“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later.” – Romans 8:18 NLT
Pain is something we all experience. It comes in many forms—loss, disappointment, betrayal, sickness—and often leaves us asking questions like, “Why me?” or “Where is God in all this?”
The Bible however teaches that pain is not pointless. One of the greatest revelations in Scripture is that God can use pain to accomplish His purpose.
Think about Joseph. He was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and thrown into prison—all unfair and painful situations. But years later, Joseph stood in Egypt as governor and said to his brothers, “‘…you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20 NKJV). His pain positioned him to preserve a nation.
In the New Testament, Jesus—God in human form—did not avoid pain. He embraced it. His suffering on the cross was not a detour from His purpose but central to it. Hebrews 12:2 says He endured the cross “for the joy set before Him.” The cross brought pain, but the resurrection brought life for all who believe.
Scripture shows that pain often leads to growth, maturity, and clarity. Romans 5:3–4 tells us that suffering produces endurance, character, and hope. God does not waste any trial. Even when everything is falling apart, He is putting the pieces together in ways we may not yet understand (Romans 8:28).
That doesn’t mean we must pretend pain isn’t real. Jesus wept (John 11:35). Paul pleaded for his thorn to be taken away (1 Corinthians 12:8). David cried out in anguish (Psalms 18:6,142:1). But all of them found strength not in the absence of pain but in the presence of God.
So, what should we do in seasons of pain? We must fix our eyes on God’s purpose. Sometimes, His purpose is to refine us. Other times, it’s to position us for destiny. But always, it draws us closer to Him and makes us more like Christ.
Dear friend, do not measure your life only by the comfort it brings. Measure it by the purpose it serves. If Christ could find purpose in the cross, we can trust Him to work through our pain. When we give our broken pieces to God, He creates something beautiful. Your pain is not the end of your story. In God’s hands, it can be the very thing that brings your purpose to light.
Bible Reading Plan: 1 Kings 14-15; James 2