Suffering. Not what I want to deal with in this life. Our minds, bodies, and emotions cry out to say “No, way! Don’t sign me up for that.” But what if you knew your suffering would be the catalyst to your child finding joy above measure? Or life itself? How much are you willing to suffer for them? If you knew your suffering was the catalyst to changing the world, what then? How many people’s lives are enough to make you willing to suffer yourself? Are you willing to endure suffering for a time if you could save another’s life? How can we consider that God uses our suffering to deliver the world to joy. Does my suffering have a purpose within God’s Sovereign grace toward me? Is not suffering the story throughout the Bible? Including. Is that not the story of Jesus Christ, God’s Own Son?
From the moment of the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden, suffering has been a part of this world. That is the promise. Yet, without that having been allowed, how was it that Adam and Eve did not even realize their blessings. Until they were gone. Can you know joy if there is never any sorrow? How would you recognize it? C.S. Lewis says he was surprised by joy. A fleeting glimpse of something he did not have here in his life on earth as a child. Those fleeting glimpses of a sensation of true joy led him to Christ. There was a time when he was haunted by the fact true joy could exist but eluded him. He searched everywhere until there it was. He found it when he realized it was a relationship with Jesus Christ that gave full joy.
God Uses Our Suffering to lead us to Christ
Just like C.S. Lewis, look back at your life. If you always had everything perfect, would you have considered Christ? Unless you recognize you need Him, why would you seek Him? Oh, there are some so awe-inspired by the magnificence of the beauty and intricacy of this world, they recognize there must be a creator. No possible way, everything was so magnificently fit together otherwise. The wonder of it all! Yet, we would not ever seek a Savior unless we are confronted with our own need. Could I know the wonder of a cool drink of water, unless I have experienced a parched, dry mouth? Can I know light having never experienced darkness? Darkness is the absence of light.
God is perfect righteousness, goodness, love, and joy. The absence of God’s divine presence within the spirit of humanity is a disconnect from the energy source of light, joy, hope, and goodness. Unless we are born again of the spirit, we cannot know life in its fullness.
In His kindness, God provides a common grace. This common grace allows lost souls to experience flickers of love, joy, hope, and goodness. These flickers are to draw them to Him. We see those acts of kindness contrasting that with the evil, suffering, and sorrow surrounding us. This is to open our eyes that we might desire Him.
But what about once we know Him? Why are Christians called to suffer? Because as we walk through suffering, we become more like Christ. Then, as we display more of Him to the world around us they come to accept Him as Savior. Particularly, when people see us endure suffering with a deep steadfast, abiding joy within us as our faith grows. But let us look at some prime examples of how this from scripture.
Paul – Expounds on how God uses our suffering
But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3: 7-11 NASB
What led to Paul letting go of all else to see that Jesus was worth more than anything else? It had been through the pain and suffering he faced that helped him to realize this. The pain and suffering brought him to recognize that serving Jesus was the only true joy and purpose of this life. In this he saw how by being joined with the suffering of Christ, his heart and soul were being transformed by the Holy Spirit.
How God Uses Suffering: a glimpse into my heart.
I have not suffered like Paul. Yet my suffering helped me to see God. A glimpse of His Glory. I did not understand His unconditional love until He transformed this human heart into one which could love one person so much. God gave me an unconditional love for Pete. Forgiveness was deeply built in. Although humanly impossible. But GOD! That was the first inkling of understanding God’s love for me. But that love cannot leave one to wallow in their sin; but lifts them out. Whatever it takes.
Therefore, God knowing I so desperately wanted to find a human to fill the holes in my broken heart and soul. Well, He gently guided me at first. Reminding me to avoid situations where I would fail. Then, He allowed Satan to buffet me. Or perhaps it was my own Achilles heel that I continuously confronted throughout the years. A weakness that reminded me continually of my own inability to do this on my own. Ultimately, surgery after surgery and illness upon illness led me to this broken body that does not even desire to look again for romance or love. Now my focus is on Him Now I really and truly feel overwhelmingly loved in Him alone. My heart leaps with a joy I could have never known before. No longer am I searching. Therefore, my broken body is a blessing overflowing from God’s hand of grace.
Furthermore, He constantly reminds me of my failures. My hurtful ill spoken words. My pride. And those moments of fear or anxiety, revealing faith failures. Yet, those do work to keep me humble. Much like Peter, when he denied Christ. Only then was he humbled enough to really listen and to be willing to die for Christ. So, now let us look at Peter.
Peter’s Sorrow and how God Uses Our Suffering
Peter suffered many trials in his life; but I daresay his greatest sorrow was the night he betrayed Christ 3 times. Even the resurrection, as wondrous as it was, did not remove the sensation of failure, depression, and defeat with himself. He returned to fishing believing it was the only thing he could do. How could Jesus use Him now? Yet, Jesus came to him and recommissioned him three times in a single conversation on the shore where they had first met. The question, “Peter, do you love me?” A question he had to confront in his own heart. He thought he loved Christ, but his own pride stood in the way before his failure. However, now confronted with the question of love, he realized that to truly love Jesus meant he would lay aside everything for Him.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1: 3-9 NKJV
How God Uses Our Suffering to Save Others—Jonah
Well, Jonah is a prime example of self determination leading to deep suffering himself. But all he experienced God uses to save the sailors on the ship and the people of Nineveh for a season. This despite Jonah’s attempt to run from God and his anger against God for saving “such an evil people”
In their day the Ninevites were the evilest people of all. Pagan worship, cruel tortures such as burying people up to their head in the sand waiting for the sun to slowly kill them, and cruel slavery. They hated the nation of Israel. So God sends Jonah alone with a message that God will bring judgement on them. Jonah decided then it was a good idea to go the opposite direction to run from God. He jumped on a boat.
