I was recently asked by someone where I saw the gospel in my own experience of mental health suffering, which is a good question. It implies that there is some gospel message of hope within every moment of our existence, even the deeply painful moments. And I think that’s true. I think hope has no limits if it is based on Christ’s promises to us. It is infinite in scope. As Paul says in Romans 8, nothing can separate us from the love of God, not even “tribulation” or “distress” (verse 35). Security in Christ is built into the fabric of our daily being, even when we don’t experience it as hope. So where is the hope in suffering? Where is the purpose? Where is the gospel? Previously I have written about the hard truth that according to Paul, suffering produces hope. And I think that’s part of the answer. God uses the suffering we experience to build character and hope in us for our own good and his glory. But in my limited experience, another main way the gospel appears in our suffering is through our ability to comfort others who are suffering with Christ’s comfort.
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