Suffering

This past week at Word of Life Bible Camp and Conference Center Dr. Ted Tripp spoke on the subject of suffering, not a topic we want to study let alone embrace yet we will all face this reality some time in our lives.  As Dr. Tripp stated "Suffering is the universal experience of all Christians."
Paul writes extensively on this topic, especially in the book of 1 Peter, which is directed at persecuted Christians. David also deals with this topic in the book of Psalms. But I am not writing today to dictate a Bible Study on  suffering. Rather I am writing to search out my own "take" on this topic. I feel I'm qualified to attempt unpeeling it's layers while shedding onion tears.
I suffer chronically with a multitude of non-motor Parkinson Disease complications, most of which are unnoticeable to others. Not wanting to dwell on the specifics suffice it to say I experience a profusion of "unhappy moments"almost daily. What do I do with these?

L.B. Cowan in Streams in the Desert says: "God is...an ever-present help in trouble." (Ps. 46:1) But He allows trouble to pursue us, as though He were indifferent to its overwhelming pressure, so we may be brought to the end of ourselves. Through the trial, we are led to discover the treasure of darkness and the immeasurable wealth of tribulation."
What? How can I call my suffering, my tribulations, a WEALTH?

Charles Spurgeon, called the "Prince of Preachers", dealt with spiritual, physical, and emotional suffering yet he is quoted as saying: "I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the rock of ages."

 Wow! That quote grabs my soul and won't let it go! How can I kiss that wave? God wants me to show affection for and embrace chronic pain? Am I not getting something here? Isn't God suppose to heal, to come to my rescue? God's sovereignty lays a blanket over everything-this I know! He's in control and I am confident He has an agenda for my suffering, whether it's to deepen His message of hope, chasten me for some as of yet unrecognizable sin, show my weakness as compared to His strength, or shout out that He is enough so I will bring Him glory. I guess I have to grapple with the confusion of the choice of which agenda is mine.

We live in a world of suffering people; those like me with health issues to tackle, others with financial problems, emotional battles, relationship difficulties, loss of loved ones and the list goes on and on. So there is no one size fits all remedy. I believe that at some moment in each of our lives we will either shout or perhaps fearfully whisper  "Why God?" "Why me?" Is this a sin? Should we hold in our pain, our doubts, our weaknesses, our disappointments & frustrations? Will God be angry, offended, turn a deaf ear? I believe the answer to all these heart-wrenching questions is NO! I read throughout the Bible that God is a god of compassion, which is defined as one who is concerned for the sufferings & misfortunes of others. He understands because in Jesus He has "been there, done that"! Jesus was our suffering Savior! Therefore He is qualified to see us through all our sufferings. He will tenderly and gently take us by the hand or at excruciating moments pick us up and carry us over the hot coals of living.

Bottom line: I have hope in a compassionate God! My hope will see me through the dark tunnels and in His timing I will be eternally healed!