Well, that boat was filled with idol worshipping sailors. A storm came and they prayed very hard to each of their gods to no avail. They told Jonah to pray; but, he said the storm is because of my God and my rebellion toward His command. They were even less willing to throw Jonah overboard as he suggested. Ultimately, they did. And the storm stopped. They suddenly went from worshipping their idols to worshipping the One True God.
He got swallowed by a big fish God prepared and sent. After repenting, he was spit up on shore. Went on to Nineveh. But the story went ahead of him. So, when he walked into Nineveh, the people had heard of and were frightened of God. So, they repented from the King down to the lowest person. They fasted and prayed. Even fasted their animals in hopes God would save them. He did.
So, God Uses our Suffering even of a Disobedient Servant?
Therefore, God saved a huge city of people who turned to worship Him. This despite the anger of Jonah to see it. For at least one generation, the people worshipped God. Then, centuries later the Assyrians with Nineveh their capital attacked Israel. The next generation forgot God; but, a group were saved due to God using the suffering of a reluctant prophet.
Imagine being the one who must write your story. “I ran from God. Then had to go anyway, reluctantly determined to watch the enemy destroyed. Only God saved them. I was boiling mad at His grace; but, He told me of His love for these people who were ignorant. Oh, shoot! I am the ignorant fool He saved and sent to save them.
Wait, that is my story as well. He uses even my bumbling stupidity at times to lead someone else to a saving knowledge of Himself. Even my worst can be transformed into good for the kingdom when I turn back to Him and repent. How often have I prayed, “God please forgive me and fix this mess I have created. And can you shut my mouth next time before I mess up?” But sometimes I think He lets me, so I am reminded only He has the power to save. It is His power, His mercy, and His absolute grace that saved me as well.
Now every year the book of Jonah is read on the day of atonement. It presents the divine mercy of God and the possibility of atonement when one repents and turns to Him.
How God uses our suffering to bless others as well.
Paul tells us in II Corinthians that he was undergoing severe suffering at the time and just prior to writing this letter to the Corinthian Church. He wrote this.
For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction which occurred in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, who rescued us from so great a danger of death, and will rescue us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,if you also join in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons in our behalf for the favor granted to us through the prayers of many. II Corinthians 1:8-11 NASB
Because of All That
Did you get that? Paul is saying the extreme suffering he was facing led the church to pray. Then as God worked in their praying hearts, their faith increased. Their hope, blessings, and joy were multiplied due to the suffering Paul went through. That is why he wrote just before this to the same crowd.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort. II Corinthians 13-7 NASB
My mother loved God with all her heart. Yet she suffered severely with bipolar disorder. Despite this she lived to be 89. Often she wondered why God didn’t take her home. I wondered why He did not heal her. Then years later I realized. Her disease led me to understand bipolar. It allowed me to remain married to Pedro Barba, II for all those years. Miraculously, one day he found Christ as his savior before he died. Therefore, is there any suffering to great to endure for the salvation of one soul? Christ did not think so.
An entire lifetime here is a blink of an eye compared to eternity. We do not know all the miraculous workings of God behind the scenes. But we do know He is working. And one day it will be revealed to us. Then we will understand. Until then let us rejoice in Him. Knowing God uses our suffering for His Divine, always good purpose.
Concluding thought and poem
So quickly we cast aside someone who fails to live up to our expectations. Yet, we need to step back. Remember God loves His called, redeemed children. He may chasten them. But He never lets go. I wrote this poem once upon a time for someone struggling with their own failure. Society rejected them as well. I, too, was rejected by the church at 18. No mercy to ask what had happened. They believed the worst; instead of finding the truth. Even more so because I had prior to this been what was considered the shining example. Yet, they did not see the pride within that needed to be sifted. Therefore they failed to reach out a hand of grace; because they felt more righteous condemning me.
God’s grace continued on to transform me in His grace and mercy. That church soon did not exist, having split apart from within.
In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved
Accused, Condemned in eyes of men
Rejected, hated for my sin
No one stopped to see my heart
Cast aside some broken part
That no one cared to see inside
The scars and sorrows that abide
A heart so filled with hopes and dreams
Of meadows green and crystal streams
Lay shattered, broken cast away
With nothing good or kind to say
Chorus
Then God’s Dear Grace that loved me so
Looked deep within and bid to know
Each crevice of my heart and soul
Each broken piece to then make whole
In Christ I am set free from sin
My guilt and shame all taken in
And bore upon that rugged cross
My strength to stand though all else loss
My sins all covered by His blood
In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved
How quickly men’s own selfish pride
Does cast away and cast aside
A fallen one—a broken heart
Who needs your hand to help them start?
Christ had come to heal the lame
To lift their guilt and take their shame
He called the sinners to His side
To know His love-in Him abide
So why do we not give our hand
To help a fallen one to stand
So, prideful man with heart so small
Be careful lest you too shall fall
Chorus
For it was God’s dear Grace that loved me so
Looked deep within and bid to know
Each crevice of my heart and soul
Each broken piece to then make whole
In Christ I am set free from sin
My guilt and shame all taken in
And bore upon that rugged cross
My strength to stand though all else loss
My sins all covered by His blood
In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved
Effie Darlene Barba
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2025
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible.
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