Have you suffered so many things in vain – if indeed it was in vain?- Galatians 3:4

Time, when studied deeply, is quite the paradox! We spend so much time worrying about the future. We forget to live in the moment, and we almost always forget the recent past. We see this in almost every area of human life (Cubs fans know what I mean!). The Galatians were no exception. Paul’s indication in the verse is that Galatians had at one point suffered much persecution. Most Christians during this time experienced persecution no matter where they lived. But, Paul seems to be speaking with an eye-witness tone. We know this from Acts 14. Acts 14 makes it clear that Paul and his companions were persecuted vigorously (Paul even being stoned and left for dead) by the Jews when they were among the cities of Galatia. Surely some of this persecution spilled over to the Christian congregations Paul left behind in Galatia.

When we suffer, it is never in vain. The Christian message is a story of victory! GOD WON! Notice, I did not use future tense. When Jesus died on the cross for those who believe in Him, God won. While we see that clearly, we also see harm and pain. It is tempting to interpret the pain we feel through a perspective that forgets it is never in vain. This is exactly what Paul is bringing to the surface. The church at Galatia experienced much pain, but they also experienced God’s victory (faith through Jesus Christ). This means the pain is never in vain!

This includes all types of pain. This includes physical persecution, social persecution, and sickness. I have lost both grandfather, one grandmother, and suffered through a divorce (as a child). I used to wonder, why? Why are all these bad things happening to me? In this question, I was forgetting that God won. This life is simply a waiting place. Some may say, why wait? BECAUSE GOD WANTS US ALL TO KNOW HE HAS ALREADY WON. And until we can share that message with everyone, we will wait. Your pain is never in vain because your pain points to victory and victory is a message we all need to hear.