Finding Joy and Growth in Suffering

Devotional

Day 1: Choosing Joy in Trials

Trials are not just obstacles but opportunities to choose joy, as God uses both joy and suffering together to mature and complete us in Christ. When we face adversity, we are invited to see it not as a punishment or a sign of God’s absence, but as a sign that God trusts us to endure and grow. This active endurance is not passive waiting, but a deliberate choice to remain under the weight, trusting that God is using every challenge to reveal and refine our faith. As we walk the tracks of both joy and suffering, God holds us together, shaping us into people who lack nothing in Him. [03:45]

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Reflection: What is one current trial you are facing, and how might you actively choose joy in the midst of it, trusting that God is using it to mature you?

Day 2: Rejecting the Moral Formula and Embracing Grace

It is a misconception to believe that if we do everything right, our lives will be free from problems; instead, we must recognize that no one is truly good except God, and all of us fall short and need His grace. Jesus, the only truly good person, suffered deeply, and through His suffering, we are offered salvation and the example of enduring hardship with purpose. Rather than expecting a pain-free life as a reward for good behavior, we are called to humility, gratitude, and dependence on Christ, who chose joy even in suffering for our sake. [10:21]

Romans 3:23-24 (ESV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: In what ways have you expected God to reward your “goodness,” and how can you shift your focus to gratitude for His grace instead?

Day 3: Understanding Suffering in a Fallen World

Pain, suffering, and evil exist because we live in a fallen world where sin has brought brokenness, but God offers hope and abundant life through Jesus even in the midst of chaos. The reality of free will means that people often choose wrong, leading to more pain, but God’s mission is to redeem and restore, turning our messes into messages and our obstacles into opportunities for faith. Even when the world feels out of control, we can trust that God is present, working for our good, and calling us to deeper trust and hope in Him. [19:28]

Romans 5:12 (ESV)
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.

Reflection: Where do you see the effects of a fallen world in your life or community, and how can you invite God to bring hope and redemption into those places today?

Day 4: The Purpose of Pain—Refining, Growth, and Ministry

God uses pain and suffering to refine our character, grow us into Christlikeness, draw us closer to Himself, and equip us to comfort and minister to others. Rather than seeing suffering as meaningless, we are encouraged to ask what God is doing in us and through us, recognizing that our deepest struggles can become the very places where God’s grace and compassion flow out to others. In our weakness and confusion, God’s strength is made perfect, and our faith, worship, and fellowship are deepened as we walk together through hardship. [25:00]

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
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 may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Reflection: Think of a painful experience you have gone through—how might God use what you have learned to encourage or comfort someone else this week?

Day 5: Living with Hope in Light of Eternity

No matter how deep our pain or suffering, God promises a future where every tear will be wiped away, and there will be no more death, sorrow, or pain; this eternal hope gives us strength to persevere today. When life feels overwhelming, we are called to focus on what is clear—God’s goodness, His presence, and His promise of eternity—allowing these truths to anchor our faith and give us perspective beyond our present circumstances. Living in light of eternity helps us see our lives as part of God’s bigger picture, empowering us to trust Him and walk boldly in faith. [29:25]

Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Reflection: How does the promise of eternity with God change the way you view your current struggles, and what is one way you can live with that hope today?

Sermon Summary

The question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” is one that resonates with everyone, regardless of faith background. But the truth is, none of us are truly “good” in the way we often imagine. Only God is good, and Jesus alone lived a sinless life. Each of us, even as followers of Christ, fall short daily. Instead of asking why bad things happen to good people, perhaps the better question is why any good things happen to us at all, given our brokenness and the reality of sin in the world.

James 1:2-4 calls us to “count it all joy” when we face trials, not because suffering is pleasant, but because God uses adversity to refine our character, deepen our faith, and mature us. Life isn’t a series of mountaintops and valleys, but more like two parallel tracks—joy and suffering—running side by side. God is the one who holds it all together, using both the highs and the lows to shape us into the likeness of Christ.

There are common misconceptions that need to be addressed. First, there is no moral formula that guarantees a pain-free life if we simply do the right things. Faithfulness does not exempt us from hardship. Second, the idea that we are “good people” deserving of only good things is a false narrative. Jesus, the only truly good person, suffered deeply for our sake, and if God’s goal is to make us more like Jesus, we should not be surprised when we encounter suffering ourselves.

The Bible is full of examples—Job, Paul, and even Jesus—who endured suffering not as punishment, but as part of God’s redemptive work. We live in a fallen world where sin, pain, and death are realities, but God’s promise is that He is with us in the midst of it. Pain and suffering are not wasted; they can refine our character, grow us in Christ, draw us closer to God, and equip us to minister to others. In our darkest moments, God often shouts His presence and love, inviting us to trust Him even when we cannot see His hand.

