Trust God’s Wisdom in Suffering

The Bible shows that God does not enjoy seeing us suffer, even when it’s directly for personal sin (Lamentations 3:33). When the suffering is not directly because of personal sin, we know that He hates injustice, as Isaiah 58 shows that He punishes oppressors. He truly wants to give blessings (Psalm 35:27; 84:11; 1 Timothy 4:3–5; 6:17).

Sometimes though, He knows that suffering is necessary for a higher purpose. We don’t always know the purpose, as we see from God’s response to Job; we only know that His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). His wisdom is perfect, far more than our limited view (Romans 11:33). His purposes are not simply for physical happiness, but are spiritual and eternal.

Even though this life is not easy, we can focus on the hope of heaven (2 Corinthians 4:17–18; Titus 2:13), trust His promise to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), and know His peace and joy (Galatians 5:22), no matter what we have to endure.

Some suffering is necessary, but we can pray and trust that He will keep us from any unnecessary suffering.

One day, everything that we suffered in this life will be made up for, and will all be worth it.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
(2 Corinthians 4:16–18)