Suffer for Doing Good

Do you know a person who seems to always have things to complain about? You know the one who can’t seem to say anything positive and you can’t remember the last time you saw them smile. Yes, come on, you know someone like this.

There was a season in my life when I had a few of these people in my life, not just one. It was difficult to have a conversation without a negative comment. If there were a couple of them in the same conversation, it felt as though they tried to have a competition to see whose life situation was worse by one-upping each other. It was hard not to get carried away in this pity party.

I couldn’t bring myself to join in. Yes, I had stress in my life, financial struggles and family complications but I couldn’t see how my complaining about it was going to make anything change. My faith in God and belief that what I was struggling with was a part of my being a disciple. Instead of allowing the stress to overwhelm, I was able to express gratitude through prayer.

This perspective ended up causing a problem with these relationships. Since I wasn’t joining in, I began to not be included. Some of the relationships had been close, as in our families had gone on vacations together and we celebrated birthdays and other family milestones together.

The words of scripture, such as the words of Saint Peter calling out to the disciples, telling them they needed to be ready to share with anyone at anytime why they were a disciple are a real wake up call. When I think about the suffering Jesus did in order for me to have life the fullest, then I want to live a life worthy of that sacrifice! I don’t need to complain about a little stress or something that didn’t turn out the way I wanted.

Instead I understand that there will be struggles in my life and I will suffer disappointments but NONE OF THEM are going to be as difficult as what Jesus endured. He was betrayed and abandoned by his friends, he was wrongfully accused, needlessly beaten, ridiculed, and nailed to a cross, left to die. He did this once and for all so we don’t have to; for this I am grateful.

So, if I lose some friends along the way because I choose to live without complaint. I will suffer the consequence of choosing Jesus. Yes, leaving behind relationships is hard and painful but through my experience of this, I am able to come to Jesus without shame. I have a clear conscience and know I am ready at any moment to, as the scripture says, “give an explanation…the reason for my hope.” Further, I’m called to do it with “gentleness, reverence and a clear conscience because that is the will of God!” (1Peter 3:15-17)

I choose to follow in Jesus’ footsteps so there will be friendships lost, people who don’t agree with me for what I believe, and I will suffer loss. This is the path I choose to follow so if I must suffer for doing good, then that is what I must do.