Growing Through SufferingSample

The Blessing of Suffering

Can suffering be a spiritual blessing from God? In Christ, we are showered with spiritual blessings. We have peace, confidence, joy, hope, love, salvation, and friendship with God, gifts of grace that are “pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay” (1 Peter 1:4). We can easily appreciate and get excited about all of these privileges. But how could we ever consider suffering a blessing?

Paul explains that we can rejoice in the midst of our trials because suffering produces endurance, and endurance strengthens our character. Endurance equips us to weather the storms of life without being consumed or broken. Like Paul, we are pressed, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; hunted down, but not abandoned by God; knocked down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Endurance makes us resilient. Endurance also allows us to live well by God’s strength under any circumstance. We learn to be content in every situation—whether having nothing or everything, a full stomach or an empty one, plenty or little (Philippians 4:11-13).

The core of our abiding resilience is our ever-deepening relationship with God in the midst of our suffering. In his divine presence, there is a continual spiritual feast. He fills our hearts with his love by the Holy Spirit and satisfies our souls “more than the richest feast” (Psalm 63:5). To know him deeply is to experience the rich and satisfying life that Jesus came to give (John 10:10). During the trials and hardships of our lives, God will faithfully extend his care to comfort us, encourage us, and keep us going (1 Peter 5:10).

What we have come to know partially in this life will be known completely in the next (1 Corinthians 13:12). God eagerly awaits the opportunity to reward us for any suffering we’ve endured (1 Peter 1:7). As a result of enduring suffering, we can look forward to sharing God’s glory and reigning with him (2 Timothy 2:12). When seen from this perspective, suffering can be one of the many spiritual blessings we receive from God.