Prospering in Suffering: Lessons From Joseph's LifeMuestra

How Jesus' Followers Should Understand and Respond to Suffering

Before discussing how to prosper during suffering, the question most have is, “Why does God allow suffering?” or “Why am I suffering?”

May I propose an unpopular question: "Why not?"

The entry of sin into the world brought despair, death, corruption, and suffering. Our collective and individual sins cause a certain amount of suffering. We experience job losses because one of Adam’s punishments for sin is for all humankind to toil forever in labor to eat. We experience broken relationships and homes when a spouse commits adultery and gives in to their selfish desires without thinking of the fallout. Our sins have only harmful consequences.

In fact, Jesus forewarned that suffering is unavoidable, no matter how holy we are. In John 16:33, He said, “In the world you will have tribulation” (ESV, emphasis mine). The Message version (emphasis mine) says, “In this godless world, you will continue to experience difficulties.” Jesus knew his followers would suffer in a fallen world. Tribulation is certain, regardless of His followers’ faith or prayer levels. The Message version also implies we will face difficulties repeatedly. Hardship will be present in our lives at various points.

We must also remember that we have an enemy, the Devil, “prowling around like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). And suffering is how he consumes people. He aims to steal, kill, and destroy our hope, joy, successes, relationships, families, careers, finances, and anything else he can get his hands on because God loves us. The Devil's misguided attempt to get at God involves hurting us. So, some suffering is not our fault. Despite our best efforts to worship and serve God, we have an enemy constantly seeking our destruction, and we will feel the effects of that.

All the above would be pretty depressing if Jesus didn’t continue speaking in John 16:33. After acknowledging inevitable suffering, Jesus commands His followers to “. . . take heart; I have overcome the world (ESV).”

Jesus is saying that His followers should experience suffering differently from how the world experiences it. Non-believers may wallow in suffering, but followers of Jesus find hope in His victory over the world. To "take heart" is to have courage, confidence, and joy, even in difficult situations. Jesus' victory over trials gives us hope for our own. Although God may not end our suffering as fast or neatly as we want, we will eventually triumph, just like Jesus did. Despite not wanting to go to the cross, He endured suffering to obey His Father's will. And in doing so, He conquered sin and death for good.

Suffering is certain, but so is victory for Jesus' followers.