Reasons for Suffering

Acts 14:22

“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”


All Christians suffer. You have suffered, you are suffering, or you will suffer (Acts 14:22). This reality is a stark reminder that we have not reached the new heavens and new earth. The New Jerusalem of no tears and no pain, of no mourning and no death, hasn’t arrived yet (Revelation 21:1, 3-4). But just because we experience suffering as we await the redemption of our bodies, it doesn’t mean that our suffering is random or without purpose. Here are five important biblical truths about the possible reasons behind your suffering:

1. Suffering can be correction or admonition from God

“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
                  “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
                  Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
                  For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
                  And scourges every son whom He receives.”
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” (Hebrews 12:5-7)

The author of Hebrews tells us that God, as our Father, admonishes and rebukes us with sufferings. He puts sufferings in our path in order to make us realise our sin and turn to Him. He does so as an earthly father may discipline their children to walk the correct path. Proverbs 29:15 tells us exactly how important that discipline is. Similarly, Proverbs 13:24 says we must love that discipline, for God is doing it for our benefit. It is a sign of His love for us. The writer of Hebrews tells us that is certainly not easy:

"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11)

2. Suffering can be punishments for the fall into sin:

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17-19)

As a result of Adam’s fall into sin, we’re all born with what the Belgic Confession calls ‘original sin’ (Article 15). Adam’s sin has spread to all of his descendants (except for Christ alone) by the reproduction of a sinful nature. This sin brings consequences of sin—the death that God foretold in Genesis 2:17 and also physical pain, suffering and anguish. 

3. Suffering can be consequences of our personal sins

‘Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. Because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die’ (2 Samuel 12:9-11, 14).

God not only punishes His people for their original sin in Adam, but also for the sins they commit personally. We see an example of that in 1 Samuel 12. David had just committed murder in killing Bathsheba’s husband Uriah so that he could take her as his own wife. We read in 2 Samuel that David was punished for this crime with life-long consequences.

In the New Testament age God tends to leave judgment for sin until the final day. However even in this current age, we can feel the painful consequences of sin. We may feel sick after the gluttonous sin of eating too many biscuits, for instance. We can even die or get seriously injured from drink driving, either of us or of our neighbour. 

4. Suffering can be persecution for the sake of Christ

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).

There is an inevitable tension between Christians and the world that will never allow them to be peaceable. It’s because of the contrasting natures of the sinner and of the believer. Millions of Christians around the world are being outwardly persecuted. Millions of Christians are being restricted because of their belief. Thousands are being killed. Your attitude of earnestly putting God first in your work, leisure, home and school life will cause you to meet with some persecution too.

We see this persecution as a blessing. Paul tells the Philippians, and the church today, “To you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29). The persecutions we encounter are for the sake of Christ. Peter says our sufferings in persecution glorify Christ. “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14). It is a great privilege to suffer persecution!

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12).

5. Suffering can be the testing and strengthening of our faith 

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

James tells us of a great and liberating truth that is echoed throughout the rest of the Word. God is working behind our suffering, that we may be strengthened by it. He says that our trials and sufferings produce patience so that we may be steadfast to the end. Paul also concurs with this in Romans 5:3, and so does Peter:

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

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Let us remember that not all these reasons apply to all the sufferings we experience. Not all our sufferings, for instance, are a result of sin or persecution. But we do know that God is behind every single one of them, working it to our good. He is with us every step of the way. “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:18-19).

Let us also hold fast our hope for the future. The sufferings we experience here are far outweighed by the glorious gift that is waiting for us at the last day (Romans 8:18).

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).