Austin's Blog

We often struggle with the “Why?” question when we suffer. “Why is this happening to me?” Though the specific reason for our suffering is a mystery on this side of eternity, Scripture is not silent. God’s Word offers a host of purposes behind the suffering His people face. Joni Eareckson Tada and Steve Estes list 36 of them in an appendix in their book When God Weeps: Why Our Sufferings Matter to the Almighty.

1. Suffering is used to increase our awareness of the sustaining power of God to whom we owe our sustenance (Psa. 68:19).
2. God uses suffering to refine, perfect, strengthen, and keep us from falling (Psa. 66:8-9; Heb. 2:10).
3. Suffering allows the life of Christ to be manifested in our mortal flesh (2 Cor. 4:7-11).
4. Suffering bankrupts us, making us dependent upon God (2 Cor. 12:9).
5. Suffering teaches us humility (2 Cor. 12:7).
6. Suffering imparts the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:1-11).
7. Suffering teaches us that God is more concerned about character than comfort (Rom. 5:3-4; Heb 12:10-11).
8. Suffering teaches us that the greatest good of the Christian life is not absence of pain, but Christlikeness (2 Cor. 4:8-10; Rom. 8:28-29).
9. Suffering can be a chastisement from God for sin and rebellion (Psa. 107:17).
10. Obedience and self-control are from suffering (Heb. 5:8; Psa. 119:67; Rom. 5:1-5; James 1:2-8; Phil. 3:10).
11. Voluntary suffering is one way to demonstrate the love of God (2 Cor. 8:1-2, 9).
12. Suffering is part of the struggle against sin (Heb. 12:4-13).
13. Suffering is part of the struggle against evil men (Psa. 27:12; 37:14-15).
14. Suffering is part of the struggle for the kingdom of God (2 Thess. 1:5).
15. Suffering is part of the struggle for the gospel (2 Tim. 2:8-9).
16. Suffering is part of the struggle against injustice (1 Pet. 2:19).
17. Suffering is part of the struggle for the name of Christ (Acts 5:41; 1 Pet. 4:14).
18. Suffering indicates how the righteous become sharers in Christ’s suffering (2 Cor. 1:5; 1 Pet. 4:12-13).
19. Endurance of suffering is given as a cause for reward (2 Cor 4:17; 2 Tim 2:12).
20. Suffering forces community and the administration of the gifts for the common good (Phil. 4:12-15).
21. Suffering binds Christians together into a common or joint purpose (Rev. 1:9).
22. Suffering produces discernment, knowledge, and teaches us God’s statutes (Psa. 119:66-67, 71).
23. Through suffering God is able to obtain our broken and contrite spirit which He desires (Psa. 51:16-17).
24. Suffering causes us to discipline our minds by making us focus our hope on the grace to be revealed at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:6, 13).
25. God uses suffering to humble us so He can exalt us at the proper time (1 Pet. 5:6-7).
26. Suffering teaches us to number our days so we can present to God a heart of wisdom (Psa. 90:7-12).
27. Suffering is sometimes necessary to win the lost (2 Tim. 2:8-10; 4:5-6).
28. Suffering strengthens and allows us to comfort others who are weak (2 Cor. 1:3-11).
29. Suffering is small compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ (Phil. 3:8).
30. God desires truth in our innermost being and one way He does it is through suffering (Psa. 51:6; 119:17).
31. The equity for suffering will be found in the next life (Psa. 58:10-11).
32. Suffering is always coupled with a greater source of grace (2 Tim. 1:7-8; 4:16-18).
33. Suffering teaches us to give thanks in times of sorrow (1 Thess. 5:17; 2 Cor. 1:11).
34. Suffering increases faith (Jer. 29:11).
35. Suffering allows God to manifest His care (Psa. 56:8).
36. Suffering stretches our hope (Job 13:14-15).