What Does the Bible Say About Suffering?

Published July 5, 2022

Suffering is an inescapable part of life. Every person in this world has their own cross to carry. That’s why, sometimes, we can’t help but ask “why does God allow suffering?“. More specifically, “why does God allow me to suffer?“

I have to admit, I’ve asked myself those very same questions more times than I care to count. Whenever I go through a tough time, I tend to blame God for my misfortunes. I don’t really want to blame Him but it’s just easier if you blame someone.

But then it hit me, I’m asking myself the wrong questions. I should have asked myself “why am I suffering?“.

You see, God created us. We are His children and no parent would want to see their children suffer. But sometimes, we need to let our children endure suffering to teach them the value of sacrifice and also for them to learn to survive on their own.

The same is true with God. He loves us so much for Him to let us suffer without any reason. All our afflictions and trials have a purpose.

Some people have to go through terrible heartache so they’ll learn to love themselves more. While others have to lose everything to appreciate what they had. All our pain and suffering also strengthen our faith and bring us closer to God.

So stop asking God why He allows you to suffer. Instead, find the purpose of your suffering. Only then you’ll understand what God has in store for you.

To help you understand why you’re going through this difficult time, take a look at what the Bible says about suffering:

Bible Verses About Pain and Suffering

1. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
2. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. – 1 Peter 3:17
3. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. – Romans 5:3-5
4. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1: 2 -4
5. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. – Romans 8:18
6. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. – Isaiah 43:2
7. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
8. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33
9. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. – Psalm 119:67
10. Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” – Job 1:20-21
11. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 1:6-7
12. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. – 2 Corinthians 3:4
13. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. – 1 Peter 2:19-20
14. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12
15. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. – Hebrews 2:10
16. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. – Psalm 119:71
17. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. – Hebrews 12:11
18. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. – 2 Corinthians 12:7
19. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11
20. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4
21. Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. – Job 5:17
22. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit – 1 Peter 3:18
23. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. – Revelation 2:10