Why Do We Have to Suffer?

Suffering. It's a word that carries weight. It's something we all encounter in life, whether it’s the death of a loved one, a difficult diagnosis, the pain of rejection, or simply the frustration of unmet hopes and dreams. And in those moments, when the weight of suffering feels unbearable, we may ask the age-old question: Why do we have to suffer?

The truth is that suffering can feel senseless. It’s hard to reconcile pain with the idea of a loving, good God. We know that God is sovereign and all-powerful, so why does He allow such hurt and heartache? 

As Christians, we might struggle to understand why we, who follow Christ, must endure suffering. Yet, even in the midst of our questions, the Bible offers insights that can help us navigate these painful seasons, pointing us toward hope even when the answers don’t come easily or make sense to us.

Suffering is Part of the Human Condition

First, it’s important to remember that suffering is part of the human experience. The world became broken from the moment Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Pain, suffering, and death entered the picture as a result of humanity’s rebellion (the sin of Adam & Eve: Genesis 3:16-19). In a sense, suffering is the consequence of living in a fallen world—a world that no longer operates the way God originally intended.

In the New Testament, Jesus warned us that we would face trouble in this world. In John 16:33, He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This reminder can be comforting in that it acknowledges our struggles without minimizing them. Life isn’t easy. Suffering is not a punishment for our sin, but rather a natural result of living in a world that is not yet fully redeemed. 

Suffering May Be the Consequence of Our Choices

There are times when suffering may be the consequence of the choices we make. In the Christian worldview, this concept aligns with the principle of personal responsibility. It also goes along with the idea that God has given us free will. When we make bad choices, the results can be bad. Consider these Bible verses: 

• Luke 15:17-18: I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” (The story of the Prodigal Son can be found in Luke 15). 

• Galatians 6:7-8: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap eternal life. 

• Proverbs 4:23: Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. 

• Hebrews 12:6: My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. 

All of these verses have to do with the consequences of our choices, but they also lead up to 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So, we can have hope if we turn to Christ, humbly confess our sins, and ask for forgiveness. God has provided a way to get help even when we make mistakes. 

Of course, suffering is not always the result of our actions, but many instances of pain occur because of the decisions we make. The Bible makes it clear that we reap the consequences of our actions—whether they’re good or bad. However, in cases where suffering comes from our wrong choices, God’s grace and mercy are available to help us. 

If we turn to God, His grace and mercy can heal and guide us along better paths. Even in our mistakes, there is the opportunity for redemption, growth, and transformation.

God Uses Suffering to Draw Us Closer to Him

While suffering is a natural part of life, it doesn’t mean that God is indifferent to it. In fact, God allows suffering to draw us closer to Him. It’s during times of pain that we often feel the need to turn to God in ways that we might not when things are easy. The psalmist reminds us that God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and throughout Scripture, we see God showing up in powerful ways during people’s times of deepest pain.

    • God provided comfort to Hagar and her son Ishmael: Genesis 21:17-19

    • God provided for Elijah during a famine: 1 Kings 17:14-16

    • God healed Hezekiah’s illness: Isaiah 38:5-6

    • God restored the Israelites after the Babylonian exile: Isaiah 61:3

    • God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt: Exodus 3:7-8

    • God comforted Job during his suffering: Job 42:10

    • God delivered Daniel from the Lion’s den: Daniel 6:22

    • Jesus healed a blind man: John 9:1-7

    • Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood: Mark 5:34

    • Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead: John 11:43-44

    • Jesus calmed the storm: Mark 4:39

    • The healing of the paralyzed man: Mark 2:10-12

These are only a few of the times God eased people’s suffering in the Bible. There are many more instances, but these passages give you an idea of how God helps us in times of trouble. 

In the midst of suffering, we are often forced to face our limitations and helplessness. In these moments, we can experience God’s comfort and presence in ways we might never otherwise know. 

The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, spoke of a time when he endured great suffering and received God’s assurance that His grace was sufficient. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God does not waste our suffering. In His compassion, He uses our pain to bring us closer to Him, deepening our trust and dependence on His strength.

Suffering Shapes Our Character

As painful as it is, suffering can shape us into the people God wants us to be. The apostle James writes, “My brethern, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4).

Suffering refines us. It strengthens our faith, deepens our character, and helps us grow in ways that comfort and success never could. Think about it: we don’t learn perseverance or resilience times are easy. Only in the face of hardship do we discover the strength we didn’t know we had. And that strength is not our own—it’s the power of Christ working in us.

The key is to allow God to work through our suffering. He meets us in the midst, but only if we allow Him. God will not force Himself on us—He waits for us to call out and turn to Him and accept His help. 

If we don’t accept God’s help, we can quickly develop a root of bitterness in our hearts, minds, and souls. That bitterness can lead to always feeling like a victim and/or developing a victim mentality. That life is one of misery and negativism. It doesn’t lead to life. By choosing Christ, the root of bitterness is cut out, and we are set free to follow Him. The “cutting out” may be a painful process, but then we have a better chance at a fulfilling, positive life in God. 

Suffering Opens Our Eyes to the Hope We Have in Christ

Another deep reason for suffering is that it serves to point us toward the hope we have in Christ. The pain we experience in this world is temporary and serves as a reminder that we are made for something greater. 

We were not created to live in a world of suffering forever. Revelation 21:4 promises that God will “wipe every tear from their eyes one day. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

When we suffer, we are reminded that this life is not the end of the story. Our present struggles, as difficult as they are, pale compared to the eternal joy that awaits those in Christ.

Suffering has a way of stripping away the illusions of this world and redirecting our gaze to the eternal hope we have in Jesus. That hope does not remove the pain we experience today but gives us a reason to press on, knowing that glory awaits us.

Suffering Creates Empathy and Compassion

Another aspect of suffering is how it can deepen our empathy for others. When we walk through pain ourselves, we gain a deeper understanding of the struggles others face. It opens our hearts to people in ways that we might otherwise miss. We become more compassionate and more willing to walk alongside those who are hurting because we know firsthand what it feels like to deal with pain, spiritual anguish, and hardship.

Paul encourages us in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “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.” Our suffering, when surrendered to God, becomes a way to minister to others in their pain and trials.

Suffering: A Mystery We Don’t Always Understand

“Why do we have to suffer?” is a question that often feels like a mystery. There’s no easy answer to this question. The reality is that suffering is an inherent part of the human experience, a result of living in a broken world. Yet, even in the midst of our pain, we can trust that God is with us, working in us, and ultimately working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). 

Though we may not understand why we suffer, we can rest assured that God is using it to refine us, deepen our relationship with Him, and point us to the eternal hope we have in Christ.

Suffering doesn’t have to be the end of the story. When we trust God with our pain, He transforms it into something greater, drawing us closer to Him and making us more like Jesus.

God bless,

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