Embracing Suffering: God's Purpose in Our Pain

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Discipline in Suffering Prepares Us to Endure

Suffering is not a sign of God’s absence or displeasure, but rather a means by which He lovingly disciplines and prepares His children to endure the challenges ahead. Just as an athlete is trained through rigorous drills or a soldier is strengthened by demanding exercises, God allows difficulties to build a resilient faith within us, equipping us for the race set before us. When we face hardship, it is not simply random misfortune, but a purposeful discipline that shapes our character and deepens our dependence on Him. [13:17]

Hebrews 12:4-7 (NASB 1995)
"You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.' It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?"

Reflection: What is one current hardship you are facing, and how might you choose to see it as God’s loving discipline preparing you for something ahead rather than as meaningless pain?

Day 2: Suffering Reminds Us That We Belong to God

When God allows suffering in our lives, it is a profound reminder that we are His children, not outsiders. Just as a loving parent disciplines their child out of care and commitment, God’s discipline assures us of our place in His family. Rather than hiding our struggles or pretending all is well, we are invited to bring our pain and questions to Him, knowing that our belonging is secure and that He desires intimacy with us even in our brokenness. [25:36]

Hebrews 12:8 (NASB 1995)
"But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons."

Reflection: In what ways can you be more honest with God and others about your struggles, trusting that your suffering is a sign of your belonging to Him?

Day 3: Suffering Teaches Us to Recognize and Submit to God’s Authority

Discipline through suffering helps us recognize God’s rightful place as our loving Father and Lord. It calls us to submit to His wisdom and authority, even when we do not understand His ways. Rather than living as though everything depends on us, we are invited to trust in His sovereignty, knowing that He is working for our good and His glory, and that true life is found in surrender to Him. [29:17]

Hebrews 12:9 (NASB 1995)
"Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?"

Reflection: Where in your life are you struggling to submit to God’s authority, and how might you take a step of surrender today, trusting His wisdom above your own?

Day 4: God’s Discipline Makes Us More Like Him

God’s discipline is always for our good, with the ultimate purpose of making us more like Him—sharing in His holiness. Though suffering is never pleasant in the moment, it is the means by which God purifies our hearts, strengthens our faith, and draws us closer to His character. As we endure hardship, we are being shaped into the image of Christ, set apart for His purposes and able to reflect His holiness to a watching world. [31:18]

Hebrews 12:10 (NASB 1995)
"For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where God might be using hardship to make you more like Him, and how can you cooperate with His refining work?

Day 5: Suffering Is Temporary and Will Yield Peaceful Fruit

Though suffering is real and often overwhelming, it is not the end of the story. God promises that discipline, though painful now, will ultimately yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it. There will come a day when suffering is no more, and until then, we are called to trust that God is using every trial to grow us, strengthen us, and prepare us for eternal joy in His presence. [37:14]

Hebrews 12:11 (NASB 1995)
"All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

Reflection: When you are tempted to believe that your suffering will never end, how can you remind yourself of God’s promise that it will one day yield peace and righteousness?

Sermon Summary

Suffering is a reality that none of us can escape in this fallen world, and it often leaves us wrestling with deep questions about God’s goodness, love, and sovereignty. When tragedy strikes—whether in the public eye, as with the loss of Charlie Kirk, or in the private corners of our own lives—we are forced to confront the tension between our faith and our pain. The book of Hebrews, particularly chapter 12:4-11, offers profound insight into why God allows suffering in the lives of His people. Rather than dismissing suffering as mere misfortune or letting it crush us under its weight, we are invited to see it as God’s loving discipline—a purposeful shaping of our hearts and lives.

God’s discipline is not punitive but formative. Just as a loving earthly father disciplines his children for their good, so our Heavenly Father allows hardship to train us, to build endurance, and to prepare us for what lies ahead. This discipline is evidence of our belonging to Him; it is a mark of our adoption as sons and daughters. In a world that often equates God’s favor with comfort and ease, we are reminded that true spiritual growth often comes through difficulty. Suffering exposes our need for God, draws us closer to Him, and refines our character so that we might share in His holiness.

