Psalms 30:5, “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning,”

“What did I do to deserve this?”

“Where is God in all of this?”

“Is God punishing me?”

“Does He really love me?”

“If He’s so good, why do these bad things happen?”

Anyone who has experienced sorrow or pain have likely asked some of these questions. They reflect the level of grief their sorrowing hearts are experiencing. They also reflect an unbiblical understanding about our sovereign Lord.

Am I saying that if we study the Bible harder, we wouldn’t experience pain anymore? Are believers somehow exempt? Heavens, no. In fact, the Bible promises we will have pain. Jesus says in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:12, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you,”

The lives of Christians are usually marked by suffering. We are not exempt. God never promises us a happy life, but He does tell us we can live in peace and contentment. How is that possible as long as sorrow and grief exist?

Paul tells us, in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” You see, this is something that is available to us. We can learn this same secret. We learn it through the study of God’s word and by viewing Him rightly.

God is beyond our understanding, yet He has revealed much about Himself. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving. Could He have ordered creation in such a way that suffering, and hardship are nonexistent? You bet He could! But that wasn’t His plan.

From the beginning of life on earth, people have experienced all types of suffering and pain, unbelievable grief, and problem after problem. All this was brought on by the disobedience of Adam in the garden. Sin entered the world—and nothing has been the same since.

God, who is beyond our comprehension, has devised ways to grow us up. Yes, He could just zap us with strength and endurance and wisdom. But He doesn’t work that way. Instead, He gives us hardships to endure and problems to solve, obstacles to overcome and pain that tenderizes our hearts.

Why does He do this? Because it brings eventual blessing to us and glory to Him.

James 1:3-4 gives us an answer. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Trials don’t make us giddy with happiness. What should delight our hearts is knowing that these trials are not for nothing. They have purpose. Trials develop greater spiritual maturity in us. Trials make us stronger. Trials teach us how to comfort others. Trials cause us to drop to our knees and pray to the only God, our Father, who can teach us, grow us, and deliver us from evil of every sort. And, as James says, through perseverance through trials we are made complete, lacking nothing.

None of us would script these events into our lives if we had that opportunity. Life would be rosy. Never would we encounter death or pain or sickness or loss of a job or a home. Never would we again experience heartache or financial chaos or divorce, anxiety or worry, depression, or addiction. Never again would anyone betray us or hurt us. In fact, in such a world, why would we even need faith?

My son says if we expect to live life without any problems, we’re confused. That life is in sinless heaven rather than sin-filled and sin-corrupted creation. It’s unreasonable and unbiblical to believe we can live without pain and adversity. That’s what heaven is—not this life. 

The more we understand God’s word, the more we see this as God’s pattern. He gives these sorrows to make us better, smarter, stronger—able to handle anything. We’re given examples of those God loved. Abraham. Moses. Joseph. King David. Solomon. Daniel. Christ’s disciples. Stephen. Paul. Read about their lives. Did He exempt them from suffering? No.

The supreme example is of His own Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a sinless life. Oh, so He must have been exempt from suffering, right? No. Read about His life. So much pain. So much suffering. So much agony. He took on our filth and died for us, paying the penalty we deserved. His pain had purpose.

That purpose was to save His people, to forge a way to make us right with God, to justify us before Him, to substitute His perfection for our sinfulness, and to give us the right to be heirs with Him in heaven.

Some may think this article is not loving enough, that it doesn’t give enough warm fuzzies to those who are hurting. “I am familiar with pain, but I have also come to believe that all the warm fuzzies, all the hugs, and all the ‘bless your hearts’ in the world aren’t going to move us beyond our pain. They might make us feel better temporarily, but they’re like putting a Band-Aid on a wound. They cover the wound and make it feel better, but they don’t heal the wound.”[i] The only thing that will truly heal that wound is God’s truth.

Do you struggle with whether God truly loves you? If you belong to Him, you don’t have to ask. He’s already proven His love for you.

Think about the cross. “That’s where the ultimate, irrefutable, undeniable, objective proof of His love can be seen most clearly. When we spend precious time pouting, thinking God doesn’t love us, we should measure that love by a lonely hillside outside Jerusalem.”[ii]

If God has saved you by His grace, believe in His promises. He never said we wouldn’t go through suffering. What He said was that we wouldn’t go through it alone. He is with us. Our pain has purpose. He has custom-designed it and will bring us through it—and draw us nearer to Him in the process.

We’re all familiar with the beautiful picture of “Footprints in the Sand.” When are we closest to our Father? When He is carrying us. When does He carry us? During the most painful periods of our lives. We are closest to Him when we’re suffering.  

If He has made you His beloved child, that means Christ died for you. If He never did another kind thing for you the rest of your life, that is already more than you deserve. But He doesn’t leave us there. He continues to bless us, to love us, to sanctify us by His word. If our lives are peppered with pain and trouble, we mustn’t doubt His goodness towards us.

“Concentrate on what God wants us to learn from each day’s journey, whether it is easy or hard, sad or glad—for we will be stronger when daylight breaks.”[iii]

God is certainly good. He cannot be otherwise. Draw near to Him through His word. Ask Him to lead you along the paths He has created just for you. He may bring you through tough times where you will weep and mourn. But there will be joy in the morning.

[i] Where is God in All of This? Deborah Howard, P&R Publishing, 2008, p. 11.

[ii] It’s Not Fair, Wayne Mack and Deborah Howard, P&R Publishing, 2008, p. 50.

[iii] Sweeter Than Honey, Dwayne Hornbeck.