04/14/2026
Are you suffering through something today and are you wondering if it’s because you have failed God in some way? Do you find yourself asking Him why He would allow you to feel such pain, humiliation, illness, deformity, grief, mourning, or some other unpleasant form of distress? Well, there is a mystery and a revelation to our suffering that brings us to a place where happiness can’t, in this place we find the reflection of Christ, and lean mightily on God. I have often said that in the worst and most trying times of my earthly life I have found the greatest advancements in my faith and spiritual life.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 ESV
When we are in the midst of our suffering it is hard to see the miracle of sanctification (or in other words, holiness) that will result from it. Pain and travail perfects us in our obedience, demonstrates our dependance on the Lord, and increases our desire to conform to God’s will like nothing else can; it draws us ever closer to Him... it affirms us as a reflection of Jesus; not just in our suffering, but in the obedience of accepting it.
“saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."”
Luke 22:42 ESV
Jesus died to defeat sin and death, and we know He was our sacrifice because John the Baptist announced Him as the “Lamb of God”; He was the blood sacrifice that would be made for us, once and for all. Our Savior and redeemer replaced the unblemished lamb that was offered annually on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, to atone for the sins of Israel. Listen to John the Baptist’s description of Jesus…
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 1:29 ESV
This much we understand, but why did He endure such pain and suffering in the process? No lamb was ever tortured or beaten before the altar. No lamb was bloodied and made to endure such pain before being offered as a sacrifice. We resist this as human beings, and even insist on the slaughter of food animals to me humane, but Jesus’ death came at an immense physical cost, and it was no accident. It was prophesied centuries beforehand, and repeated many times.
“As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—”
Isaiah 52:14 ESV
So, Jesus was beaten beyond recognition He fulfilled the prophecy of the Christ, and no man can claim they have suffered more than He did; all of this was done for us. The perfection of His sacrifice was coupled to the perfection and price of His obedience through His passion.
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:3-5 ESV
So it is that we too suffer in similar fashion, and become images of Jesus in the process. The price He paid being reflected faintly in us. Yet there is another aspect to our travail, and that is the mysterious way in which it strengthens our faith, and draws us closer to God in a powerful way. Suffering becomes like a sharp knife, a cleaver, and when applied to us it separates the meat of our faith from the spoils of the animal. It can cause what is within us to fall one way or the other as the knife cuts us asunder. It forces us to face who we are, and to choose within ourselves whether we will become a blessing on the table of God or tossed away like sinful entrails. Does our faith increase and endure as we adhere to the will of God, or does it fall away as we value our own wills over His?
“For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.”
2 Corinthians 4:11-12 KJV
We struggle and suffer in this life as a reflection, and a portrait, of Jesus. We choose God’s will and a more intense faith in Christ each time we face a hardship or endure distress in our obedience to the Lord’s will. Isn’t it true that in order to gain something we must offer something in return. To have love we must give love, to have loyalty we must pledge our loyalty in return, and if we are to be redeemed from sin in the spiritual realm Blood was required. So, what do we give in barter for righteousness and holiness? We give our love and obedience. And what is the price of a deeper faith if not the desperation and endurance of hardship that draws us closer to God.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 ESV
We are not paying a tax on life with our suffering, but seeking the fullness of life in Christ instead. The hardships we face each day come with an overflowing cup of faith, and they increase our dependance on God. Placing our hands in those of our Heavenly Father, and saying “Lord I am in pain, help me.” or “My God, sustain me now as I love you in the midst of this my suffering.” are just different ways of saying “not my will, but yours, be done.” Do we follow Jesus to Calvary?
“And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
Luke 9:23-24 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you from the midst of my suffering, and I praise you in my distress. Lord, I thank you for the grace you provide, and the comfort that follows the most painful of my trials. You ask much of me Blessed Father, but you provide an abundance of goodness in return. I give you my love and obedience by the cup, and you return it to me through your love, by increasing my faith by the bucketful. I close my eyes Holy Father, and see Jesus, my Savior, upon Calvary... He has been beaten beyond recognition, humiliated beyond understanding, and is suffering the agony of mankind’s sins. In this, the eye of my soul, I experience heartbreak, and my love for you reaches its climax as I weep for Him. My tears wash the foot of your throne.
How can what you are asking me to endure compare to the suffering of your Son Jesus? How can I not say, “your will be done?” as He did? Abba, pour out the oil of your love on my wounds, and increase me in my faith. Cleave from me, with the sharp edge of Christ, the sin that has separated us for so long.
Help me in my unbelief Father, and lift me up from the throes of my agony as I look to you and trust in your goodness. Your perfection is in your grace, and your mystery in my righteous increase which grows through my obedience to your will. Hear my prayer Father.... If you are willing, remove this cup from me, but nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. In this way I seek your grace and mercy forever. In this way I ask you to help me in my unbelief, and strengthen me in my faith. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God Almighty, and Great are you who draws goodness from the well of my pain itself.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 ESV
Amen!
Rich Forbes