Finding Hope and Purpose in Suffering
Summary
Suffering is a reality that none of us can escape, no matter how much we love God or how faithfully we follow Him. The story of Lazarus in John 11 reminds us that even those closest to Jesus—Mary, Martha, and Lazarus—were not spared from pain and loss. When Jesus delayed coming to Bethany, it was not a sign of indifference or lack of love, but rather an opportunity for God’s glory to be revealed in a way that would not have been possible otherwise. This challenges our assumptions about suffering and God’s presence in it. We often want a life free from pain, but the truth is that suffering is woven into the fabric of our broken world, and even more so for those who follow Christ, our suffering Savior.
Suffering is not a punishment or a sign of God’s displeasure. Instead, it is a testing ground for faith, a place where our trust in God is refined and deepened. Jesus Himself suffered, and in doing so, He gave us both an example and a promise: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Our suffering, then, is not wasted. It is a means by which God is glorified—when we respond in faith, when we testify to His goodness even in the valley, and when we allow our pain to become a declaration that Jesus is worth more than our comfort or our answers.
Suffering also shapes us. It exposes where our true hope lies, weaning us off our dependence on earthly securities and drawing us closer to God. In the midst of pain, we are invited to name our feelings honestly, aim our suffering at the cross, claim God’s promises, and reframe our perspective to seek what God might be doing in and through us. Sometimes, we may never get the answer to “why” on this side of heaven, but we are called to trust God’s heart even when we cannot trace His hand.
Ultimately, suffering is temporary, but God’s glory is eternal. The cross proves that suffering has a purpose, and the resurrection proves that suffering does not have the final word. As a church, we are called to walk alongside one another in suffering, to be the hands and feet of Christ, and to point to the hope that is found in Him alone.
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Key Takeaways
- Suffering is not a sign of God’s absence or lack of love. The delay of Jesus in coming to Lazarus was not neglect, but a purposeful act to reveal God’s glory in a deeper way. When God seems silent or slow to act, it does not mean He is indifferent; often, He is working in ways we cannot yet see, inviting us to trust Him beyond our understanding. [40:23]
- Our response to suffering can glorify God. When we endure hardship with faith, we testify to the world that God is good, even when life is not. Suffering becomes a stage for God’s glory when we declare, through our pain, that Jesus is worth more than our comfort or our answers. This is not about stoicism, but about honest faith that clings to God in the valley. [52:15]
- Suffering refines and shapes us for our ultimate good. Trials strip away our false securities and reveal where our true hope lies. In the crucible of suffering, we are drawn closer to God, learning to trust Him more deeply and to find our joy and identity in Him rather than in the fleeting things of this world. [55:54]
- Practical steps help us process suffering faithfully. Naming our pain honestly, aiming it at the cross, claiming God’s promises, and reframing our perspective are vital practices. These steps allow us to engage with our suffering in a way that is both honest and hopeful, opening us to God’s comfort and transformation rather than bitterness or despair. [01:00:07]
- Suffering is temporary, but God’s glory and our hope are eternal. We may not always understand the purpose behind our pain, but we can trust that God is working for His glory and our good. The resurrection assures us that suffering does not have the final word, and our hope is anchored in the eternal promises of God, not in the shifting circumstances of this life. [01:09:29]
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Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[39:02] - Reading John 11:1-6
[40:23] - Wrestling with God’s Delays
[41:27] - The Reality and Purpose of Suffering
[43:11] - Opening Prayer
[44:07] - Suffering Is Inevitable
[45:26] - The Brokenness of the World
[46:51] - Jesus Warns of Suffering
[50:30] - Suffering Glorifies God
[52:15] - Testifying to God’s Goodness
[54:22] - Suffering as a Declaration of Faith
[55:54] - Suffering Refines Us
[56:52] - Where Our Hope Lies
[57:53] - Longing for Heaven
[59:02] - Suffering Is Temporary, God’s Glory Is Eternal
[01:00:07] - Practical Steps: Name, Aim, Claim, Reframe
[01:03:31] - Preaching to Ourselves with Scripture
[01:04:27] - Reframing Our Suffering
[01:05:34] - Trusting God’s Heart
[01:06:28] - Suffering as Witness and Mission
[01:07:11] - Jesus Weeps and Walks With Us
[01:09:29] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Purpose of Suffering
_Based on John 11 and the sermon summary provided_
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### Bible Reading
- John 11:1-6 (The story of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha)
- Romans 8:17 (“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”)
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 (“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”)
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### Observation Questions
