“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 (NLT)
I think it’s perfectly natural to ask God “Why?” In fact, I think it’s a question we’ll spend the rest of our lives here on earth asking. I also think God doesn’t mind the questions, but we have to realize He doesn’t always reveal the answers to “Why?” There are just some things we won’t understand the
reasoning behind until we get to heaven. Regardless, God has a master plan that has the power to sustain us through all the whys.
So if suffering is a fact of life, how can we best handle it? That’s the question we’re going to dive into through this series.
Day 1: Look to God in times of trouble.
“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So, after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT)
I’ve had my share of suffering. Twelve years ago, my wife passed away from cancer. Five years ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes. Three years ago, I lost both of my parents to cancer. Losing people I love prematurely was extremely painful. Watching them suffer was even worse. And my diabetes, well, I still struggle with the effects of the disease every day.
All Christians suffer. In every season of life, you’re facing one of three scenarios. You either just came out of a storm; you’re currently in a storm; or you’re about to encounter a storm. It’s an unpleasant fact of life. Acts 14:22 assures us storms are brewing: “…They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.”
But just because we experience storms doesn’t mean our suffering is without purpose.
The most difficult part of my own journey has been understanding the sovereignty of God in the midst of my pain. When we say, “God is sovereign,” it means He has complete control over the affairs of our daily lives and experiences—even suffering and death. Proverbs 20:24 says, “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”
In the book of Genesis, Joseph suffered immensely. His jealous brothers threw him into a pit, and then he was sold into slavery. Yet, Joseph knew God was in the details. In Genesis 50:20, he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good…”
When we suffer, the bravest thing we can do is look up, trusting that God’s plan is best. Suffering draws us closer to the Father, and in His arms, we can look into His compassionate eyes and know He will set our feet on a firm foundation.
Pause and Reflect:
- Why do you believe God allows us to suffer in life?
- How can looking to Jesus change our perspective about suffering?
Day 2: Take up your cross.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” - Matthew 16:24 (NLT)
In 2006 my wife passed away from cancer. It was a bitter pill for me to swallow. She had been my partner in life and ministry for almost 30 years. Holding her hand when she died was probably the single most painful moment I have ever experienced. If I’m honest, it would have been easy for me to blame God. I could have blamed Him for her sickness. I could have blamed Him for taking her too soon. And trust me, all these thoughts ran through my mind.
However, the best response to suffering in this world is not to bitterly blame God, but to humbly look to God for His mercy, comfort and grace. The Bible promises that if we look to Him, we’ll find Him.
Deuteronomy 4:29 assures us, “But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.”
My earthly suffering always reminds me of Jesus’ suffering on the cross. We don’t have to run from suffering or even death because He defeated it when He died for us. We can face suffering with confidence, knowing that through His great love for us, He has saved us.
If you’re a believer, daily taking up your cross and following Him, suffering comes with the territory. But let me tell you, there’s no way I’d want to face life’s biggest storms without Jesus. No matter the suffering I’ve experienced, I’ve always discovered the kindness of God in the middle of my pain.
Is our world full of unimaginable suffering and pain? Absolutely. But we serve a God who overcame the world, and He is our greatest hope.
Pause and Reflect:
- When have you experienced trials and suffering recently that have caused you to question your faith?
- What does taking up your cross and following Christ in the midst of suffering look like on a practical level?
Day 3: Share in Christ’s sufferings.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3-4 (NLT)
During my personal season of loss, I felt like God had abandoned me. I felt like I was all alone in my suffering. I didn’t have answers, and I felt like God wasn’t providing them. How could I possibly rejoice in the midst of suffering?
Then, one day when I was reading my Bible, I stumbled across Philippians 3:10-11, which says, “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”
I realized Paul was on to something. In order to experience life, we must embrace death. In order to experience resurrection, we must encounter the cross. In order to experience heaven’s reward, we must endure suffering here on earth. Pain and joy can co-exist. So often in life, the celebratory moments are mixed with tears as trial and triumph quietly sit side by side.
I think God allows us to share in His suffering because He cares most about shaping our character. Like Paul, surely, I can bear the momentary pain in this life and joyfully remember that it is my privilege to be joined with Christ in His suffering. I also eagerly await the day when there’s no more pain and suffering, the day when I’ll finally get to see the face of my beautiful bride again and hug my parents in heaven. Until then, my prayer is that both joy and pain will always lead me to the One who sovereignty holds the world in His hands.
Pause and Reflect:
- Has there ever been a time when both joy and pain co-existed in your life?
- How is God developing your endurance and strengthening your character through the trials you’re currently facing?
