If Suffering Is Not for Nothing, What Is It For?
Suffering is no stranger to me. In many ways, my whole life has been marked by it. Some of it was passed down through generations of sin and brokenness. Some of it came from my own poor decisions. And some of it came simply because I live in a fallen world where pain and loss are inevitable.
I don’t say this to wear my pain or suffering as a badge of honor. If I could give it back, I would. Suffering is hard. It wears you down in body, mind, and soul. And perhaps one of the most complex parts of suffering is how isolating it can be. Few people are genuinely willing to walk with you in suffering for the long haul. They might be there for a moment, but when your pain doesn’t resolve quickly, the road can get lonely.
When I speak about my suffering, I am not speaking in the past tense. Even now, as I write these words, many aspects of my suffering remain unresolved. Chronic illness, relational wounds, and financial strain have all continued to press on me. I’ve prayed for relief, for “normal” to return, for the ability to work and live without so many limitations. And yet here I am, still walking this road.
In my more weary moments, I’ve found myself asking, “Why, Lord? Why allow this again and again? What good could possibly come from it?” Those questions aren’t new to the people of God. Throughout Scripture, we find men and women crying out in their pain, asking God for the same things. And again and again, His Word reminds us that suffering is not an accident or an afterthought in the life of a believer. It is something He told us to expect.
In John 16:33, Jesus said,
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (ESV)
Christ’s words alone should quell our surprise at suffering. Yet even when it no longer catches us off guard, we may not fully understand what God is doing through it. Still, we can be certain He uses every trial to anchor us, shape us, and draw our hearts toward eternity.
Suffering Deepens Our Dependence on God
When Jesus told His disciples they would have trouble in this world, He also told them where to find peace—in Him. Our suffering forces us to see how little control we have, and it invites us to lean on Christ Jesus, who has overcome the world. The apostle Paul also understood the reality of needing to rely entirely on Christ. In 2 Corinthians 1:8, Paul writes that he and his companions were “so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself” (ESV).
Then he goes on to explain that this happened “to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead” (v. 9 ESV). Ultimately, suffering undermines self-sufficiency by stripping away the illusion that we can manage life in our own strength. That’s painful, but it’s also merciful. Because the safest, most secure place for a believer to be is in complete obedience and dependence on the Lord.
And friend, I have learned this while navigating through the valleys of life. Chronic illness has forced me to let go of my ideal picture of productivity. Financial strain has made me cry out for God’s provision. Relational wounds have driven me to cling to the One who will never forsake me. In the end, these trials—though unwanted—have pressed me closer to the heart of God.
Suffering Shapes Our Character and Strengthens Our Hope
Paul writes in Romans 5:3–5,
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 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. (ESV)
We often want God to change our circumstances, but the truth is that God is far more concerned with changing us. When our suffering is received in faith, it produces endurance, a steady, faithful perseverance when life is hard. Endurance shapes our character. And a refined, Christlike character fuels our hope.
Notice that Paul says this hope will not put us to shame. Why? Because it’s rooted in God’s love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. In other words, suffering can be a stage where God reminds us that we are loved. That we are His. And that He will not abandon us.
For me, this is where God’s Word has been my lifeline. The longer I walk with Him through hardship, the more I see His faithfulness. My hope isn’t wishful thinking—it’s grounded in His unchanging character.
Suffering Fixes Our Eyes on Eternity
Paul also says in 2 Corinthians 4:17–18,
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 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. (ESV)
Paul’s words are not a call to minimize our suffering. If anyone knew suffering well, it was Paul. Instead, he’s showing us how to measure it. Compared to the eternal glory that awaits us, even a lifetime of suffering is momentary.
Suffering loosens our grip on the temporal and trains us to long for the eternal. When we remember that the end of the story is glory with Christ, our perspective shifts. In my own life, I’ve found this truth to be a steady anchor. There are days when I have to remind myself, “This is not forever.” One day, our Lord will heal every pain, wipe away every tear, and we will finally see Him face to face. That, my friend, is the blessed hope that keeps me going.
When You’re in the Valley
While it’s helpful to understand from Scripture how God uses suffering for His purposes, that understanding alone does not make suffering easy. It doesn’t erase the ache or shorten the road, but it does anchor us in truth and steady us in our most difficult seasons.
Over time, I’ve also learned some very practical tools in my own journey of suffering—things that have not only shaped my understanding of suffering but have also helped me navigate it day by day.
1. Pray.
Not quick, polished prayers but honest, soul-deep cries to God. There have been times I have sat down to pray, not even knowing if I would have the strength to get up afterward. Yet God has met me there, giving me the strength to keep going. Prayer is not wasted time. Prayer is action. It is where we draw on the power of the One who sustains us. Some things come only by prayer, and when we pray we are actively looking to Him for help.
2. Stay in the Word.
In my most recent seasons of suffering, immersing myself in God’s Word—both individually and within my church community—has been a lifeline. Studying the book of Job with my sisters in Christ during a season of intense personal trial renewed my hope and deepened my trust in God.
And that’s the beautiful thing about Scripture. It recalibrates our hearts, shows us who God is, and reminds us of the hope we have in Him when our circumstances are screaming the opposite.
3. Lean on godly friends.
We need friends who can bear our burdens, speak truth to us, and remind us of the hope we share in Christ. Be discerning about who you invite into your suffering. Some will respond like Job’s friends, but others (particularly those who have walked through the fire themselves) can come alongside you in ways that bring life, strength, and comfort. There is a unique and inexplicable blessing in suffering alongside believers who genuinely understand and will continually point you to Christ.
If suffering truly isn’t for nothing, then I pray you can see that it is for something far greater than we often realize. Scripture reminds us that God never wastes the suffering of His people. If you are in the valley today, or if your suffering has left you overwhelmed with grief, take heart and rest in the truth that God has not left you without hope—real, lasting, eternal hope.
Keep crying out to Him. Keep anchoring your heart in His Word. Surround yourself with those who will walk with you and point you back to the hope you have in Christ. And one day, you will stand in His presence and see with perfect clarity how even this was woven into His plan for your eternal joy and His eternal glory.
At True Woman ’25, join thousands of women hungry for truth, revival, and a deeper walk with Christ. Through powerful teaching, heartfelt worship, and unforgettable moments in God’s presence, you’ll be challenged to live surrendered and anchored in His Word. Don’t miss this gathering of women who long to behold the wonder of the Word. Make plans to join us October 2–4, 2025, in Indianapolis.
Register now—and come expectant.
