Hope in Christ Through Suffering

Key passage: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Devotional:

Suffering often leaves us with more questions than answers. Why does God heal some but not others? Why does He allow certain trials to linger while delivering others in an instant? We wrestle with these questions, searching for clarity, but Scripture never promises that we will understand all of God’s ways. Instead, it points us to something greater—His glory.

When Jesus healed the blind man in John 9, His disciples assumed the man’s suffering was a result of sin. But Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). God’s glory was revealed not despite the man’s suffering, but through it. And this is what we must hold onto: Every moment of suffering whether healed or not–is an opportunity for God to display His power, His presence, and His eternal purposes.

In 2020, as our team was finishing the writing of our song, “This Life,” I received a diagnosis that terrified me. As a single, 20-year-old in college, I was told I would never be able to have children. The weight of that news was crushing. I mean, how do you grieve something you never even knew to long for? The suffering wasn’t just physical—it was emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal. I didn’t understand why God would allow this. Often times, when suffering comes, it leads with the question, “What good can come from this?” However, during this time in my life, the question deepened, and I could not help but ask, “Is God really good in this?” Over time, I began to see that God was using this suffering to shift my eyes to what was eternal.

I have personally seen God do great healing in my life, but regardless of what the result would have been from my health condition, I had to realize this truth—the abundant life Christ offers is not one free of hardship. It is not about getting everything we think we need. Instead, it is a life lived in surrender to His will, trusting that He will use every circumstance—whether in healing or in pain—to make His glory known. If our hope is rooted in temporary outcomes, we will always be disappointed. But if our hope is in Christ, we have a foundation that suffering cannot overcome.

One day, we will stand in the presence of the Lord, and every question, every sorrow, every moment of suffering will be swallowed up in His glory. But until then, we walk by faith. We trust that even when we cannot see or understand, God is working. God IS faithful, good, and loving, and it is simply impossible for Him to go against His character. So, we must fix our eyes on eternity, knowing that our present suffering is not the end of the story. The good that is coming from every ounce of suffering is God’s redemption. It is, in fact, achieving something greater—the eternal glory of God being made known amongst all people.

Application Question: How does trusting in God’s eternal glory change the way you view your present suffering?

Further Reading: John 9:1-7; Romans 8:18-25; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Written by Jaclyn Mains