of understanding is between an infinite God and us,” she said.
What these women speak about is also in scripture. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James is basically saying that trials develop strength and maturity.
Pastor Robby Lashua emphasized that suffering has “eternal benefit” as your response to a difficult situation can make you more like Christ.
Pastor Andrew M. Davis said, “suffering is indispensable to Christian maturity. No one grows by painless pleasure. We grow by suffering the chisel strokes of the master craftsman.”
Remember that suffering is not there for suffering’s sake. There’s a spiritual purpose — and it just may be for your benefit.
Read Next: Shannon Bream Shares How God’s Word Is Relevant for Women Today
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