When facing trials, it’s helpful to ask: What is happening to me? What is happening in me? And what is God doing with me? These questions help us process our pain and see God’s hand at work. Ultimately, we are called to hold on to what is clear about God’s character—His goodness, His faithfulness, and His love—especially when life is uncertain. And we do all this in light of eternity, where God promises to wipe away every tear and make all things new.

Key Takeaways

1. True goodness belongs to God alone, and our sense of entitlement to a pain-free life is rooted in a misunderstanding of our own nature. Instead of asking why we suffer, we should marvel at God’s grace that allows us to experience any good at all, given our brokenness and the reality of sin in the world. This humility opens our hearts to gratitude and dependence on God’s mercy. [09:01]
2. Trials are not evidence of God’s absence or displeasure, but opportunities for growth and maturity. James teaches us to “count it all joy” not because suffering is enjoyable, but because God uses adversity to refine our character and deepen our faith, making us complete and lacking nothing. This perspective transforms our response to hardship from despair to hope. [02:26]
3. The myth of a moral formula—that if we do everything right, life will be free of problems—sets us up for disappointment and confusion. Faithfulness does not guarantee comfort, and even the most devoted followers of God, like Job and Paul, experienced profound suffering. God’s purpose is not to shield us from pain, but to use it to shape us into the likeness of Christ. [07:41]
4. Pain and suffering can become God’s megaphone, drawing us into deeper relationship with Him and with others. In our weakness and confusion, God often shouts His presence, inviting us to trust Him more fully and to find comfort in community. Our struggles can become the very means by which we experience God’s love and share it with others. [20:40]
5. When we cannot see God’s hand, we can trust His heart. Processing our pain honestly—by identifying what is happening to us, in us, and through us—helps us recognize God’s refining work. Suffering can produce endurance, compassion, and a ministry to others, reminding us that our faith is not passive but an active trust in God’s goodness, even in uncertainty. [26:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:34] - Introducing the Big Question
[01:09] - Where is Jesus When It Hurts?
[01:48] - James 1: Trials and Joy
[03:04] - The Railroad Tracks of Life
[04:25] - The Meaning of Patience and Endurance
[05:44] - Endurance and Spiritual Maturity
[06:58] - Misconceptions About Suffering
[09:01] - The Myth of Good People
[10:21] - Jesus: The Only Good One
[11:45] - Suffering and Christlikeness
[13:05] - Biblical Examples: Job and Paul
[16:21] - Real-Life Stories of Costly Faith
[17:34] - The Reality of a Fallen World
[20:40] - Pain as God’s Megaphone
[22:35] - Four Purposes of Pain
[25:40] - Processing Pain: Three Key Questions
[28:10] - Holding On to What Is Clear
[29:25] - Living in Light of Eternity
[30:03] - Prayer and Invitation to Faith
[31:53] - Closing and Next Steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

James 1:2-4 (ESV) — > Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 5:12 (ESV) — > Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV) — > But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Observation Questions

According to James 1:2-4, what is the purpose of facing trials and how are we supposed to respond to them?
In the sermon, what are some of the misconceptions people have about suffering and being a “good person”? [09:01]
What examples from the Bible did the pastor give to show that even faithful people experience suffering? [13:05]
How does Romans 5:12 explain the presence of pain and suffering in the world? [18:11]

Interpretation Questions

The pastor says that “trials reveal what we’re really made of” and that “trials reveal our faith.” What does this mean for how we view difficult times in our lives? [05:03]
If Jesus, the only truly good person, suffered deeply, what does that say about our own expectations for a pain-free life? [10:21]
The sermon mentions that pain and suffering can actually draw us closer to God and to others. Why might God allow this process instead of just removing our pain? [20:40]
The pastor encourages us to ask three questions when facing trials: What is happening to me? What is happening in me? What is God doing with me? How might these questions help someone process their pain differently? [26:59]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges the idea that “good people” deserve only good things. Have you ever felt like you deserved a pain-free life because of your actions? How does this belief affect your relationship with God and others? [09:01]
James 1:2-4 tells us to “count it all joy” when we face trials. What is one current or past trial in your life, and how could you begin to see it as an opportunity for growth or maturity? [02:26]
The pastor shared about his own pain and how it drew him into deeper community. Is there a struggle you’re facing that you’ve kept to yourself? What would it look like to invite others into that struggle for support and encouragement? [21:21]
The sermon lists four purposes of pain: refining character, growing in Christ, drawing us to God, and equipping us to help others. Which of these do you see God working on in your life right now? [22:35]
When you can’t see God’s hand in your situation, how do you remind yourself of His goodness and faithfulness? Are there specific practices or truths that help you hold on to hope? [28:10]
The pastor suggests writing down what is happening to you, in you, and what God might be doing with you. Would you be willing to try this practice this week? What do you hope to discover by doing it? [26:59]
The sermon ends by reminding us to live in light of eternity, where God will wipe away every tear. How does keeping an eternal perspective change the way you handle suffering or disappointment today? [29:25]

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