The Results in Your Suffering: Strength and Faith

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Power Is Revealed Through Suffering

In the valleys of life, when hardship and suffering seem overwhelming, it is often there that God’s power is most clearly displayed. While it is easy to praise God on the mountaintop, true relationship and connection with Him are forged in the midst of trials and adversity. These seasons of suffering are not signs of God’s absence, but rather opportunities for Him to reveal His strength, faithfulness, and sustaining grace in ways we could never experience otherwise. Even when life feels stripped bare, God is working, and His power is made perfect in our weakness. [12:48]

Job 1:8-12 (ESV)
And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Reflection: When have you seen God’s power or presence most clearly in a season of suffering or loss, and how did it change your relationship with Him?

Day 2: Your Response in Suffering Is a Witness

When life turns upside down and chaos strikes, your response becomes a powerful testimony—not just for yourself, but for those around you. Others are watching how you handle adversity, and your worship, faith, and perseverance in the midst of pain can inspire and strengthen someone else’s faith journey. Even when your circumstances don’t match your testimony, choosing to praise God and trust Him can be the very thing that helps someone else hold on to hope. Your worship in the storm is bigger than you—it can bring others to Christ. [19:01]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Reflection: Who in your life might be watching how you handle your current struggles, and how can your response point them toward God’s faithfulness today?

Day 3: Suffering Reveals Our True Motives

Difficult seasons strip away the comforts and blessings that can sometimes distract us from the heart of our faith. In suffering, we are confronted with the question: Do we love God for who He is, or only for what He gives? When the material things are gone and the blessings seem distant, we discover whether our devotion is rooted in God’s character and love, or merely in His gifts. True intimacy with God is found not in what we gain, but in how we draw closer to Him when we lose. [21:32]

Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV)
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Reflection: Is there anything you’ve been valuing more than God Himself, and how might letting go of it draw you closer to Him?

Day 4: Suffering Strengthens Your Roots

Just as storms cause the roots of a tree to grow deeper and stronger, the storms of life strengthen what is within you. While others may only see your scars or your struggles, God is using every trial to deepen your faith, resilience, and dependence on Him. It’s not what’s happening on the outside that keeps you standing—it’s what God is building on the inside. The hardships you endure are not breaking you; they are making you stronger, wiser, and more deeply rooted in Christ. [29:52]

Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can see that past hardships have actually made your faith or character stronger?

Day 5: Trouble Won’t Last Always—God Will Turn It Around

No matter how long the night or how fierce the storm, God’s promise is that trouble is only temporary. He is working behind the scenes, perfecting what concerns you, and sooner than you think, He will turn things around in your favor. Hold on to hope, praise God in advance, and encourage yourself with the truth that joy is coming. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in you, and God will take care of you—He will make a way somehow. [37:41]

Psalm 30:5 (ESV)
For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Reflection: What is one situation you need to trust God to turn around, and how can you praise Him today even before you see the breakthrough?

Sermon Summary

Sometimes life doesn’t look like the promise God gave. Faith can feel strange when circumstances don’t line up with what you believe. Yet, even in the middle of suffering, there is a deep assurance that God is present and working. There are moments when strength and healing fall in the room, not because everything is perfect, but because God is faithful in the midst of chaos. Praise and worship are not just for the mountaintop experiences; they are most powerful when offered from the valley, when life is hard and answers are few.

The story of Job reminds us that suffering is not a sign of God’s absence or displeasure. Even the blameless, the faithful, the ones God brags about, endure hardship. The enemy may attack, but he cannot deny the favor and anointing God has placed on your life. Sometimes, people are unsettled by your favor, but God will elevate you right in front of them. The real test is not how you praise when things are good, but how you respond when everything falls apart. Your worship in the storm is a witness—not just for you, but for others watching your journey.

Suffering reveals motives. Do you love God for His blessings, or do you love Him for who He is? When things are stripped away, what remains is a deeper relationship with God, a closeness that only comes through loss and hardship. The enemy thinks suffering will break you, but it only strengthens your roots. Like a tree battered by storms, you may lose some branches, but your roots grow deeper. What’s happening beneath the surface—your faith, your resilience, your trust in God—is what keeps you standing.

In the end, suffering is not the end of the story. There is resurrection power available—the same power that raised Jesus is at work in you. Trouble doesn’t last always. Through it all, God is making you stronger, wiser, and better. Even when you don’t see it, things are turning around. Hold on to the truth that God will take care of you, and let your praise be a testimony that, in the midst of it all, you are still standing.

