Suffering is not a detour for the follower of Christ; it’s part of the road. And yet, many of us are surprised when it shows up. We whisper questions we don’t always feel permission to ask out loud: Why is this happening? Where is God? Did I do something wrong?
This series is driven by those questions.
As a chaplain, I’ve sat with people in every kind of pain—loss, illness, war, betrayal, doubt. Sometimes what they need is presence. Sometimes perspective. Often, it’s permission to grieve without guilt and to hope without pretending everything’s okay. I know that’s what I’ve often needed in my own pain.
The Bible never flinches at the reality of suffering. From Genesis to Revelation, we see people hurting, wrestling, weeping. But more than that, we see God entering the story, refusing to look away, redeeming what feels irredeemable.
Each reflection in this series focuses on a single passage of Scripture that sheds light on suffering from a different angle. Some texts offer purpose. Others offer lament. Some challenge us to grow through pain. Others simply sit with us in it.
There’s no one-size-fits-all theology of suffering. The Bible gives us something better: a multi-faceted witness. Job wrestles. Paul perseveres. David laments. Jesus weeps. And all of it speaks to the God who is not only sovereign over suffering, but present in it.
These reflections are not written for scholars, but for sufferers. For those who are tired of clichés. For those who believe in God but aren’t sure what to do with the ache. For those who don’t need a silver lining, but a Savior.
Each entry is brief—enough to carry a thought, not overwhelm. Read them slowly. Sit with them. Let Scripture open windows in your pain.
You might not find every answer you want. But you’ll find a God who does not run from suffering. A God who bleeds. Who listens. Who conquers death.
This series won’t solve the mystery of suffering. But maybe it will help you endure it with a little more honesty and a little more hope.