
Understanding Suffering
When suffering happens most people tend to blame
If God is a loving God, why would He allow anyone to
Why does suffering happen?
Is suffering God’s fault?
In order to understand suffering we must first understand the
Who is God?
Exodus 34:6-7 ESV
6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
According to the Bible, God is
What is the cause of suffering?
Genesis 3:16-19 ESV
16 To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”
17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
When sin entered the world, pain and
Suffering for believers is usually caused in the following ways:
Our own sin, selfishness or immaturity.
The sins of others, their selfishness or immaturity.
By being a follower of Christ and serving the Lord.
As disciples, we must have the willingness to accept
God Uses Suffering for His Purposes
Jesus Suffered
*1 Peter 3:18* ESV
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
Christians Suffer
*Romans 5:3-5* ESV
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Developing a Biblical Mindset of Suffering
Suffering will shape you to be more like Christ and bring glory to God.
Hebrews 12:2 ESV
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Philippians 3:10 ESV
That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Suffering Produces Growth in Disciples of Jesus
As disciples it is God’s will for us to
Our minds and hearts can be transformed and have a change in direction.
Suffering causes us to seek after God.
Suffering teaches us obedience.
Psalm 119:67 ESV
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
Suffering Advances God’s Kingdom
Through suffering God breaks us in order to use us.
Suffering equips us for ministry.
Suffering allows us to minister comfort to others who suffer.
Suffering develops a humble dependence on God.
Suffering displays God’s strength through our weakness.
God accomplishes His will through suffering.
We suffer for the sake of Christ.
Philippians 1:29 ESV
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
God is With Us in Our Suffering
Romans 8:28 ESV
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
1 Peter 5:10 ESV
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 3:14 ESV
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
Psalm 34:19 ESV
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Additional Scriptures on Suffering
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Matthew 10:38 ESV
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
1 Peter 2:20-21 ESV
20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 4:16 ESV
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
1 Peter 5:10 ESV
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
James 1:12 ESV
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
2 Timothy 2:3 ESV
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:8 ESV
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
Application Questions
Why do people blame God for their suffering?
What is the cause of suffering?
How does our suffering make us more like Christ?
What are some of the fruits of suffering that God has produced in your life?
How does suffering advance the Kingdom of God?
How do we develop a Biblical mindset of suffering?
Who is called to suffer?
Who is the one who calls us to suffer?
Is the calling to suffering a hardship or a privilege?
What are ways that we can rejoice in suffering?
What is it like to fellowship in another’s suffering?
How does God’s sovereignty play into suffering?
Scripture quotations identified ESV are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.