Key Takeaways

1. Worship in the Valley Reveals True Faith It’s easy to praise God when life is good, but the real depth of faith is shown when you can worship in the midst of suffering. This kind of worship is not just for your own breakthrough; it becomes a testimony to others, showing that God is worthy even when circumstances are hard. Your response in the valley can inspire faith in those around you. [10:13]
2. Suffering Exposes and Refines Motives When blessings are stripped away, what remains is your true motive for following God. Do you love Him for what He gives, or for who He is? Loss and hardship have a way of drawing you closer to God, revealing a love that is not based on circumstances but on relationship. This refining process deepens your walk and brings you into greater intimacy with Him. [21:32]
3. Storms Strengthen Your Roots Just as storms cause a tree’s roots to grow deeper, trials and suffering strengthen your spiritual foundation. Others may see your scars or your struggles, but what they can’t see is how your faith is being fortified beneath the surface. The very things meant to break you are actually making you unshakeable, preparing you to stand through whatever comes next. [29:52]
4. Resurrection Power in Suffering The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you in your suffering. Trouble is temporary, and God is working even in the darkest moments to bring about resurrection and new life. This hope allows you to praise God in advance, trusting that things are turning around even before you see the evidence.

** [34:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:38] - Faith Despite Circumstances
[04:21] - Praise in the Midst of Pain
[05:30] - Standing on God’s Promises
[06:36] - Gratitude for God’s Provision
[08:00] - The Hedge Around Job
[08:44] - The Results in Your Suffering
[10:13] - Worship in the Valley
[12:48] - God’s Power Revealed in Suffering
[15:10] - The Reality of Spiritual Opposition
[17:10] - The Opportunity to Witness
[19:01] - Responding to Loss with Faith
[21:32] - True Motives Revealed
[26:19] - Strengthening Your Roots
[29:52] - Lessons from the Storm
[32:36] - Endurance and Resurrection Power
[34:48] - Sharing in Christ’s Power
[37:41] - Becoming Stronger Through Suffering

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Job 1:10-12 (ESV) — > “Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Observation Questions

According to Job 1:10-12, what does Satan say is the reason for Job’s faithfulness to God? What does Satan ask God to do, and what is God’s response?
In the sermon, what are some of the things Job loses, and how does he respond to these losses? [26:19]
The pastor mentions that Job was known as a blameless man who was blessed. How did the people around Job react to his suffering, according to the sermon? [17:10]
What does the sermon say about the effect of worship and praise when life is hard, not just when things are good? [10:13]

Interpretation Questions

Why does God allow Satan to test Job, even though Job is described as blameless and faithful? What does this suggest about the relationship between suffering and faith? [12:48]
The sermon says that suffering reveals our true motives for following God. What does it mean to love God for who He is, rather than just for His blessings? [21:32]
How does Job’s response to suffering serve as a witness to others, both in the story and in the way the pastor describes it? [19:01]
The pastor compares our faith to the roots of a tree that grow deeper during storms. What does this analogy teach us about the purpose of trials in our spiritual lives? [29:52]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to worship God even when life doesn’t look like the promise He gave. Can you think of a time when you found it hard to praise God because of your circumstances? What did you do, and what could you do differently next time? [10:13]
When you go through loss or hardship, do you find yourself questioning God’s love or faithfulness? How can you remind yourself that suffering is not a sign of God’s absence? [23:23]
The pastor says that your worship in the valley can inspire faith in others. Is there someone in your life who is watching how you handle hard times? How might your response to suffering impact their faith? [19:01]
The sermon asks whether we love God for His blessings or for who He is. If everything was stripped away, what would your relationship with God look like? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him, regardless of your circumstances? [21:32]
Think about a recent “storm” or trial in your life. In what ways did it strengthen your faith, or in what ways could it have? How can you focus on what’s happening “beneath the surface” the next time you face a challenge? [29:52]
The pastor reminds us that “trouble doesn’t last always” and that resurrection power is available to us. What does it look like to hold on to hope and praise God in advance, even before you see things turn around? [34:48]
The sermon says, “God will take care of you.” What is one practical way you can trust God to take care of you this week, especially in an area where you feel anxious or uncertain? [32:36]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the purpose of suffering according to the text?

How does faith grow through life's valleys?

In what ways does God reveal His power during hardships?