³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3–5

Often when I’m writing, I get this feeling like I need to rewrite everything to make it sound less perfect. I don’t mean my writing is perfect—or that my content is perfect, far from it. I mean when it all gets finished, it feels like every devotional ends with, “And if you do it like this, everything in your life should be perfect from here on out.” 

It’s frustrating because at the end of every devotional I want to say, “But 99% of the time, it’s not going to go this way…and that’s life!” Or, “I know your life is jacked up, and you’re already doing all these things…” 

I get it. Ten steps to a better marriage didn’t save yours. Or maybe your marriage is barely hanging on by a thread, and you’re doing everything right—you’re supportive, loving, prayerful, trusting and yet he’s still checked out. Or you did everything by the book when raising your kids, and now you have no idea how you ended up with a prodigal child. Or perhaps you’ve worked on being healthy your entire life, and you know no one healthier than you, but somehow you ended up with cancer. Or maybe you’ve faced the tragic, unexpected loss of a loved one, and it feels like you’ll never find joy again.

I wish I had all the answers—but I don’t, and no one does except God. It’s hard to accept that bad things happen because of our own brokenness and the sin in the world, and nothing seems to make the pain go away. But there are truths that can bring comfort after pain, hope through trials and joy after suffering. 

1. God isn’t punishing you. 

In John 9, Jesus heals a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus responded, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” 

We have no idea what’s on the other side of our suffering. And it’s difficult to even think about what that might look like. In the moment, it doesn’t feel like anything good could ever come from what we’re going through. This blind man suffered his entire life. But his suffering had a purpose—one he didn’t understand until the day he was healed.

God allowed the blind man to suffer for a time so that He could save him for eternity and reveal His glory to the world. We don’t know what’s on the other side of our suffering, but God does. And when we’re faithful to cling to His goodness and mercy through the pain, He will be glorified, and the works of God will be displayed through the way we honor Him in our suffering. 

2. Hope is not found in our circumstances.

We focus so much on our blessings here on earth. They’re all good things—our spouse, kids, home, job, health. But as soon as one of those things goes wrong, we start to spiral, as if everything we believe and hope for depends on that one thing.

Instead, we should put our hope in the One who created and gave us those good gifts. To put hope in things that will perish is not really hope.

John Piper said, “Biblical hope is not a mere desire for something good to happen. It is a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. Biblical hope has moral certainty in it. When the Word says, ‘Hope in God!’ it does not mean ‘Cross your fingers.’ It means, ‘Expect great things from God.”

3. Have an eternal mindset.

We want everything in our bubble to be perfect—perfect marriage, perfect family, perfect career, home and friendships. But we forget that nothing on this earth is perfect; therefore, nothing in our earthly lives will ever be perfect.

Yes, pain is coming. Trials are coming. Death is 100% guaranteed. And although we’ll all experience these things at some point, on the other side of the pain, we will receive blessings. God will not waste a hurt.

Some of us will experience healing on this side of heaven. Some will experience it on the other side. But one thing is guaranteed: one day, we will be completely healed, completely whole and completely restored. 

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 says,

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

I’m reminded of the 50-foot rope often used in a sermon illustration. The rope represents eternity and the tiny one-inch piece of red tape on it represents our earthly life. Are you placing 99% of your hope on that tiny piece of red tape or are you placing all your hope in eternity? 

Suffering, like life, isn’t fair. It doesn’t make sense, and it does not discriminate. But when we suffer, we must cling to God’s promises, knowing that our suffering is temporary, His glory will be displayed, and He will turn our tears into gladness. 

Psalm 30:5 reminds us, “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

Grief and pain are inevitable. They are a result of the broken world we live in. And no one can tell you how to grieve—it’s different for everyone. Allow it to happen.

The worst thing I’ve ever heard is a Christian trying to tell someone not to grieve a death because their loved one is in heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says, “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Allow yourself to mourn so that you can experience joy on the other side.

While you are suffering through painful, worldly hurt, remember—you will smile again. At some point, your sorrow will turn to gladness. And when it does, embrace it. It’s a gift from God because He loves you.

Jeremiah 31:13 says, “I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.” God will not waste a hurt. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise and the hope that all suffering and pain will one day end. Thank You for the joy we’ve already experienced after pain and for the assurance that You will not waste a hurt. Use all things for the good of those who love You and who are called according to Your purpose. Amen