We all yearn for a painless life, a life devoid of suffering. We long for something we believe we were created for, but it remains an elusive dream. Regardless of our efforts, a painless life remains an illusion. Most of life’s sufferings and tragedies are unavoidable, we can’t choose them, no matter how hard we try.
Jesus, not only acknowledges the reality of suffering but also voluntarily embraces it. He confronts suffering and trauma head-on. His approach to suffering is not an intellectual puzzle; he lives in it, seeks it out, embraces it, and ultimately overcomes it. He confronts human trauma. The only place in any religion where human drama and God come together is at the crucifixion of the Son of God. On the cross God was traumatized, beaten and cut. There we have God and trauma together.
When Jesus teaches about suffering, he is not speaking as a stranger; nor he is speaking as a utopian dreamer who suggests that a painless life is an achievable reality. Instead, he teaches and models the opposite. Yet, when the opportunity arises, he goes to great lengths to alleviate suffering. He heals the sick, feeds the hungry, protects the needy, and offers hope to the hopeless.
However, Jesus also makes it clear that certain sufferings are preferable to others and are under our power to choose between them. He teaches us that certain types of suffering are necessary to avoid even greater ones. He warns us that at times it is better to voluntarily endure temporary sufferings and losses in order to avoid much greater, eternal sufferings and losses. He emphasizes that certain self-imposed temporary losses can lead to eternal gains, and certain temporary pains can save us from eternal ones.
Rearranging priorities brings pain.
In Mark 10:21, Jesus tells the rich young man that he must endure temporary loss and the pain of reordered priorities if he hopes to gain eternal treasure: “go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Confronting our sins brings pain.
In Mark 9:43, Jesus urges us to deal with our sins decisively, accepting temporary pain now rather than facing eternal consequences later. “And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.”
A painless sin is not an option. The pain caused by sin is unavoidable. Sin inevitably leads to pain, and we must decide whether this pain will be temporary or permanent. We have the power to make this choice. We can either confront our sin now and endure its pain, or our sin will torment us in eternity, causing eternal pain.
Following Jesus brings pain.
In Mark 8:34–35, Jesus challenges us to carry the weight of sacrifice now—to die to ourselves in this life—so we don’t face the far greater agony of losing our souls forever: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Surrendering wealth and comfort, realigning our priorities, confronting our sins, releasing sinful habits, transforming our lives, and walking in the footsteps of Jesus—carrying our cross—all come at a cost. It all comes with pain. Often with lots of pain. Often with lots of losses.
But that pain is momentary. That loss is temporary. It is nothing compared to the eternal weight of sorrow that awaits those who turn away from it.