Rich Dixon is helping us sort through suffering.

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Our pastor said something in a sermon a while back that’s been circling my brain.

She was talking about healing, and she said:

Suffering is wanting what you don’t have, or having with you don’t want.

I’ve been thinking a great deal about those two conditions. Obviously, I have a spinal cord injury, with all its impacts. I certainly don’t want it, but does not wanting cause me to suffer?

Maybe “suffer” is too strong. Perhaps discontent works better?

Either way, perhaps you could take a minute and think about what you want but don’t have – or what you have and don’t want. Does it lead to discontent or suffering for you?

I constantly fuss about kids trapped in sex trafficking. It’s on my mind a great deal – how can such a horrible thing exist, why can’t we stop it? What should I be doing that I’m not doing?

I wouldn’t say it leads to suffering, but it’s absolutely a source of discontent for me. It’s difficult to feel truly at peace when I know this atrocity is happening.

After thinking through this notion, here’s what I came up with: if her definition of suffering or discontent is correct, then the way to find peace is to align what I have with what I want.

Does that make any sense?

Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

So, if God’s kingdom is my primary “want,” it becomes about trust. Trust that he will provide. Trust that fixing the world isn’t my responsibility.

Trust that, if I’ve done my best with what I have, I can truly rest in peace.

Do I believe that? Yes.

Do I believe I can consistently do it? Not without Jesus’ guidance.