Suffering – a mysterious divine pedagogy: its positive role in our lives
Suffering – a mysterious divine pedagogy: its positive role in our lives

Summary/Abstract: Many times this question is vividly present in our conscience or persists in our mind: what is the positive role of suffering in our lives? Logically or philosophically speaking, the fact of suffering is neutral. What is relevant indeed is its purpose – both from the perspective of our understanding of it and also of the manner in which we permit it to affect us. Under this aspect, Orthodox Spirituality provides us with the means to perceive suffering in a positive light, as an instrument for our spiritual progress in Christ and not as something that is devoid of any sense. We may entrust our suffering to God, with the unfailing hope that He knows how to valorize it and let us then supplicate Him for support in finding its meaning. We are prompted by the Fathers of the Church to offer our suffering to God, being assured that He can and will employ it to take us to a new profundity of faith and of worshipping Him in love.

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