Seeing God Through Your Pain and Suffering
Most everyone has walked through a situation in life that made you wonder why God would allow you to experience the pain, hurt or even discouragement that resulted from the situation. In some situations, our challenges are a result of poor choices, but for every follower of Jesus the reality is that we will walk through hardship and will experience pain.
Jesus told us pain and suffering would be part of our lives
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)
Jesus doesn’t just say we’ll have pain and sorrow and leave us to figure it all out. Instead, He promises peace and reminds us that He has overcome the world. This is why Paul in Romans could declare:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Types of Biblical Suffering:
This is a tool to help you understand your own suffering, relate to other people’s suffering and to learn how to pray and help others:
Creation suffering. This is a broad category that points to the reality that God’s creation has been tainted by sin and its effects. Natural disasters, terminal diseases, and death are all part of this category.
Consequences suffering. Our sin, our bad choices always have collateral damage, both in us and in the people around us.
Victim suffering. We often suffer through the process of other people’s choices as people sin against us. Abuse, trauma, and oppression and other forms of hurt are realities in this category.
Empathetic suffering. This is when we suffer because we watch someone else we love suffer.
Collective suffering. This is when you suffer because you belong to a larger group of people who are suffering. We are part of nations, families, and ethnic groups. When our group hurts, we also hurt.
Principles for Walking with God Through Pain:
Bring your pain to God, don’t run from Him. Whenever you run from God when you experience pain and suffering, all you are left with is our own limited ability to cope with what you are experiencing. God invites us to draw near to Him so that we might know the reality of His peace, closeness, and healing.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
Connect your life to God’s Word and God’s people. How we respond to pain and suffering determines how we process what is happening and how healing will take place. We all will need hope, encouragement that can be spoken into our life. We all need someone to weep with us as we are in the place of weeping.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15 (NIV)
Don’t believe lies, overflow with worship. Worship always changes our perspective. Worship reminds us where our confidence and hope lives. Worship redirects our thinking. Worship places the results in God’s hands.
Our pain and suffering will not last forever. We know the end of the story.
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4 (NIV)
Eternity is coming, and our pain and suffering will not be totally forgotten, but the sting will be removed, and eternity will be even greater as a result.