4 Reasons Christians Suffer

Before doing this study, please read the 1-minute introduction Worse Than Suffering.

 

Job lost his family, wealth, and physical health, and his friends sat around blaming him for his problems. See Job's Judgmental Friends.

But the worst part was when he thought God had abandoned him. Then he began to complain. He had enough faith to lose everything ... except God. 

When you accepted Christ as your Savior, did you understand that suffering would be a part of your life or did you think Christ would make your path free from hardship?

I think I had a vague feeling that my life would run smoothly when I became a believer. And when I encountered my first difficulties as a Christian, I was confused. But as I've grown in the Lord, I'm learning that difficulties are often my best teachers. 

Note the verses below that talk about various reasons we suffer. 

1. We suffer because the world is fallen:

Romans 8:21-23: "...the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us."

2. We suffer discipline:

Hebrews 12:7: "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?"

Sometimes we suffer from our own sins, but we also encounter difficulties as part of our sanctification process. See Punishment or Discipline. 

3. We suffer persecution for Christ:

2 Timothy 3:12: "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 

4. We suffer as our faith is refined:

1 Peter 1:6-9: "In all this [the joy of salvation in Christ] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Christ doesn't promise a smooth life or clear explanations of everything that happens.

Job let it strengthen his faith, and we can do the same. Knowing we can trust God's character is more important than having all of our questions answered.

copyright 2013, Gail Burton Purath, Bite Size Bible Study, updated and edited in 2021

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