Finding Purpose in Suffering Can Deepen Your Relationship With God
How many of us have asked, "Why does suffering have to be this way?" or maybe, "Is God anywhere in this pain?" I have. And lately, I keep coming back to this truth: finding purpose in suffering changes how we see God and ourselves.
Let me tell you about what I've learned in long, hard seasons. In our recent podcast episode, I sat down with Carol, who shared her family's tender, faith-filled story. She talked about the pain of parenting a child with constant medical needs, the heartbreak of loss, and the faith it took to wake up each day. Her story echoed something I've been living too – that suffering can be more than ache. It can be a doorway to knowing God on a deeper level.
What Does Finding Purpose in Suffering Mean?
Here's the thing. We usually want answers about why we're going through hard things. But sometimes, what changes us most is not an answer, but presence. It's God's nearness in the waiting, the hurt, or the ache. Finding purpose in suffering isn't about getting fixed quickly. It's about learning to see God in places we never expected.
I remember listening to Carol talk about her exhaustion in the hospital, and I felt something settle in me. We all carry stories that don’t look neat or easy. But buried inside the struggle is a unique invitation. An invitation to see God's goodness right in the middle of our hardest places.
How Our Pain Opens Us Up to God's Grace
Can I tell you something? No one wants suffering. I know I don’t. But in those moments I can’t fix, I start to see God’s grace in ways I would have missed otherwise. The same happened for Carol, and I’ll bet it’s true for you, too. When you’re holding all your questions (and maybe a little anger), there’s a soft landing in God’s grace. That’s where finding purpose in suffering begins – when we let God meet us where we are, not where we wish we were.
Letting Go of the Why and Embracing the Who
Does this sound familiar? Sometimes we’re so busy asking “why” that we almost miss the “who” standing beside us. Even Jesus promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 CSB). That promise doesn’t erase grief, but it does declare that we’re not alone. When I stop obsessing over the reasons and start looking for God’s presence, the whole landscape of my heart begins to shift. That’s a real piece of finding purpose in suffering.
How Embracing Suffering Can Grow Our Faith
I want to be honest. Embracing suffering doesn’t mean pretending it doesn’t hurt or downplaying the real cost. It means letting yourself feel the pain, but then asking, “God, what do you want to do in me through this?”
Carol talked about how caring for her child meant laying down her own plans again and again. Each time, she found that God met her right in her surrender. I’ve lived that, too. Every time I face struggles I can’t control, it’s like God’s carving something new in me – more compassion, deeper hope, or a bit of stubborn trust.
Real Stories, Real Growth
In our conversation, Carol mentioned her perspective shifting over time. At first, the pain felt pointless. Over the years, she started to see small glimmers of God redeeming even the messiest pieces. That’s the heart of finding purpose in suffering – it doesn’t always happen quickly or with a tidy ending. It’s a slow, steady reshaping.
Looking back, I see places where God walked with me through things I never thought I’d survive. He never left. And He didn’t waste any of it. Now my faith feels less like a polished trophy and more like a well-worn anchor – real, reliable, anchored deep.
What Does the Bible Say About Suffering?
There’s a verse that never fails to challenge me. James 1:2-4 (CSB) says, "Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
Sounds wild, doesn’t it? Joy in trials. But here’s what I’ve learned – that joy comes from knowing there is a purpose even when the pain seems random. Our hearts get shaped by what God can do in those places, not by the details of what’s happening around us.
Why We Need Community in Seasons of Suffering
Let me ask you: Who’s your person when life gets heavy? Finding purpose in suffering isn’t meant to be a solo project. We need each other – to remind us of the truth, to listen, to pray, to share the weight.
Carol’s story reminded me that community is not just a nice idea. It’s a spiritual lifeline. Sometimes someone else’s faith will carry you when yours feels wobbly or thin. Other times, you’ll be the one holding the hope for a friend. This is how we put love into those cracks where life feels too broken to repair.
Practical Ways to Find Purpose in Suffering Together
- Share your honest story – don’t hide the messy parts
- Stay connected to people who point you back to God’s hope
- Ask for help when you need it (it’s okay to need it)
- Pray for each other in specific, real ways
- Look for small ways to encourage someone else who’s struggling
What Does Redemption Look Like After Loss?
After loss, it’s easy to feel like something ended. Sometimes it does. But even in the pieces, God begins new stories. Carol talked honestly about the ache of missing her children, but she also spoke about seeing signs of redemption – new ways God is working through her, fresh hope for tomorrow, more space in her heart for others.
We can hold both. The ache and the hope. That’s part of finding purpose in suffering too.
Hope for You Right Where You Are
I want you to know, God is right in it with you. If suffering feels pointless, it’s okay to say that out loud. But don’t stop there. Ask God to show you one place, one small way, He is working redemption in your story. He did it for Carol and for me. I believe He’ll do it for you too.
Let’s remember, no hurt is too great for Him to redeem. No loss is wasted. And joy can be found in the surprise places.
Are You Looking for Support on This Path?
If you’re in a tough season, you don’t have to face it alone. Our community is here. We share, we pray, we look for purpose together. You might want to check out other episodes like When God Feels Silent or Choosing Joy in Hard Seasons for more encouragement.
Every story matters. Every struggle is seen. And every step you take toward healing is welcome here.
If you haven’t listened yet, I hope you’ll hear the full podcast episode. Carol’s honesty and hope are worth every minute. Listen at Parenting Through Pain: Trusting God in Seasons of Suffering.
Final Encouragement
Finding purpose in suffering isn’t about cleaning yourself up so people can’t see your scars. It’s about letting God use the cracks to shine light through your life. You are loved, you are known, and your pain is not wasted. Especially when you put your trust in the God who sits beside you in every season.
Keep going. Keep hoping. And keep looking for Him – even in the hard parts. He’s right there.