We must be careful not to take suffering too lightly, dismissing it as random or meaningless, nor too heavily, allowing it to define our view of God or ourselves. Instead, we are called to trust that God is at work, even when we cannot see the purpose. Suffering is not meant to be enjoyable, but it is never wasted in God’s hands. It produces in us the peaceful fruit of righteousness, making us more like Christ and equipping us to endure future trials with greater faith.

Ultimately, suffering is a reminder that this world is not our home and that there will come a day when pain and sorrow are no more. Until then, we are invited to bring our questions, our grief, and our confusion to God, trusting that He loves us deeply and is working all things for our good and His glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Suffering is inevitable, but it is not random; it is a tool in God’s hands to discipline and shape us. Rather than viewing hardship as a sign of God’s absence or displeasure, we are called to see it as evidence of His loving involvement in our lives. This perspective transforms suffering from something to be merely endured into something that can be embraced as part of God’s redemptive work. [10:02]
2. There are two unhealthy responses to suffering: taking it too lightly or too heavily. Dismissing suffering as just “life in a fallen world” ignores God’s personal involvement, while letting it crush us questions His goodness and sovereignty. Faith means letting God define our circumstances, not the other way around, and trusting that He has a purpose even when we do not understand. [14:15]
3. God’s discipline through suffering assures us of our identity as His children. Just as a loving parent disciplines out of care, God’s correction is a sign of our belonging and His desire for relationship with us. This belonging invites us to bring our struggles honestly before Him and before one another, fostering genuine community and support. [25:36]
4. Suffering is designed to produce endurance, holiness, and fruitfulness in us. It is not meant to be pleasant, but it is purposeful—training us to rely on God, to grow in character, and to bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness. The pain of discipline is temporary, but its results are eternal, making us more like Christ and preparing us for greater challenges ahead. [31:18]
5. The reality of suffering should drive us to God, not away from Him. Whether we are in the midst of hardship, just coming out of it, or preparing for what is to come, we are invited to trust God’s goodness and sovereignty. Our response to suffering—choosing faith over despair—becomes a powerful testimony to a watching world and a source of hope for ourselves and others. [40:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Introduction: Wrestling with Suffering
[03:45] - The Reality of Suffering for Believers
[06:30] - Why Does God Allow “Bad” Things?
[10:02] - Two Unhealthy Responses to Suffering
[12:11] - The Purpose of Discipline
[14:15] - Emotional Pain and Theological Answers
[17:45] - Misunderstanding God’s Discipline
[18:48] - Seven Reasons for Suffering
[21:14] - Endurance Through Discipline
[23:55] - Suffering and Our Identity as God’s Children
[26:17] - Community and Sharing Struggles
[29:17] - Living for God in Difficulty
[31:18] - Suffering Produces Holiness and Fruit
[34:19] - Learning to Trust God in the Storm
[37:14] - Suffering is Temporary
[40:41] - Responding to Discipline and Suffering
[44:17] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Hebrews 12:4-11 (ESV) — > 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
> 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
> “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
> nor be weary when reproved by him.
> 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
> and chastises every son whom he receives.”
> 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
> 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
> 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
> 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
> 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 12:4-11, what is the main reason God allows suffering or discipline in the lives of His children?
How does the passage compare God’s discipline to the discipline of earthly fathers? What similarities and differences are mentioned?
In the sermon, what are the two unhealthy ways people can respond to suffering? ([10:02])
What does the passage say is the result of being “trained” by discipline? What kind of “fruit” does it produce?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that God’s discipline is not punishment, but formation. How does this change the way someone might view their hardships? ([12:11])
Why is it important not to take suffering “too lightly” or “too heavily”? What might each of those responses look like in real life? ([14:15])
The passage says discipline is a sign of being God’s child. How might this truth affect someone’s sense of belonging or identity, especially during hard times? ([25:36])
The sermon mentions that suffering is not enjoyable, but it is purposeful. What are some of the purposes God might have for allowing suffering, according to the passage and the sermon? ([31:18])