1. In John 11:1-6, what did Jesus do when he heard that Lazarus was sick? How did Mary and Martha respond to his delay? ([39:02])
2. According to Romans 8:17, what is the connection between suffering and being an heir with Christ? ([46:51])
3. In 2 Corinthians 4:17, how does Paul describe our troubles, and what are they achieving for us? ([01:03:31])
4. The sermon mentions that Jesus’ delay was not a sign of indifference. What reason does Jesus give for Lazarus’ sickness? ([50:30])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says that suffering is not a punishment or a sign of God’s displeasure, but a testing ground for faith. How does this challenge common assumptions about suffering? ([52:15])
2. Jesus’ delay in coming to Bethany was described as an opportunity for God’s glory to be revealed. What does this suggest about God’s timing and our expectations? ([40:23])
3. The sermon talks about suffering refining us and exposing where our true hope lies. In what ways might suffering reveal what we truly trust in? ([55:54])
4. The practical steps given were: name our pain, aim it at the cross, claim God’s promises, and reframe our perspective. Why might each of these steps be important in processing suffering? ([01:00:07])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says that even those closest to Jesus, like Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, were not spared from pain and loss. Have you ever felt confused or hurt by God’s timing or apparent silence? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([40:23])
2. When you face suffering, do you tend to see it as a sign of God’s absence or displeasure? How might your perspective change if you saw suffering as a place where God is at work for his glory and your good? ([52:15])
3. The sermon encourages us to name our pain honestly. Is there a specific area of suffering in your life that you have been avoiding or minimizing? What would it look like to bring that honestly before God and others? ([01:00:07])
4. “Aiming our suffering at the cross” means bringing our pain to Jesus. What practical steps could you take this week to lay your burdens before Jesus, rather than carrying them alone? ([01:01:26])
5. Claiming God’s promises was described as preaching truth to ourselves, even when we don’t feel it. Is there a particular promise or scripture that you need to hold onto in your current season? How can you remind yourself of it daily? ([01:03:31])
6. The sermon says suffering can help us see where our real hope lies. Are there “chariots and horses” (earthly securities) you tend to trust in more than God? What would it look like to shift your hope more fully onto God? ([56:52])
7. As a church, we are called to walk alongside one another in suffering. Is there someone in your life who is suffering right now? What is one specific way you can be the hands and feet of Christ to them this week? ([01:06:28])
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Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Is Present and Loving Even in Delays
When we face suffering and God seems silent or slow to respond, it can feel confusing and even hurtful, as if He is distant or uncaring. Yet, the story of Lazarus reminds us that Jesus’ love is not diminished by His delay; in fact, His timing is purposeful, even when we do not understand it. The waiting, the confusion, and the pain are not signs of God’s absence but opportunities for His glory to be revealed in ways we may not expect. In our own seasons of waiting, we are invited to trust that Jesus is near, working for our good and His glory, even when His ways are mysterious. [40:23]
John 11:1-6 (ESV)
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
Reflection: When have you felt God was silent or slow to act in your suffering? How might you trust His love and presence in the waiting today?
Day 2: Suffering Is Inevitable for Followers of Christ
Suffering is not a sign of God’s displeasure or absence, but a reality for all people, including those who love and follow Jesus. Scripture is clear that trials and troubles are part of life in a broken world, and Jesus Himself warned His disciples that they would face hardship. Rather than being surprised or discouraged by suffering, we are called to recognize it as part of our journey with Christ, who Himself suffered and overcame. In this, we find comfort and courage, knowing that our Savior walks with us and has already conquered the world. [46:51]
John 16:33 (ESV)
“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.”
Reflection: What is one area of hardship you are facing right now? How does knowing Jesus has overcome the world give you hope in that situation?
Day 3: Suffering Glorifies God When We Respond in Faith
Our suffering is not wasted; it can become a powerful testimony to God’s goodness and faithfulness when we choose to trust Him in the midst of pain. When we respond to suffering with faith, we declare that Jesus is worth more than our comfort, our answers, and even our pain. This is not about glorifying suffering itself, but about allowing our response to point others to the hope and glory of God. Through our trials, we have the opportunity to connect deeply with God and to show others where our true treasure lies. [52:15]
Romans 8:17 (ESV)
And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Reflection: How can you use your current or past suffering to point others to God’s goodness and glory today?
