They say suffering is God's grace
rejoice in pain the helper brings
as a gift to tortured souls
evoking love in misery
woe leading to fortitude
resolute in life’s decline
there’s no place to go but down
patience grasped it’s crushed
this toleration leads the way
stoicism born of pain
disposition springing forth
making claims against what’s lost
building character as the goal
twisted fruit from blood soaked ground
seeking hope beyond the fall
stumbling forward on broken bones
now shame is lost to the void
gift of Spirit that sups on gore
that twisted love now evoked
suffering’s end I’ll not rejoice.
© 2018. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20180803.
Aug 3, 2018
Aug 3, 2018 at 10:24 PM UTC
They say suffering is God's grace
rejoice in pain the helper brings
as a gift to tortured souls
evoking love in misery
woe leading to fortitude
resolute in life’s decline
there’s no place to go but down
patience grasped it’s crushed
this toleration leads the way
stoicism born of pain
disposition springing forth
making claims against what’s lost
building character as the goal
twisted fruit from blood soaked ground
seeking hope beyond the fall
stumbling forward on broken bones
now shame is lost to the void
gift of Spirit that sups on gore
that twisted love now evoked
suffering’s end I’ll not rejoice.
© 2018. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20180803.
The poem “God’s Grace” was inspired by Romans 5:3-5. I was made aware of this passage, the crux of the material about the value of suffering, when a friend posted a meme about the fallacy of suffering building character. A mutual friend responded with the Romans’ passage. I believe that suffering can provide hard-earned wisdom and compassion for others. I don’t believe that suffering opens the door (forces) people to turn to the Divine in an effort to receive hope from a holy messenger.
Request permission to use this poem