Application Questions

The sermon says that suffering is inevitable in this world. Are you currently in a season of suffering, just coming out of one, or do you feel like you’re heading into one? How does knowing suffering is “normal” for believers affect your outlook? ([39:03])
When you face hardship, do you tend to dismiss it as “just life” (taking it too lightly) or let it crush you (taking it too heavily)? Can you think of a recent example? What would it look like to respond in faith instead? ([14:15])
The passage says God’s discipline is a sign of our adoption as His children. When you’re struggling, do you find it easy or hard to believe that God is treating you as His beloved child? Why? ([25:36])
The sermon encourages us to bring our struggles honestly to God and to one another. Is there a struggle or pain you’ve been hiding from others? What would it take to share it with someone in this group or with God in prayer? ([26:17])
Suffering is said to produce endurance, holiness, and the “peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Can you look back on a hard season in your life and see any good fruit that came from it? If so, what was it? ([31:18])
The sermon says our response to suffering can be a testimony to others. Is there someone in your life who is watching how you handle hardship? How might your faith encourage them? ([40:41])
The sermon reminds us that suffering is temporary and that one day, pain and sorrow will be no more. How does this hope shape the way you face difficulties today? ([37:14])

Sermon Clips

What a great disservice some of our life coaches posing as pastors are doing in our lives. They're telling us that this is our best life now, that we should never experience a Monday. Now, it doesn't mean we shouldn't get to the next week. It means that we should never have to face anything we don't want to face. Life should be easy. It's a way of basically saying, "Look, God works for me." And so since God works for me, here, God, is what I demand. That my life be easy. That all I ever have is blessing. That people like me. That I never have to deal with a health concern. That I shouldn't struggle with physical health, or mental health, or financial difficulty. [00:19:15] (51 seconds) #RejectProsperityGospel

When God allows things into our life that drive us to him, it's because he says, "You're my kids. I want you to come and run and jump in my lap and tell me about your day. I want you to be excited about the things that you faced and heartbroken over the difficulties." Where did we ever get this idea that if I struggle, it's somehow insulting to God? So I have to hide it and put on a fake face. And when people ask me how I'm doing, I just have to say, "I'm blessed," when I feel anything but. [00:25:16] (44 seconds) #RunToGodInStruggle

You say, "Well, I could live for God a lot better if I'd never faced any difficulty." Really? Because notice what it says: live for him. That's the implication of saying being subject to the Father of spirits and live. You say, "How do I live for him when facing difficulty?" It speaks to a watching world when they know your life is falling apart and you won't give up on God. It speaks equally as loudly as when you face difficulty and you blame God or walk away. [00:29:38] (44 seconds) #FaithInDifficulty

Because the very rest of that verse, number six, says God disciplines us so we can become more like him. You say, "Where'd you get that from, Pastor? I don't see that in the passage." He says, "so that we may share his holiness." Suffering is universal in a world wracked with sin. Faithfulness in the light of that suffering makes you weird, which is really what holiness means. [00:31:08] (40 seconds) #BecomingLikeChrist

``God disciplines us so we can bear fruit. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful but sorrowful, yet those who have been trained by it, afterwards, do you notice that word? Afterwards, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Let me give you a paraphrase of this verse. All discipline for the moment does not seem peaceful. But afterwards, it will be. How will it be? Because we'll get to know that the same God who allowed that bad, bad thing through the umbrella of his protection has used it, is using it, and will use it to grow us so that we aren't as rattled the next time we face it. [00:31:50] (53 seconds) #FruitOfDiscipline

They learned that day that Jesus could be trusted. That's why Peter would later write in first Peter, "casting your cares on him because he cares for you." That suffering, that difficulty, produced in Peter a later peace that would enable him to go to a cross like Jesus. [00:34:33] (27 seconds) #PeaceThroughSuffering

We act as though that's the worst possible thing that could ever happen to somebody. We pray harder to keep saints out of heaven than we do to get lost people saved. You say, "Okay, okay, pastor, I get that, right? I'll give you that. He got to see Jesus. He's enjoying seeing what he believed by faith invisibly." You say, "Okay, but, but, but, but, but, but, what about his family?" They are heartbroken. His wife came out with a very strong statement, but even in the middle of that statement, you could hear the break in her voice. Why? Because suffering isn't fun. It isn't meant to be. But let's also be clear. There will come a day when it is no more. [00:36:04] (65 seconds) #HopeBeyondSuffering

The truth of the matter is suffering happens. You either have just come out of a time of suffering, you're in a time of suffering, or you're headed into a time of suffering as long as this fallen world remains unredeemed. [00:39:49] (21 seconds) #SufferingIsUniversal

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