Pain is one of the most personal and difficult experiences in life. When we suffer, we often ask, Where is God in all of this? It’s a question that has echoed through history - from Job’s cries of despair to Jesus’ final moments on the cross.
Even Jesus, in His deepest agony, cried out: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
On the cross, Jesus experienced the ultimate separation from the Father - bearing the weight of our sin. He felt abandoned so that we never would.
Yet, in our own pain, God can seem silent. A well-known poem tells of someone seeing only one set of footprints in their hardest moments. When they questioned God, He replied: "That was when I carried you."
So why does suffering shake our trust in God? Why does He sometimes feel far away?
The Purpose of Pain
Pain entered the world as a consequence of sin - a result of humanity’s separation from God. But pain is not just a punishment. It is also a warning system, alerting us when something is wrong. In the same way, spiritual pain can remind us of our deep need for God. When we feel lost or broken, it may be a call to draw closer to Him.
Job is a powerful example of enduring faith in suffering. He was a man who had everything - wealth, family, and God’s favor. But when Satan questioned whether Job would remain faithful if he lost it all, God allowed him to be tested.
Job lost his wealth, health, and children. Even his wife urged him to give up on God. But Job responded with remarkable faith: "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10)
Despite his suffering, Job never turned away from God. And in the end, God restored him, blessing him even more than before.
God Is Near, Even When We Don’t Feel It
Fear and suffering can make us feel isolated, as if God has abandoned us. But Scripture reminds us: "Perfect love drives out fear." (1 John 4:18) God is love. To live in His love is to trust that He is always near, even when we don’t feel it.
The Cross
The greatest example of God’s purpose in suffering is the cross. Why didn’t God stop Jesus’ crucifixion? Because if He had, the plan of salvation would have been lost. Without the crucifixion, there would be no resurrection, no redemption, no eternal life.
God did not abandon Jesus - He allowed suffering for a greater purpose. And in the same way, our pain is never meaningless.
God Is Carrying You
When we feel abandoned, when we see only one set of footprints in the sand, we can be sure that God has not left us. He is carrying us through the storm.
We may not always understand why we suffer, but we can trust this: God will never leave us.
Hold on to His promises. Keep your faith. And remember - your pain does not mean His absence. It may be the very thing that draws you closer to Him.
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