Day 4: Suffering Refines Us and Reveals Our True Hope
Suffering not only glorifies God but also shapes us for our ultimate good, refining our character and exposing where our real hope lies. When earthly securities are stripped away, we are invited to trust more deeply in God, who alone is our lasting comfort and strength. In these refining seasons, God is mercifully transforming us to be more like Christ and awakening in us a longing for our true home with Him. Even when it is uncomfortable, suffering can break us open in the places we most need to grow, drawing us closer to God’s heart. [55:54]
Psalm 20:7 (ESV)
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Reflection: What is one thing you tend to rely on for security or comfort besides God? How can you intentionally place your trust in Him today?
Day 5: Bring Your Suffering to Jesus and Reframe It with Hope
God invites us to bring our pain honestly before Him, to lay our burdens at the cross, and to claim His promises even when we do not understand. By naming our feelings, aiming our suffering at the cross, claiming God’s truth, and reframing our perspective, we can find hope and meaning in the midst of hardship. Jesus, who suffered for us, walks with us in our darkest moments and offers rest for our weary souls. Even when we cannot see what God is doing, we can trust His heart and know that our suffering is not the end of the story. [01:02:06]
Matthew 11:28 (ESV)
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Reflection: What burden are you carrying today that you need to bring honestly to Jesus? How can you take a step to lay it at His feet and receive His rest?
Quotes
Tim Keller tells us this, No amount of money, power, and planning can prevent bereavement, dire illness, relationship betrayal, financial disaster, or a host of other troubles from entering your life. Human life is fatally fragile and subject to forces beyond our power to manage. Life is tragic. Everybody suffers. Nobody escapes. [00:44:34] (33 seconds)
If we are willing to approach suffering as an opportunity to allow God to draw us closer to him and in that place to allow our pain to become a declaration that Jesus is worth more than my comfort, more than my answers, and more than my pain. [00:54:38] (25 seconds)
I remind us and I start with this because if our theology is based on the idea that Jesus suffered so we don't have to then we will think of suffering as something that we need an experience and when it comes on us or someone that we love then we will be left high and dry if we don't expect pain and tears then we'll suffer twice what I mean by that is we'll suffer the suffering thing that has led to our pain but we'll also add to that our hurt and our disappointment in God [00:47:29] (45 seconds)
He knows, just like we do, that the world is broken by sin, and suffering touches everyone, albeit in varying measures, because sin has infected everything in our world. When sin entered into the world, nothing in the realm of God's good creation escaped its destroying touch. From general suffering, such as natural disasters and disease, all the way through to that deeply personal suffering that might be related to grief, or betrayal, or heartbreak. And I want to start by saying that, as believers, we are not exempt. [00:45:51] (45 seconds)
Let me just make very clear what I'm not saying in this sermon. I'm not saying that God has some psychopathic tendencies, whereby in our suffering that he gathers and garners glory for himself. Some of you might be familiar with the movie Spirited Away. In no face, he gathers to himself riches, and in feasting on that, he becomes larger and larger. That's not the God that we serve. When I say that God is glorified through our sufferings, what I mean by that is that when we suffer well, that we testify to God's goodness. [00:51:41] (51 seconds)
Some of you might be familiar with the author Philip Yancey. He's written extensively on the topic of pain, and I thought that this was a really powerful statement. He tells us, The suffering of Jesus shows us that pain comes to us not as punishment, but rather as a testing ground for faith that transcends pain. In truth, pain redeemed impresses me more than pain removed. [00:52:31] (33 seconds)
But in that we continue to be refined when our suffering pushes us back into that place of relying on God. It also allows us to see where our real hope lies. It weans us off our schemes to find joy in anything anything other than God. [00:55:43] (26 seconds)
Suffering has a way of breaking us open where we need to be broken. And I'm not saying it's comfortable or that it's necessarily welcome. But it creates in our souls, or more correctly, it exposes our longing for heaven to leave behind this brokenness. Jesus. And I'm thankful that in Jesus, we have a model of what it means to suffer well. [00:57:53] (32 seconds)
The church's mission I believe is to represent God here on earth and that means to be comfort to the suffering amidst profound pain to speak love and truth to be the hands and the feet of a loving God and so I would encourage us whether it's our own pain season of pain our dark valley or we're walking alongside other people who are suffering that we take heart because we know that there is a Savior who has come into this world who has suffered himself. [01:07:11] (44 seconds)
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