The Lesson: Patience & Suffering
By Brita Crouse
“Be…patient in
affliction…”
Romans
12:12b (NIV)
Being hundreds of miles from familiarity forces you into independence.
I had come to love the newfound freedom college life provided. I
joined Bible studies, attended chapel services, regularly went to church, and
almost always went to the weekly prayer meeting on the floor where I lived. I
was taking advantage of opportunities to deepen my faith in a safe and
supportive environment.
I had dozens of people pouring into me and growing me as a
student, as a lover of Jesus, and simply as a human. I was in the early stages
of what would become lifelong friendships. I knew I was surrounded by women who
would challenge me, love me and encourage me no matter what.
Hindsight gives you 20/20 vision, right? It’s easy to look back
and have a better understanding of why things happened the way they did. But when
you are in the moment, it’s hard to have understanding. It’s hard to be patient
in the midst of affliction.
“Your mom called while you were gone. She said to call her back
as soon as possible,” my roommate said to me as I was coming home from my
weekly Bible study. I should have known. I should have sensed what was to come,
but I didn’t. I didn’t know what news was about to change my life.
So I called my mom, only to get a panicked dad on the other end.
The cancer. It’s back. It’s leaving a
0% chance of survival. Come home. Now.
My roommate knew. She had talked to my mom earlier, and she
sensed something was wrong. I found myself collapsed in my dorm room, tears streaming,
my hands held and Scripture being read over me.
“I am the [wo]man who has seen affliction…” [1]
Just shy of three weeks later, the cancer was gone. And so was
she. Her suffering had ended. Ours had not. God tells us to be joyful in all
circumstances, to always give thanks. We have reason to.
My patience had ended as my affliction
was beginning.
I stopped going to Bible study. I stopped attending church and
chapel. I stopped engaging with others. I was so deeply wounded. I wanted to
rebel. I was a child directly disobeying her Father. I became hollow and
superficial, turning to damaging habits and bad routines. I was desperate for
healing, but I refused help. It was going to take something BIG to make me
change.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What situation is
currently teaching you patience?
2. How are you or
someone you know experiencing affliction? How can you give thanks to God for
these things?
[1] Lamentations 3:1
FURTHER READING:
Brita recently moved
back to her home state of Wisconsin where she works as an Elementary School
Counselor. She and her family have attended Oakwood for 20 years.
