MSI Press Blog

“My grace is enough for you, For in weakness power reaches perfection.” --St. Paul   I’m in the business of compassionate healing. As a psychologist, my patients come to me in emotional and mental pain. They feel broken and want to be whole. They want relief from their suffering--their depression, anxiety, tempers, compulsions, and disturbing obsessions. Coming to me, they ask me to witness their suffering and bring them relief. Two questions often haunt them: “Why is this happening to me? How can I fix it?” In their desperation, they look for answers from me, whom they consider “the expert.” Contrary to their expectations, I direct those questions back to themselves and assure them, “You have the answers, but don’t know it yet.” I invite them to pay close attention to their own experience, to listen to the subtle voices speaking within, and to engage in open and honest dialogue with themselves. For many, that is a new experience. These voices have been drowned out by the...

  Why Do Believers Suffer? 1. The Question Why do believers suffer? Not as a theological puzzle, but as a lived ache. If God is good, and I am faithful — why is this happening? 2. The Human Angle You pray. You serve. You try to live with integrity. And still — the diagnosis comes. The betrayal lands. The grief floods in. You wonder: Did I do something wrong? Is God angry? Is this a test? A punishment? A mystery? 3. The Inquiry Scripture doesn’t shy away from suffering. It names it, wrestles with it, dignifies it. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” Paul wrote, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed.” James said, “Consider it joy… because suffering produces perseverance.” Peter reminded us: suffering refines faith like fire refines gold. The reasons vary: We live in a broken world. We suffer the consequences of others’ choices. We are shaped through hardship. We are disciplined, not punished. We are prepared for deeper compassion....

  Today's meditation from  Weekly Soul: Fifty-two Meditations on Meaningful, Joyful, and Peaceful Living   by Dr. Frederic Craigie. -29-   Life is a choice. Psychological pain is not a choice. Either way you go, you will have problems and pain. So, the choice here is not about whether to have pain. The choice is whether or not to live a meaningful life.   Steven C. Hayes   We all suffer. The life free of distress and suffering is illusory, or, at least, the quest to avoid psychological pain leaves you spiritually hollow. Want to avoid anxiety? Don’t try anything new. Want to avoid sadness? Don’t do anything where you could fail. Want to avoid grief? Don’t have relationships. You may see people out there who seem to have lives of unbridled happiness and joy, but as you look closely, you’ll find that their experience is more about transformation of suffering than the absence of suffering. No less a joyful spirit than His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks of time...