Intimacy With GodНамуна

Debunking Intimacy: Suffering

Suffering is one of life’s great mysteries, and it’s something most of us will wrestle with at some point. It’s natural to ask questions like, “Where is God?” or “How could a good and loving God allow suffering?” These questions often leave us conflicted, as suffering doesn’t seem to align with the character of a loving Father. For Christians, maintaining faith during suffering is challenging, and maintaining intimacy with Christ can feel even harder.

Everyone responds to suffering differently— from feeling angry, bitter, confused, depressed, grieved, rejected, resentful, and, in rare cases, suicidal. However we respond, we must remember that suffering is not something we need to endure alone, and sometimes, it even has a greater purpose.

The Bible offers us glimpses into God’s eternal perspective on suffering. When God completed creation, He declared it “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Suffering entered the world through humanity’s disobedience when Adam and Eve chose to turn away from God (Genesis 3:1-7). As a result, pain, suffering, and death became part of life. For those who have faith in Christ, the curse of sin is broken (Galatians 3:13), but we still live in a world marred by sin and its effects.

Even though suffering grieves God, He assures us that He is with us in our pain. “You have taken account of my miseries; put my tears in Your bottle” (Psalm 56:8). More than that, He offers hope: an eternal promise that one day, all suffering will end for those who are saved through Christ (Revelation 21:4).

For believers, suffering isn’t only about looking forward to eternity – it’s also about how God uses it to shape us here and now. God often uses suffering to mould, sharpen, and strengthen us. Sometimes, suffering can also be the result of God’s discipline, which, though painful, comes from a place of love, much like a parent correcting their child (Hebrews 12:6-11). God also uses suffering to prune us so we can bear more spiritual fruit, strengthen our faith, develop our character, and make us more like Jesus (James 1:2-4). And when suffering humbles us, it can help us rely less on ourselves and more on Christ, who is our strength and help.

Consider Job, a man who endured unimaginable suffering. In a single day, he lost his children, his livelihood, and his health. Yet Job chose to trust God rather than complain about the injustice of his circumstances. Faith is designed by God to be tested by trials and temptations. Like any human relationship, we will never know the depth and breadth of God’s love until we walk through the valley of the shadow of death together (Psalm 23:4).

Dear friend, whatever the cause of your suffering, take heart. You are not alone. Jesus will be in the valley with us when we are there, and we will discover a deeper intimacy with Him as we draw near to Him in our suffering.

Let's Reflect
How can you invite God into your suffering, allowing Him to use it to deepen your faith?

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

You are not far off when I am in the valley of suffering. No, You are right there with me. I pray that You would use my suffering to mould me into the image of Christ and that it would deepen our intimacy. I know that I will experience Your love for me here.

In Jesus’ name, amen.