Introduction
Modern internet data show that one of the most‑searched questions about God is “Why does God allow pain and suffering?” Pastor Bruce Miller’s research summarized in The 7 Big Questions reveals that this question is actually the top inquiry people type into Google, ahead of other big questions like Does life have a purpose? premierunbelievable.com. An article in Insights Magazine confirms the same pattern: searches for meaning, the existence of God, and the problem of suffering dominate faith‑related queries (insights.uca.org.au). Clearly, people both inside and outside the church are wrestling with the reality of pain.
Today’s devotional addresses that question by exploring two passages from Paul’s letters that speak directly into suffering. As you read or listen, remember that this is not just an intellectual exercise but an invitation to bring your wounds to the God who loves and comforts you.
Scripture Reading (NIV)
- Romans 8:18‑23, 28
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration… in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning… Not only so, but we ourselves … groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” biblegateway.com. And later Paul concludes, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” biblegateway.com.- 2 Corinthians 1:3‑5
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” biblegateway.com.
Devotional Reflection
Paul wrote Romans and 2 Corinthians to believers facing hardship. Christians in Rome lived under a hostile empire, while the Corinthian church was battered by persecution and internal strife. Paul doesn’t ignore their pain; he acknowledges that “creation…groans” and that we ourselves “groan inwardly” (biblegateway.com). In other words, the world is broken, and believers are not exempt from suffering.
However, Paul also frames pain within a larger story. He reminds the Romans that God is working toward a future “glory that will be revealed in us” (biblegateway.com). The “present sufferings” are real, but they are temporary when compared with the coming renewal of all things. Similarly, he tells the Corinthians that God is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” who “comforts us in all our troubles” (biblegateway.com). Suffering is not wasted; it becomes a channel through which we experience God’s comfort and, in turn, extend that comfort to others.
Notice the tension: there is no promise that we will avoid pain in this life. Instead, there is a promise that God is with us and at work in our pain. Romans 8 closes with the assurance that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (biblegateway.com). This doesn’t mean everything that happens is good, but that God can weave even the darkest threads into a tapestry of redemption.
Think about your struggles, physical illness, grief over a loss, and anxiety about an uncertain future. These aren’t trivial; they are the groans of creation longing for restoration. Yet in the midst of them, God invites us to cling to hope. Paul doesn’t say if we suffer; he says when we suffer, Christ’s comfort will abound (biblegateway.com). The greater our suffering, the greater the opportunity to experience His nearness.
Life Application
- Be honest about your pain. Paul doesn’t minimize suffering; he calls it “present” and says creation “groans (biblegateway.com). God invites us to bring our raw emotions to Him. Pour out your heart in prayer or journaling; tell Him exactly how you feel sad, angry, confused, or numb. The Psalms are full of honest lament, reminding us that God can handle our questions and tears. Pretending everything is fine cuts us off from the comfort He wants to give.
- Look forward with hope. The “glory that will be revealed” isn’t wishful thinking; it’s a sure promise that God will redeem everything in the end (biblegateway.com). Cultivate this hope by immersing yourself in passages that point to eternity and the new creation (see Revelation 21 or 2 Corinthians 4). Hope lifts our eyes off our circumstances and reminds us that our suffering is temporary. Keep a list of promises that speak to you and revisit them when discouragement hits.
- Receive and share God’s comfort. God comforts us so that we can comfort others (biblegateway.com). Take time to sit quietly in His presence, through prayer, worship, or meditating on Scripture, and ask Him to fill you with His peace. Sometimes comfort comes through the body of Christ: let trusted friends or church members pray for you. Then look for opportunities to pass that comfort along. You could write a note, share your testimony, offer a listening ear, or simply show up for someone else who is hurting.
- Trust God’s purpose. Even when circumstances seem pointless, remember that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him (biblegateway.com). This doesn’t mean everything that happens is good; rather, God is weaving every strand of your story into a larger picture. Ask Him to help you see how He might be growing your character or drawing you closer to Him through hardship. Reflect on past trials and how God used them to produce perseverance and hope (see Romans 5:3‑5). Surrendering your timeline and understanding to Him frees you to walk by faith.
Prayer
Father of compassion, thank you that you see my pain and do not dismiss it. Thank you that in Jesus you entered into suffering and now offer real comfort. Help me to trust that my present sufferings cannot compare with the glory you have prepared. Fill me with your Spirit so that even in my weakness I can experience your strength. Teach me to receive your comfort and to share it with those around me. I place my hurt and questions into your hands, believing that you are working all things for my good and your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Until next time,
— Mindy, founder of Loving Lamb Co.