The Blessings of Trusting God in Pain and Suffering

I’m cleaning out the basket above the fridge when I discover a tattered calendar. Opening it, I flip through the empty pages. I remember the year vividly. It was a year marked by pain and suffering. Illness kept the calendar blank for months. At the time, I was blind to the blessings of trusting God in our circumstances.

Surprisingly, I realize I’m smiling as I reflect on the year.

I recall the tears, the sorrow, and the prayers that seemed to go unanswered for months.

At the time, those unanswered prayers didn’t feel like something to smile about.

The Blessings of Trusting God

Most likely, you have a few unanswered prayers, too.

Maybe you’re praying for a child who turned away from the Lord or a friend who has never turned toward him.

Perhaps you’ve been praying for an ailing loved one, a financial blessing, a victory, an apology, or a breakthrough. Possibly, you’ve grown weary from waiting for God to answer your prayer. You wonder if you should just stop asking.

As I look back on the year my prayers seemed to go unanswered, I see what I couldn’t see in the middle of my pain and suffering: Even when God seems silent, he is still working.

Perhaps we all need to sit with our unanswered prayers and consider this: What God is doing in us is more important than what he is doing for us.

The Blessings of Trusting God in Pain and Suffering

This phrase sounds spiritual and truthful. However, when I’m in a season of suffering—a season of unanswered prayers regarding my pain—I don’t usually care too much about what God is doing within me. I just want the suffering to pass.

In these times, I often tell God that if he would just change my circumstances, everything would be better. I’d be less distracted, more joyful, and readily able to serve him. It seems to me that answering my prayer is the one way God might bring the greatest glory to his name.

The words of Scripture offer a different suggestion about our pain and suffering: “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10).

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10). #Jesus #PainandSuffering Share on X

Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, was perfected through suffering.

If the Savior of the world was made perfect through what he suffered, should we expect something less—something easier?

Jesus Learned Obedience Through Pain and Suffering

God promises to use all things for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Furthermore, he defines good in this way: conforming us to the image of Jesus (See Romans 8:28-29).

God doesn’t always answer my prayers in the ways I want him to answer because he’s doing something in me that is more important than removing my suffering.

God uses pain and suffering to shape and mold us into the image of his Son. Perhaps this is the greatest of the blessings of trusting God in suffering.

David Gotts, the founder of International China Concern, wrote these words:

“Pain and suffering eventually come to us all. At some point, we will all find ourselves in places of darkness that will seemingly overwhelm, even destroy us. . . . But here is what I have learned. Every journey into darkness, whilst terrifying, has unexpected treasures hidden in it.”

The Blessings of Trusting God:

Even in our darkest hours, the blessings of trusting God are available for us all.

“Every journey into darkness, whilst terrifying, has unexpected treasures hidden in it.”

Are you suffering?

Don’t lose hope.

What God is doing in you throughout this season is far more important than what he is doing for you. Here are several of his blessings:

1. He is helping you become mature and complete (James 1:2-4).

2. He is molding you to look more like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29).

3. God is waiting to reveal his power in your weakness. Lean into his grace and watch for his power to move (2 Corinthians 12:10).

4. He is waiting to comfort you so that you can comfort others just as he comforted you (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

5. He is helping you grow in trust so that you can face the future with a trusting heart (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I invite you to scroll to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you find hope in times of pain and suffering.

Calling All Parents and Grandparents!

As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.

Calling All Boy Moms (and Dads)!

God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.

Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter

Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.

Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.

Find Our Family Devotionals Here

Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.

Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing

God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!

A Free Devotional Book to Help You Find Strength in God:

I have a gift for you today. Hope for Hard Days is my free 10-day online devotional to help you hold onto hope when life is tough. You will find 10 readings to help you connect with God and rest in his sufficiency. Click here and I’ll send it to your email inbox today for free with promo code HOPE.