In 2016, I experienced the most painful year of my life. Early in the year, my dog died. Although some Christians frown upon grieving the loss of an animal, I grieved my pet because I loved her. Much more than just an animal, she had been my friend and companion growing up. I considered her a member of my family.
Months later, sorrow came again when my mother died. I struggled with the fact that my mother was gone, that I would no longer see her smiling face or hear her voice during my lifetime. She had always been a source of strength and stability for my family. The loss of her plummeted me into a dark season of grief. I was in the valley of the shadow of death, and I saw no end to the sorrow. In many ways, the grief never left. There are still days when I feel overwhelmed with sadness, keenly aware of my mother’s absence.
However, in that weary land of shadow known as grief, there is a light – Jesus Christ. Throughout that year, I had to lean more on my Savior than ever. He comforted me in my sorrow and showed me that I could depend on Him. Even though my world felt shattered, Jesus was still there. He loved me in my brokenness and sadness, offering His nail-scarred hands for me to hold.
I am still amazed that something beautiful came out of that season of grief and brokenness. My faith grew as a result of what I experienced. Aware of the suffering that comes from experiencing the death of loved ones, my ability to empathize and grieve with those who grieve matured. I also have a more profound longing for the New Heaven and New Earth where there will be “no more death or sorrow or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4, NLT).
To clarify, I am not arguing that seasons of misery are suitable or that God caused my dog and mother to die. God originally made the world good, where people and animals did not suffer or die. The death of those we love occurs because we live in a world affected by sin (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21). Our Lord, who is loving, good, and holy, does not and cannot commit evil. However, He can use bad situations for His good, bringing something beautiful from the ashes of pain and suffering.
Through our miserable seasons, God can work in our lives to grow and equip us. He is working even when all we see is our brokenness and a shadowy world of pain.
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1. To Draw Us Closer to Himself
In his book, The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis wrote, "Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." These words were not written by a man who lived a suffering-free life. Lewis was closely acquainted with pain and loss. We can then know that when he wrote that God best gets our attention through pain, he wrote from a place of experience. This quote corresponds with what we find in Scripture. Individuals like David and Hezekiah turned to God in trouble or while enduring an affliction (1 Samuel 23; 2 Kings 20:1-3). Later, they praised the Lord for using their hardships for His glory (2 Samuel 22; Psalm 119:75; Isaiah 38:17-20).
Difficult seasons shake us out of patterns of comfort and complacency, directing our attention to the Lord. We are then more prone to listen and turn to Him. Without such experiences, we would not have easily turned to God.
The next time we find ourselves in a miserable season, we should pause and reflect. Perhaps God is using the situations and events to get our attention. He might be using the season of pain to make us more aware of Himself or a specific biblical truth. Or He could be trying to redirect us. We are wise to listen when He seeks our attention through the megaphone of pain.
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2. To Mature Our Faith
The Lord may allow miserable seasons in our lives to grow our faith. Times of suffering can push us closer to the Lord so that we pay more attention to Him. As a result of turning to God, we grow in our faith. We learn to trust the Lord more through the season of pain.
The Bible discusses this process of growth in multiple places. In Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he explains why Christians can glory in their sufferings. He wrote, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4, NIV). Difficult times can produce increasing spiritual growth in us.
James also wrote about how times of hardship can mature our faith. He described how trials can test our faith and produce perseverance, which leads to maturity and completeness (James 1:2-4). Although he said we should consider it joy when we face trials, he did not mean we delight in suffering. However, we can find joy amid hardship, knowing that God is working to grow us.
During seasons of suffering and pain, we should stay alert to how God is growing us. We will mature and develop character and hope as we persevere in faith. The main thing is to keep our eyes on Christ and lean into Him. As we do, we will trust Him more in times of suffering, even when nothing else seems to make sense.
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3. To Experience His Strength
God can use a difficult season to demonstrate His strength. Situations that bring suffering often remove any sense of self-sufficiency. We are left with an awareness of our human weakness. Relying on self is no longer an option. Yet, in those moments of frailty and even brokenness, we are in the perfect position to see God’s strength. When the Apostle Paul received a thorn in his flesh and prayed for its removal, the Lord denied his request (2 Corinthians 12:7-8). Jesus told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV).
Paul could boast about his weaknesses, persecution, and other difficulties because he knew Christ’s power was demonstrated through him. He had to rely on the Lord’s strength and not his own. In his weakness, then, he was strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). Miserable seasons can do the same for us. We reach the end of our capabilities and natural strength to carry on. In His grace, God uses these times to show us that we need to depend on Him. He is more than capable of bringing us through difficulties and struggles.
We will probably not experience the same hardships that the Apostle Paul did, but we suffer from various events and trials in life. During these times, believers recognize their need to depend on their Savior and find strength in Him. His grace is sufficient.
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4. To Learn from Discipline
We often suffer because we live in a world affected by sin. Examples of this include the loss of loved ones, diseases, struggles with mental illness, natural disasters, injustice, and poverty. The sinful actions of others can cause suffering, too, such as when a person chooses to murder, abuse, or oppress others.
However, some things that cause us miserable seasons come as discipline from the Lord. He can use times of hardship and pain to redirect us. These seasons are not pleasant but are for our benefit (see Hebrews 12:4-11). Through them, we are made aware of sinful actions or mindsets that must be dealt with.
In Scripture, we can read the stories of individuals who underwent God's discipline. For example, when Jonah disobeyed the Lord's command to go to Ninevah and ran from his mission by boarding a ship bound for Tarshish, God sent a storm and a great fish. None of these events were pleasant for the prophet. He had to endure an intense storm, being thrown into the sea, and being swallowed by a fish (see Jonah 1:1-17). However, the Lord got his attention. Jonah recognized his rebellion, repented, and completed his mission of preaching to the Ninevites (Jonah 2:1-10; 3:1-3).
Although we should not view all miserable seasons as discipline from God since many come as a result of living in a broken world, we do need to recognize that the Lord can use hardships to redirect us. Discipline is uncomfortable, but we can trust in the Lord's character. He lovingly disciplines us for our benefit and growth.
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5. To Cultivate an Empathetic Heart
Those who have experienced pain and grief can more fully understand and relate to the suffering of others. In a strange but beautiful turn of events, a miserable season becomes a source of help and hope for others. With the comfort we receive from God during times of trouble, we can comfort others when they experience afflictions and suffering (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). In this way, the Lord’s gift of comfort multiplies and blesses others. Having experienced difficulties, we are also more prone to want to share God’s love and comfort with others. Our capacity for empathy increases. We know that numerous people are hurting, and we want to do something to help.
The lives of Christians throughout history attest to this truth. Joni Eareckson Tada has experienced a great deal of suffering in her life, including being paralyzed and dealing with chronic pain from her injury. Yet God has worked through her to help many hurting people through her ministry and books. The same is true of Charles Spurgeon. He was better equipped to serve those in his congregation because he struggled with depression. Or consider Elisabeth Elliot. She was able to speak into the lives of others about suffering because she had suffered and experienced God's faithfulness through it all.
Miserable seasons are not pleasant or welcome. Nothing in the Bible leaves us with the impression that they are “good.” However, through these times of hardships and suffering, God can work in our lives to get our attention, mature our faith, depend on His strength, learn from discipline, and become better equipped to serve others. He can use miserable seasons for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).
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Originally published Thursday, 07 March 2024.