 Victor Frankl, a Jew, survived through multiple Nazi concentration camps. His book, Man’s Search for Meaning, describes the experiences of many who suffered.
According to him, some turned brutal and cruel. Suppressing their pain and hardening their hearts, they became indifferent to suffering. Some who were dumped by their spouses became bitter and cynical, trivializing or demonizing the opposite sex. Some gave up all hope, shriveled up, and died. Some held on, hoping someday they might get back what they had lost (e.g. health, family, fortune, and achievements). But after liberation from the camps, with their hope not realized, they became depressed, disillusioned, and even suicidal. They tied their hope to transient objects; when they couldn’t get them, they didn’t want to live anymore. Surprisingly, according to Victor, some didn’t turn brutal and cruel. They had a hope that suffering couldn’t destroy. The differences in their hope determined their life trajectory. Concentration camps condense life into a very short time. To avoid ruination, we need a living hope. Christ suffered immensely. In great sorrow, He even sweated blood at Gethsemane. Through His suffering and resurrection, Christ took our condemnation so that we could be reconciled with God forever (2 Corinthians 5:21). For the joy set before Him, He ran the race (Hebrew 12:2). Seeing what His suffering has accomplished—our salvation—Christ is satisfied. We are the source of Christ’s living hope (Isaiah 53:11). What is our living hope? Let’s learn from 1 Peter 1:3-9. Through Christ’s suffering and resurrection, we can be reconciled to God (v9), and we receive what Christ deserves (2 Corinthians 5:21). One day, there will be no more death, mourning, crying, and pain (Revelation 21:4). Our faith may even result in praise, glory, and honor from God (v7). This is our living hope. It is independent of our circumstances. It is not based on our power, our health, or others’ approval. It is imperishable, safe, and secure in heaven (v3-4). With this living hope, we don’t need to suppress our current grief. Instead, grief and joy can co-exist. In verse 6, both are in the present tense! Current grief can even drive us closer to God. Thus, we could live joyfully even in suffering and pain. Summarized from a Tim Keller’s sermon: https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/born-into-hope-5219/ 活泼的盼望使痛苦黯然失色 维克多·弗兰克尔是名经历多个纳粹集中营而侥幸生存下来的犹太人。他的著作 “人类寻求意义”中描述了许多遭受苦难之人的结果。 维克多的书中写到有些人变得冷酷而残忍，压抑自己的痛苦，使自己的心变得刚硬，对痛苦无动于衷；有些人被配偶抛弃后，变得愤世嫉俗，渺视或贬损异性；又有些人放弃所有的盼望，生命枯干而死去. 有些人在集中营中坚持不愿放弃，盼望有天能够找回失去的东西（比如健康、家庭、财富和成就）。但当他们被解救出来后，发现自己的盼望无法实现时，就变得沮丧失望甚至会自杀。 他们将盼望寄放在短暂之事上，当无法得到它们时，就失去了活下去的愿望. 然而，维克多惊讶地发现有些人没有变得残酷无情，而是怀有一种痛苦无法破灭的盼望。不同的盼望带给人不同的生命轨迹。集中营将生命缩到很短的时间。为了不被毁灭，他们需要一个超出这个世界活泼的盼望。 基督曾遭受极大的痛苦。祂在客西马尼园里极度的悲伤中，甚至流汗如血滴。因着受苦、牺牲，基督承受了我们应得的惩罚，使我们可以永远与上帝和好（歌林多后书5：21）。祂的复活更带给我们活泼的盼望。 基督为了摆在前面的喜乐，轻看羞辱，忍受苦难（希伯来书12：2）。祂看到自己苦难的成果，就是带给我们的救恩, 就满足了。我们竟然是基督活泼盼望之源泉（以赛亚书53：11）。 那我们的活泼盼望是什么呢？让我们从彼得前书 1：3-9中学习。 我们籍着基督的受苦和复活可以与上帝和好（彼得前书1:9），得到本是基督应得的义（歌林多后书5：21）。 有一天将不再有死亡、悲哀、哭泣和痛苦（启示录21：4）. 有一天我们经受考验的信心甚至可以得到上帝的称 赞 、 荣 耀 和 尊 贵 （彼得前书1:7）。 这就是我们与当前的光景无关, 安稳在天不能朽坏的活泼盼望，（彼得前书1:3-4）。它不是基于个人的力量、健康或他人的认可。 我们有了这活泼的盼望就不需压抑眼前的悲痛。相反地，悲伤和喜悦可以共存（彼得前书1: 6）。 此刻的悲痛甚至可使驱使人更靠近上帝。 所以我们即使在患难痛苦中也能喜乐地生活！
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