Suffering Soldiers

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by Cheryl King

In the Bible it says that Jesus returns with an army riding on white horses, but that doesn't mean He hasn't an army of soldiers here right now.

This army, I believe, is His suffering soldiers. He recruits this army from those who have suffered in the past and from those who are suffering everyday and can still say, "God is good. He is faithful and loving. He gives me hope and a future."

Some of these recruited soldiers have been victims of childhood abuses, often going on to make bad life choices that result in even more suffering and guilt. Many soldiers have suffered from neglect, been wounded, rejected, or have lost someone or something they have loved. Some soldiers suffer from physical ailments daily. They wake up in excruciating, never ending pain, and rarely leave their beds. The doctors tell them, "No cure, no hope!" Unless the Lord heals them all they see ahead for their future is more suffering.

Suffice it to say, if you live in this fallen world you have suffered and you have scars, but there are no scars that the scars of Christ cannot heal.

Suffering can make us a victim who wallows in the "Woe is me" camp, or suffering can make us a soldier. Victims who wallow cannot inspire or give hope to others who suffer. Before you can show others God's grace, mercy, and hope, you must embrace it yourself.

We cannot become His soldiers until we release all bitterness over our sufferings. Freedom only comes through forgiving our transgressors, whoever or whatever that may be, and forgiving ourselves. Forgiveness and accepting what we cannot change is hard, but never impossible. The hard things we are called to do in life are the very things that mature us in our faith and make us better soldiers for Him.

The enemy has stolen enough from us, has had too many victories. He has used others to hurt us, used illness to try and kill us, but we still have breath in these bodies. We can still rise up and fight. Our sword is the hope we offer another who suffers. It cuts through despair, guilt, anger, and pain. Hope defeats the enemy. Jesus, the greatest suffering soldier that ever lived, gave us His example to live by. By His death and resurrection He bought us victory over all kinds of suffering and gave us an eternal hope. Finding hope in suffering makes us one with Christ; it is taking up our own cross and following Him.

It is impossible to love God fully and enjoy Him forever without embracing hope. Once we are filled the desire to share it with others should grow in us. When we give the gift of hope to someone else, we have helped in creating another suffering soldier for God's army.

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