The Gift of Suffering

(From the Archives)

We don’t have to look far to find suffering. It touches every life—quietly or loudly, early or late—but none of us escapes it. And yet, in God’s hands, pain is never wasted. Scripture doesn’t pretend suffering is easy—but it promises something sacred will grow if we let Him work through it.

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…”
—Romans 5:3–5

The Breaking Point

Sometimes, God leads us to the edge—right to the boundary where we finally whisper, I can’t do this. That’s not failure. That’s where real transformation begins. A wise counselor once said, “Now we can start the real spiritual journey.” Because in our weakness, we finally stop pretending to be strong—and begin to lean on the One who is.

The Comfort That Circles Back

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about this very thing. He reminded them that suffering isn't the end—it’s part of a circle. From sorrow to comfort, and back again—not just for ourselves, but so we can comfort others with what we’ve received.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive…”
—2 Corinthians 1:3–5

In God's kingdom, comfort isn't a cul-de-sac. It's a road that always leads back out to someone else's pain, offering light and hope.

When Pain Becomes a Megaphone

C.S. Lewis said it plainly: “God whispers in our pleasures… but shouts in our pains.”
Pain gets our attention. And sometimes that’s what it takes. Not because God enjoys watching us suffer—but because He longs to draw us near.

A Glory We Can’t Yet Imagine

Paul knew deep pain. He was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned. But he called it “light and momentary affliction” (2 Cor. 4:17) compared to what’s coming.

“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed…”
—Romans 8:18

Don’t miss that—not worth comparing. The glory God has planned for His children far outweighs every tear, every ache, every long night.

Sharing in Christ’s Sufferings

Paul goes one step further. He saw his own suffering as a way of sharing in the life and mission of Jesus.

“Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you… for the sake of his body, which is the church.”
—Colossians 1:24

This is a hard truth, but a holy one: our suffering is never isolated. In Christ, it becomes part of something eternal. Part of God’s mysterious and beautiful plan to redeem the world through love and sacrifice.

The Fellowship of the Trinity—and the Cross

To grasp the suffering of Christ, we must first grasp who God is. Father, Son, and Spirit—forever united in love and glory. This triune God, full of radiant communion, created us to share in that life.

And when Jesus suffered, it wasn’t just an isolated moment in history. It was a glimpse into the heart of God—a God who doesn’t stand at a distance, but enters in.

At the cross, God didn't just watch pain. He felt it.
He entered it.
He carried it.

Jesus, crucified and risen, is now seated at the right hand of the Father. When Stephen looked into heaven, he didn’t see a symbol—he saw Jesus standing in victory.

That cross is still speaking. It declares that God knows betrayal. He knows abandonment. He knows agony. And because of that, we are never alone in our darkest moments.

Leaning Into the Mystery

The cross shows us the full depth of God’s love—a Savior who chose suffering so we would never walk through it alone. Every tear, every ache is caught in His hands. Every sorrow is being woven into a story far greater than we can see.

So if you're walking through pain today, don’t lose heart. The God who leads you to the boundary is the same God who walks with you through the fire—and brings you out refined like gold

Sometimes God must lead you to the boundaries. Some event, person, or moral circumstance must push you to acknowledge, "I cannot do this."  A good spiritual advisor might say to themselves (not to the sufferer), Praise God, now we’re going to begin the real spiritual journey.

Paul's letter to Corinth explains how suffering is a circle bringing us to comfort.

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 the Spirit. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3–5. 

C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains.”

Paul reminds us any suffering here will be nothing compared to the glory coming.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

Paul's letter to the Colossians goes on to say that we can contribute to this circle of eternal consolation and eternal suffering:
 
Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. Col 1:24

The Sufferings of Jesus

To understand why Jesus Christ died, we must first understand who God is. So we begin with the Holy Trinity and the Father, Son, and Spirit's fellowship, which is full, glorious, rich, and overflowing. This three-in-one God created everything, and this divine life of togetherness and communion is the source of everything. This divine fellowship of unending joy is why we exist. 

It is not only Jesus who suffers, but the crucifixion represents what is constantly occurring within God!

Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of the Father. Stephen did not observe an angel or ghost standing at the right hand of God in heaven. He saw Jesus!

The crucifixion is God's enduring symbol and representation, demonstrating that God knows what it is like to be abandoned, that God is in solidarity with us in our experience of rejection, and that God does not observe suffering from a safe distance. Believe it or not, God is in the suffering with us. Jesus's suffering and death is part of the stunning plan of the Triune God to include us in the Trinitarian life.

Discovering Beauty for Ashes

Discovering Beauty from Ashes invites you into 22 heartfelt lessons on hope, healing, and renewal—born out of real-life trials and God’s unfailing promises. It is a is deeply personal and powerfully restorative.

It is my autobiography wrapped up in Bible lessons. 

Through scripture, storytelling, and creative journaling, we’ll explore how God brings beauty even from the deepest wounds. Each lesson is paired with a devotional, a key verse, and journaling prompts to help you reflect, create, and connect more deeply with Him.

🖋️ This isn’t just another study. It’s a journey I’ve lived.
If you’ve ever faced loss, betrayal, or heartbreak, this class is for you. And if you’re in a season of rebuilding, I believe you’ll find healing in these pages.

What’s Included:
✔️ 22 Bible Study Lessons
✔️ Coordinating Bible Journal Kit
✔️ Memory Dex Cards & Journal Prompts
✔️ Lifetime Access to Class Content

✨ “To grant to those who mourn in Zion... beauty instead of ashes.” – Isaiah 61:3

Learn More Here