Finding Purpose, Peace, and Presence in the Pain
Suffering is one of the most difficult parts of the Christian journey — and one of the most common. It does not discriminate between the rich or poor, the faithful or the skeptic. We all ask at some point: “If God loves me, why am I going through this?” or we question why God allows suffering.
This question isn’t just theological — it’s deeply personal. And the Bible doesn’t shy away from it. The pages of Scripture are full of raw, honest cries of pain, confusion, and even anger. But it also gives us powerful truths to cling to when life breaks our hearts and struggles feel suffocating.
In this post, we’ll explore what Scripture says about suffering, how God uses pain for purpose, and why we can trust Him even when nothing makes sense.
This post is Part 1 of the “Hope in the Hard Places” blog series…where we explore how Christians can find hope, healing, and spiritual strength during life’s most difficult seasons. Read Part 2: Christian Mental Health – Faith, Healing, and Wholeness
Why God Allows Suffering
When God created the world, it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). There was no death, disease, or despair. But sin entered through human rebellion, fracturing our relationship with God and unleashing suffering into creation (Genesis 3:16-19, Romans 5:12). Since then, the world has groaned under the weight of brokenness.
Suffering Is a Result of a Broken World
Why does God allow suffering to happen?
Romans 8:22-23 says: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”
This means not all suffering is the result of personal sin, but all suffering exists because of the fall. The world is not as it was meant to be — and that ache you feel is a longing for the wholeness God originally designed.
5 Reasons Why God Allows Suffering
- Refine Us.
- Increase Our Reliance On God.
- Shift Our Perspective.
- Know and Experience Jesus.
- Build Us Up.
One reason why God allows suffering is to refine us. 1 Peter 1:7 tells us, “so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Trials and suffering, like the refining fire, purify and strengthen our faith, which makes it more valuable than gold. Refining, though painful and torturous at times, strengthens our faith.
Another reason why God allows suffering is to increase our reliance on Him. Pain and suffering work very quickly to show us what we ultimately rely on. God desires we rely on Him above all things.
God allows suffering to shift our perspective from our current circumstances to our future glory. Romans 8:18 tells us, “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us”.
God also allows suffering so we know and experience Jesus intimately. Jesus was the suffering servant. He knows everything we are going through and draws us close to Him. Psalm 62:8 tells us, “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”
The final reason why God allows suffering is to build us up so that we build others up. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”
God Is Not the Author of Evil — But He Is Sovereign Over It
It’s vital to understand that God does not cause evil, nor does He delight in your pain. James 1:13 says, “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” Yet somehow — in a way our finite minds cannot fully grasp — He is still sovereign over every detail of life.
Think of Joseph in Genesis. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned — yet in the end, he tells them:
“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20)
God doesn’t waste our suffering. He weaves even the worst moments into a greater redemptive story. Nothing is beyond His ability to redeem.
Suffering Can Shape Us for Greater Good
Pain is never pleasant, but in God’s hands, it can become purposeful. Romans 5:3-4 teaches:
“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”
In seasons of hardship, our faith is refined. Our dependence on God deepens. Our compassion for others grows. Suffering strips away self-reliance and pride, and it teaches us to anchor our hope in eternity.
C.S. Lewis once wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
That’s not to say every suffering is a lesson or a divine test — sometimes, life simply hurts because we live in a broken world. But even then, God is not absent. He is close.
Related: Psalm 91 Devotional
God Is Near to the Brokenhearted
One of the most repeated truths in Scripture is this: God is with us in our suffering. He does not leave us to walk through it alone.
Psalm 34:18 assures us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
When Jesus came to earth, He didn’t avoid pain, He embraced it. He wept at Lazarus’ tomb. He sweat blood in Gethsemane. He cried out in agony on the cross. Jesus knows what it means to suffer — physically, emotionally, spiritually.
And because of His suffering, He is uniquely able to comfort us in ours:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…” Hebrews 4:15
There is no pain you face that Jesus hasn’t felt. No tears you cry that He doesn’t see.
Related: For Your Sake
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Eternal Hope Changes Our Perspective on Present Pain
Romans 8:18 gives us this powerful promise:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
This isn’t minimizing your pain — it’s magnifying your hope. As believers, we live with the assurance that this world is not the end of the story. One day, God will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4).
What a glorious day it will be!
Until that day, we grieve — but not without hope!
What Should We Do When We’re in the Middle of Suffering?
Here are a few biblical, practical steps:
✦ Suffering and Faith: Be Honest with God
Don’t bottle it up. The Psalms are full of raw, honest prayers. God can handle your questions and your grief.
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1)
In The Lord I Take Refuge is a great devotional resource on 150 Psalms by Dane Ortlund.
✦ Suffering and Faith: Cling to God’s Promises
Even when feelings fail, His Word stands. Write down verses. Speak them out loud. Let truth fight the lies of despair.
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Related: 5 Biblical Ways to Find Peace in A Chaotic World
✦ Suffering and Faith: Lean on Community
You weren’t meant to suffer alone. The body of Christ exists to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
Reach out. Be honest. Let others walk with you.
You may be surprised who God brings along your path to rescue and encourage your weary soul.
✦ Suffering and Faith: Wait with Expectation
God may not answer all your “why” questions, but He always offers Himself. Keep watch for glimpses of His goodness even in the dark.
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13)
Biblical View of Pain: There Is Purpose in the Pain
We may never fully understand why God allows certain things. But we know this: God is good. God is with us. And God is not done. Suffering may last for a season, but it does not have the final word. Jesus does.
So if you’re walking through the fire today, know that God is refining you, not abandoning you. He is shaping your story, not forgetting it. And He promises that nothing—not even your deepest pain—can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38–39).
I have created a free printable on God’s Promises with scriptures that you can use as a reminder when needed!
A Prayer for the Suffering:
Father, I don’t understand everything I’m going through. But I trust that You are good, and You are near. Be my refuge. Be my strength. Help me hold on to hope, even when I can’t see the way forward. Use this pain for Your glory and for my growth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
For more encouragement, check out these scriptures on suffering that bring hope!
Hope in the Hard Places Series
Part 1: Why God Allows Suffering – A Christian Devotional on Pain and Faith (You’re here)
Part 2: Christian Mental Health – Faith, Healing, and Wholeness
Part 3: Coming soon!