Hardtimescomeforallinlife,withnorealexplanation.Whenwewalkthroughsuffering,ithasthepotentialtodevastateanddestroy,ortobethegatewaytogratitudeandjoy.ElisabethElliotwasnostrangertosuffering.Herfirsthusband,Jim,wasmurderedbytheWaoronipeopleinEcuadormomentsafterhearrivedinhopesofsharingthegospel.Hersecondhusbandwaslosttocancer.Yet,itwasinherdeepestsufferingthatshelearnedthedeepestlessonsaboutGod.Whydoesn’tGoddosomethingaboutsuffering?Hehas,Hedid,Heis,andHewill.Sufferingandloveareinexplicablylinked,asGod’sloveforHispeopleisevidencedinHissendingJesustocarryoursins,griefs,andsufferingsonthecross,sacrificiallytakingwhatwasnotHisonHimselfsothatwewouldnotberequiredtocarryit.Hehaswalkedtheultimatepathofsuffering,andHehaswonvictoryonourbehalf.ThistruthledElisabethtosay,“WhateverisinthecupthatGodisofferingtome,whetheritbepainandsorrowandsufferingandgriefalongwiththemanymorejoys,I’mwillingtotakeitbecauseItrustHim.“Becausesufferingisneverfornothing.
