“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 – NASB95)
C.S. Lewis wrote a book in 1961, called, “A Grief Observed.” It is a collection of his reflections on the experience of grief after the death of his wife, Joy Davidman, in 1960. In it he wrote, “We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ‘Blessed are they that mourn,’ and I accept it. I’ve got nothing that I hadn’t bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination.”
Suffering can be defined simply as: “anything causing pain or distress.” All of us suffer in varying ways to varying degrees. It may be physical or financial or mental or emotional or relational or spiritual… but we all suffer. So often, you may feel like you are the only one. Everyone else seems to have it all together. But we all suffer.
The Bible acknowledges that righteous people do experience many afflictions (Ps. 34:19; 37:39; 138:7). And it tells us that affliction will grow more intense as “the end” approaches (Mt. 24:9–14; 2 Tim. 3:13). The forces of Satan will attack in an effort to deceive and destroy the “elect” (Mt. 24:24; 2 Thess. 2:9–12; Rev. 20:7–9).
Suffering is a problem and people react to it in different ways. Some will say, “there is no God.” They assume that if God was all-powerful and good, that He would not allow suffering to happen. Since suffering is happening, God must not be all-powerful or good or even exist at all. For others who believe God is there, suffering can lead them to think that He doesn’t care about them. Some will wonder what they have done wrong, and others will begin to doubt their salvation. For many, it leads to doubt, discouragement, and even depression.
Many years ago, I heard a man talk about the “Ministry of Suffering.” Believing that God is sovereign ALL THE TIME, and knowing some of the biblical PURPOSES for suffering, has helped me face it with joy (James 1:2-4). Below I will attempt to summarize some of those purposes:
- Judgment (Gen. 3). God made everything very good (Gen. 1), but Satan deceived Eve and tempted Adam, and sin entered the world. This led to God’s judgment as Adam & Eve immediately died spiritually and began slowly dying physically. The whole universe came under a curse (Gen. 3:17-19; Rom. 8:19-22) and suffering is part of it. Suffering should cause all of us to realize there’s a problem in our relationship with God, with others, and with the whole universe. We should be seeking a solution!
- Conviction (Acts 9). Saul (Paul) was persecuting God’s people when God gave him temporary physical blindness. This suffering “opened his eyes” to his need for salvation through Jesus. After coming to saving faith, God said that he would show Paul how much he must suffer for His name’s sake (Acts 9:16). God often uses suffering to get the attention of His fallen creatures.
- Instruction / Correction (2 Cor. 12; Heb. 12). Even Paul needed instruction and correction so God gave him a thorn in the flesh to keep him from pride. And He wouldn’t take it away even when Paul realized the problem and prayed about it. Paul had to remain weak in order to appropriate God’s power. Heb. 12 says that God is our Father and He often chastises us to correct us. Jn. 15 even say that He prunes us so we will bear more fruit. Pruning is painful, but it is eternally profitable.
- Testimony / Advance of the Gospel (Phil. 1:12-18; 1 Pet. 2:11-12). Paul’s imprisonment was opening doors for the gospel to spread (both inside and outside of the prison). If one person comes to saving faith in Jesus Christ and spends eternity in heaven because they see your godly attitude in the midst of suffering, would that be worth it? (1 Pet. 2:11-12).
- Jesus’ identification with us (Suffering Servant – Is. 52-53). If you ever feel alone in your suffering, you can always look to Jesus! He was a “man of sorrows acquainted with grief” (Is. 53:3). God allowed His Son to suffer in ways that are beyond our comprehension. Our suffering is infinitesimal compared to His. The suffering of Jesus enables Him to be our sympathetic High Priest (Heb. 2:14-18). He fully understands what we are going through, why we are going through it, and the ultimate good that is going to come from it.
