Redemptive Suffering
Pain as prayer
We all experience pain. Some of us have more emotional pain and some of us have chronic pain. However, pain is pain and it is not easy for anyone. Offering it up to a higher power is one way that helps me fight through it. I believe this can be beneficial to anyone who believes in a higher power. It helps you feel connected, which helps you fight!
Offer your pain up:
- For others struggling
- For a loved one
- For someone with depression
- For someone with anxiety
- For those who feel helpless
- For your husband
- For someone's soul
Today I am going to offer up my pain for _______________.
Why do it?
- Helps you find peace, purpose, and meaning in your suffering
- Person/group of people (it can be a specific or general intention)
- It is a way to pray all day
- Helps you fight
What it has done for me
I was first introduced to this concept in college. Ever since I have learned about it I have loved it. So much so that it has stuck with me for years. I haven't practiced it as much as I have wanted to. However, I have always loved it when I have. With chronic pain, it's easy for things to slip your mind. I am sure that many of you can relate to this. Using your pain as a prayer helps bring me peace in the storm. I don't know how I would get through the day if I didn't believe in a higher power. It gives me purpose in the pain. I hope everyone has something that helps you fight! Accepting the pain and finding purpose in it helps so much to get through it.
Making sense of suffering
We all try to find an explanation when something tragic or hard happens. A lot of us resort to religion. Religion helps us find that meaning. I found a website that helps explain the concept of redemptive suffering. Many religions try to make sense of suffering in life. According to the website (listed at the bottom of the page), the following have beliefs as to why we suffer:
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Islam
- Rabbinical Judaism
- Protestantism
- Orthodox Christians
Redemptive suffering is something you can practice when you first wake up or anytime throughout the day. Even both if you'd like. From what I found this is mostly a Catholic concept. However, I believe anyone who believes in a higher power can do this. Redemptive suffering means that something good can come from the pain. To me, that is a miracle.
I've heard attitude is everything. Since I have been living with chronic pain, I don't believe that. Attitude definitely makes a huge difference though. There is a lot of things we cannot change. However, we can change our attitude… so take advantage of that!
Resources:
https://www.fisheaters.com/offeringitup.html
http://www.thedefender.org/RedemptiveSuffering.html
http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/offering-prayers.html
We all experience pain. Some of us have more emotional pain and some of us have chronic pain. However, pain is pain and it is not easy for anyone. Offering it up to a higher power is one way that helps me fight through it. I believe this can be beneficial to anyone who believes in a higher power. It helps you feel connected, which helps you fight!
Offer your pain up:
- For others struggling
- For a loved one
- For someone with depression
- For someone with anxiety
- For those who feel helpless
- For your husband
- For someone's soul
Today I am going to offer up my pain for _______________.
Why do it?
- Helps you find peace, purpose, and meaning in your suffering
- Person/group of people (it can be a specific or general intention)
- It is a way to pray all day
- Helps you fight
What it has done for me
I was first introduced to this concept in college. Ever since I have learned about it I have loved it. So much so that it has stuck with me for years. I haven't practiced it as much as I have wanted to. However, I have always loved it when I have. With chronic pain, it's easy for things to slip your mind. I am sure that many of you can relate to this. Using your pain as a prayer helps bring me peace in the storm. I don't know how I would get through the day if I didn't believe in a higher power. It gives me purpose in the pain. I hope everyone has something that helps you fight! Accepting the pain and finding purpose in it helps so much to get through it.
Making sense of suffering
We all try to find an explanation when something tragic or hard happens. A lot of us resort to religion. Religion helps us find that meaning. I found a website that helps explain the concept of redemptive suffering. Many religions try to make sense of suffering in life. According to the website (listed at the bottom of the page), the following have beliefs as to why we suffer:
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Islam
- Rabbinical Judaism
- Protestantism
- Orthodox Christians
Redemptive suffering is something you can practice when you first wake up or anytime throughout the day. Even both if you'd like. From what I found this is mostly a Catholic concept. However, I believe anyone who believes in a higher power can do this. Redemptive suffering means that something good can come from the pain. To me, that is a miracle.
I've heard attitude is everything. Since I have been living with chronic pain, I don't believe that. Attitude definitely makes a huge difference though. There is a lot of things we cannot change. However, we can change our attitude… so take advantage of that!
Resources:
https://www.fisheaters.com/offeringitup.html
http://www.thedefender.org/RedemptiveSuffering.html
http://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/offering-prayers.html
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