Why Doesn't God Stop My Pain and Suffering?

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 NLT

A Story of Pain and Suffering

One morning when I was 18 years old, I woke up with blurred vision, no feeling in my legs, and no appetite. This felt like the most horrifying experience of my life, especially because I’m an athlete who loves to move around and be active. But there I was in bed, unable to move. It felt like I had been stripped of my dignity. This suffering lasted over a month.

None of us loves pain. We often hear the phrase, “No pain, no gain.” But if you’ve been in pain for an extended period of time, it’s easy to let discouragement sink in. So much so that we start to feel hopeless—like I did in my season of suffering.

Seasons of Suffering

During that time, I wondered what God was doing. I felt betrayed and abandoned. Why didn’t He stop the suffering? Where was He in my pain? After all, He is God and can do all things…right?

But I learned something valuable during that time: suffering will never leave us the same. Either we draw close to God, or we get bitter and distance ourselves from Him. There is no middle ground. Truth be told, I struggled to find God in my suffering, but I turned to the promises of the Bible, even when my feelings told me otherwise.

Finding Comfort in God’s Word

I began by reading the Psalms to help me process my intense emotions. Pain is connected to grief, and we need to grieve and process our pain in God’s presence. Reading the Psalms gave me a guide for my own grieving process. My emotions were all over the map. I regularly experienced doubt, fear, panic, and worry.

But I continued to doubt and felt like God was distant. That is, until I read this verse: “For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NLT). Instead of leaning on my feelings, which could be so fickle, I decided to lean on God’s unshakeable truth. This changed my whole outlook on finding endurance through suffering.

Coming to Grips with Suffering

As I studied the Bible, I learned suffering was normal in the life of a Christian. This is important to understand, because it prevents us from being shocked when we go through pain. I saw how so many people in the Bible suffered—Paul, Moses, Job, and especially Jesus. I was comforted to know God wasn’t picking on me, because at first, it sure felt like it!

Next time you’re in a storm, consider the following points.

1. God Promises to Be With You

The promise of the Gospel is not a life free of pain. We are promised the presence of God regardless of what we face. We can be sure that God is with us in our suffering. Psalm 23:4 says, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me” (NLT).

2. You Can Trust in God’s Word

When I decided to trust God’s Word instead of my feelings, I stopped allowing my feelings to lead. Let His Word lead you. Hold tight to His promises.

3. Surround Yourself with Godly Community

When we walk through dark seasons, the temptation is to withdraw and isolate. As much as I wanted to shut people out, I decided to reach out for support. God often uses people to heal us. He may use your friends to encourage you and provide for your needs in various ways. But beyond that, there is power in the simplicity of having others beside us.

Rest in the promise that God will never leave you. And lastly, don’t fear asking for help. God gave us the gift of one another, especially in difficult times!