- Deeper faith and greater holiness (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). When we come to the end of ourselves and there is nowhere to turn but to God, that is the best place in the universe to be! C.S. Lewis also wrote in “A Grief Observed,” “God has not been trying an experiment on my faith or love in order to find out their quality. He knew it already. It was I who didn’t. In this trial He makes us occupy the dock, the witness box, and the bench all at once. He always knew that my temple was a house of cards. His only way of making me realize the fact was to knock it down.”We are so religious at times that we create a system to make people think we are people of deep faith and holiness. God sees through it. He brings suffering into our lives to remove the façade and force us to look deep inside. Then we will stop trusting in a system and trust in a Person (Jesus).
- To give us greater joy in our reward and the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). As the things I love in this world gradually wear out, break, or die, it makes me long for a new world where that won’t happen anymore. It also makes me question why I love certain things so much. If they aren’t going to the next world, why are they so important to me? He wants me to get my heart off the idols of this world. I am learning through suffering to find greater joy in the three things that are eternal: God, God’s Word, and People. Like Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:19 (NASB95) – “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?”
- To wake up other Christians and make them bold (Philippians 1:14). Paul’s boldness while suffering motivated others to go for it and be a bolder testimony for Jesus. Persecution is growing here in America. I believe it will cost us more and more in the coming days to publicly follow Jesus Christ. As we so so boldly, it will encourage and empower others to do the same.
- God uses suffering (persecution) at times to move Christians to the place He wants them to go (Acts 8:1, Acts 11:19). Our propensity is to stay in places where there is great comfort and very little change, but God has commanded us to go and carry out the Great Commission. Sometimes He uses persecution to move us. Other times it’s the loss of a loved one, health challenges, job loss, etc., that has us move on to a new location where He wants us to bear much fruit.
- Suffering magnifies the power and worth of Christ (Mt. 13:44-46; 2 Cor. 12:9-10). Paul was willing to suffer weakness because Jesus was more valuable to him than comfort, and Jesus’ power was sufficient for him to endure. The greatest reward isn’t forgiveness or righteousness or heaven. The greatest reward is Jesus Christ Himself! Nothing compares to Him! (Phil. 3:7-8)
- Suffering gives us an opportunity to stand out as Christians in a world that does not honor God (1 Peter 4:15-16). Don’t ever be ashamed to suffer for the sake of Christ. See it as an opportunity to demonstrate to the world the value of knowing, loving, and following Jesus. This will bring God great glory and point others to Him.
- Suffering teaches us to rely on God, not on ourselves (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). Pastor Charles Stanley once said, “Our heavenly Father understands our disappointment, suffering, pain, fear, and doubt. He is always there to encourage our hearts and help us understand that He’s sufficient for all of our needs. When I accepted this as an absolute truth in my life, I found that my worrying stopped.”
- Suffering teaches us God’s Word (Psalm 119:71 – “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes”). Sometimes it is only in the crucible of suffering that our hearts and minds become open and receptive to the life-changing truth of God’s Word. I often pray for myself and my family members that God would do whatever it takes to get through to us and make us joyfully obedient to everything that He says.
- Suffering matures us into godly people the Lord is molding for himself (James 1:2-4). Trials and testing are the means God uses to grow us to maturity. Helen Keller said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
- The Savior receives glory through our suffering (1 Peter 4:13-16).
- Suffering even allows us to share in the Son’s glory (Romans 8:16-17). Someday we will be with Jesus Christ and we will rule and reign with Him. We will be joint-heirs with Him. If my suffering can make me more like Jesus and bring Him greater glory, then I say “Amen!”
Summary: Suffering impacts all of us in various ways. It in no way is an indictment against God’s power or goodness or love. It was caused by the rebellion of man and is redeemed by the power of God. Ultimately God will get rid of all suffering for those who have come to Him in saving faith (Rev. 21-22)
How about you? Do you know God as your loving Heavenly Father? Is Jesus your greatest treasure? Are you willing to follow Him no matter where He leads? Will you trust Him even when you can’t see what He is doing? Will you encourage others to do the same?