Meet me at the Cross: Why You Must Suffer — The Purpose of Suffering

It’s been two months since I became a father for the first time. It doesn’t feel like two months. Staying in the hospital for 8 days felt like two months. Some of you may already know how my first week of fatherhood was wonderful and horrible at the same time. I know many others have experienced much worse. One night when I was confused, alone, and, ultimately feeling desperate, I pointedly asked God why my wife is suffering and not recovering after being in labor for 34 hours. Why is my baby suffering—a new creation in the world? Lord, why am I suffering, trying to take care of my wife and child with no strength left within me? My question wasn’t “Why do bad things happen to good people?” My yearning to understand went beyond that. I wanted to understand the purpose of suffering. The following is what I asked Him and what He told me.

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The Purpose of Suffering: A Conversation at the Cross

Lord, why I do suffer?

Because I love you.

Lord, I am slow to understand. Please humble my way of thinking so that I may understand you. Why do I suffer?

Because I love you.

Lord, forgive my unbelief for I still do not understand. I want to understand. Please teach me. Why do I suffer?

Because you have chosen to love me, I have come and made my home with you. I also am preparing a place for you in Heaven. But before my home was in Heaven I went to the Cross. Meet me at the Cross.

Master, I now stand before the Cross. Once again forgive my unbelief. How are you still hanging there and yet standing next to me?

My child, what you see is the Work of the Cross. An Eternal Work of Salvation. You asked me why do you suffer? Now, I ask you, why did my Father let me suffer? Why am I on the Cross?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).You have spoken true. My Father loves you, just as He loves the whole world. He loves Me too, and just as I have made my home with you, He has made His home with Me; therefore, it’s because We love you that I endured the Cross, so that one day, I would be able to unite My suffering with yours. Just as We share Our Love with You, so too must We also share Our suffering.

Lord I am not worthy to understand these mysteries, yet You have revealed them to me, nonetheless.

Because you asked, you received (Matthew 7:7). Now, I have one last question for you. Why must you suffer?

Lord, I must suffer, because You love me.

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This is the first installment in a new series on Fatherhood. This isn’t a series I’m writing because I have it all figured out (I’ve only been a dad for 9 weeks now). No, that would not only be preposterous, it would be presumptive of me; an arrogance I’m praying to avoid. These posts are what I believe God is sharing with me so that I may share it with others. These are things I need to hear and learn, as is the case with my free weekly devotionals. Future installments will be a part of brand-new paid content which will include more than just writings on fatherhood. I’m looking forward to publishing fresh content each week outside of my devotionals which will remain free to read. I’ll always tell the truth and may even get controversial at times, but I promise to engage you, challenge you, and even have some fun by hopefully finding ways to incorporate my love of movies. I hope you will consider joining me.

-Corbin Riley