Why do godly believers suffer?

I want to talk about what the Bible says about pain and suffering in the Christian life.

I will not be defending the goodness of God. That is a given. The Scriptures are clear that God is good, and we believe God’s Word.

Nor will I be defending the idea that hell does not violate God’s goodness. I have written before about Hades and the lake of fire. They are both tolerable torment, though more tolerable for some than others.

I am writing on this subject from the standpoint of the Bible, not from the standpoint of having had a terrible life of pain and suffering that enables me to teach you from my experiences.

Here are three important questions about pain and suffering:

1. Why do godly believers experience pain and suffering, sometimes even specifically because they are godly believers?
2. What should our attitude, as spiritual believers, be to the pain and suffering we experience?
3. What can we do to lessen our pain and handle it better?

First, godly believers suffer for several reasons:

• We are part of Adam’s race. If Adam had not sinned, then there would have been no pain or suffering for his offspring.
• Godly believers experience suffering for Christ because God considers us worthy to share in His sufferings (Acts 5:41; 2 Thess 1:5). Suffering for our faith is an honor. It is not a punishment.
• Pain and suffering produce maturity and steadfastness in us if we learn what God would have us to learn.
• Our pain and suffering cause us to groan for the coming kingdom (2 Cor 5:2, 4).

Second, what should be our attitude regarding pain and suffering?

• God uses pain and suffering to cause us to grow (Heb 12:11; 1 Pet 5:10).
• Our pain is short-lived and causes us to long for Christ’s return.
• Suffering for our faith is an honor.
• God provides the way to handle our trials (1 Cor 10:13).
• Being upset by wickedness is a form of suffering for Christ (2 Pet 2:7-8).

Third, what can we do to lessen our pain and handle it well?

The Bible does not say much about how to handle physical and psychological pain. But it does give principles that help us deal with pain and suffering.

In addition to having the five attitudes suggested above, I would suggest several other Biblical ways to handle our physical and psychological pain:

• Take pain meds as needed. (“Take a little wine…”)
• Get plenty of sleep and exercise (1 Tim 4:8).
• Avoid self-induced pain.
• Get counseling as needed and take psych meds if needed (but beware, since they are overprescribed).
• Make sure you are in a solid Bible-teaching church.
• Help other believers as they help you. If possible, use your suffering to minister to others.

I long for the day when I will no longer experience panic attacks, anxiety, back pain, hip pain, kidney stones, and migraines. I so look forward to the time when I will never sin again.

If we had no pain in life, we would likely die young. Pain warns us and teaches us. While we will not need such warnings and instruction when we have glorified bodies, we do need pain and suffering in our mortal bodies.

I am sorry for your pain and suffering. But I know that God can and will give you the grace you need if you walk with Him. He will give you what you need to handle suffering in ways that glorify Him and that will bring honor and praise to you at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Keep grace in focus.