Is There a Purpose To Suffering?
Many people struggle to find a reason for their suffering or the suffering of someone they care about. How can God allow a good person to suffer? The word itself, “suffering,” may conjure up images of agony, despair and even death. It can cause horrible memories to surface.
Although suffering is difficult to endure, it can serve a purpose in your life. It can make you better. It can get your attention and allow God to use you or shape you into the person you were meant to be.
Suffering is Inevitable
Suffering is an inevitable part of life. Emotional suffering happens when you experience feelings such as loneliness, disappointment, betrayal, inadequacy or the death of a loved one. Physical suffering occurs through injury, illness or the deterioration that happens as the body ages.
When faced with suffering, most people want to make sense of it all. There must be a reason, right?
Suffering Leads to Growth
Most individuals will not choose to make changes without some sort of catalyst, especially if they’re fairly comfortable.
Like it or not, God may use suffering to give you a nudge in the right direction. Unfortunately, you don’t get to choose which form of suffering will best help you to grow and change into the person you were meant to be. Whether you did something to cause a particular situation or it’s the result of something entirely random, the best thing you can do at this point is to grow through and past it. Use it.
Suffering generally forces you to make some sort of change to alleviate pain or to deal with the effects of suffering.
Use the pain to change in positive ways. Use it to build fortitude, resilience and faith. Don’t allow negative emotions to gain a foothold; however, that’s not the kind of change that alleviates suffering. Negative emotions and changes only lead to more suffering for you and those around you. In other words, don’t get bitter, get better.
Suffering Leads to Empathy and Compassion for Others
Suffering helps you appreciate the difficulties that others around you may be facing. It helps you to empathize with others. It gives you a desire to help others who are suffering. Jesus said the second greatest command was to love others as we love ourselves. Suffering helps us to understand what others are going through and helps us to better fulfill this commandment.
You’re Not Alone
You don’t have to suffer alone. Your loving Father cares for you and hates to see your suffering. Turn to Him in your time of need and pour out your heart to Him. Ask Him to help you endure whatever situation you may find yourself in. Pray for discernment so that you learn whatever He may be trying to teach you. Pray for guidance so that you know the best way to proceed – so that your journey through this period of suffering may be as short as possible.
Is there a purpose to suffering? Yes! It’s your suffering and communication with God that deepens your faith, your spiritual life and your walk with God.
