Have You Prayed Today?
We suffer.
Being saved does not save us from pain, uncertainty, or the consequences of wrong choices. Jesus did not endure the cross so that we could live blissful, pain-free lives. He died so that we could be reconciled to God and have hope, even in our suffering.
Someone who did not believe in the resurrection once asked me, “If Jesus exists, why do some of us struggle so much?” It was a difficult question then, and those who experience suffering can understand its difficulty.
Suffering can create emotions like pain, fear, numbness, uncertainty, or panic. I have suffered because I am human, and I can tell you that sometimes I am not proud of my response to the suffering. Instead of going straight to my Lord and Savior and praying, I become someone I do not recognize or enjoy being. My chest hurts, I am short-tempered, and my patience disappears. But, even then I know one truth: God is with me. Yet, in the middle of my suffering, that truth can be difficult to feel.
When my mom was still living, she would often ask me three great words when I would experience suffering: “HAVE YOU PRAYED?”
She would tell me that I was being tested, and though she did not know why or what the outcome would be, she would direct my attention to God. I may never understand the source of every hardship, big or small, but I can choose how I respond. If the enemy wants fear, anger, panic, and division, then my anxiety and yelling were giving him exactly what he wants.
If I turn toward God, however, my answers could look different. As a human and a believer, I may still be sad or impatient, as Faith does not require me to pretend those emotions do not exist. But those emotions can be joined by forgiveness, love, prayer, and trust.
Faith does not prevent suffering. Faith gives us somewhere to turn when suffering comes.
Read Romans 5:1–5 (NIV):
“Therefore being justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope fo the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, becuase we know that suffering produces perserverance; perserverance character; and charcater, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."Romans 5:1–5 (NIV)
This scripture gives me an answer to the question, “If Jesus exists, why do some of us struggle so much?” Through Jesus, we have peace with God and access to His grace. That grace gives us somewhere to stand when everything around us feels uncertain. We are not going to enjoy suffering or pretend it does not hurt, but the answer lies within Jesus and if He has the answer then why not pray to Him?
Tribulation develops patience. Patience produces experience. Experience leads to hope.
Hope does not mean believing everything will immediately follow our plans. It means trusting that God remains present and His love has not left us. The answer to suffering is not perfect behavior. It is not pretending to be strong, never crying, or asking for help.
God was with me yesterday. He is with me today, and He will remain with me tomorrow. His grace does not depend on my ability to stay strong. When I am weak, frightened, or overwhelmed, He gives me strength for the next step. It is okay to cry. It is okay to feel angry. It is okay to admit that you are frightened. Bring those honest emotions to God—even when your prayer is nothing more than, “Jesus, please help me.” He knows what you need help with! Suffering is not proof that God has abandoned us. Sometimes it becomes the place where we experience Him most deeply. Through that experience, He can grow within us a hope—and a JOY—worth sharing.
Questions to Ponder
When suffering interrupts your plans, what is your first response: fear, anger, control, prayer, or trust?
What struggle are you currently trying to carry without God?
How has your fear affected the way you have spoken to or treated the people closest to you?
What would it look like to be completely honest with God about your pain?
Can you remember a difficult season when God used suffering to develop patience, strengthen your faith, or give you hope?
Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, I do not always understand why suffering enters my life, or anyone's for that matter. When my plans fall apart, and fear takes over, remind me that You are still present. Forgive me for the moments when my anxiety becomes anger or when my pain affects the people I love. Help me bring my honest emotions to You instead of trying to carry them alone. Use this season to strengthen my faith, develop patience within me, and lead me toward hope. When I feel numb, frightened, or uncertain, remind me that I have peace with You through Jesus Christ. Thank You for loving me yesterday, remaining with me today, and already knowing what I will face tomorrow. Give me the strength to keep praying, keep believing, and keep choosing JOY.
Amen.
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