929 words, 5 minutes read time.
Some days hit like a freight train. A diagnosis. A betrayal. A sudden loss. Moments like that make you question everything. You start asking questions you never thought you’d need to—”Why is this happening? What am I supposed to do with this pain?” I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit. And while it’s easy to mask it with busyness or bravado, deep down, most of us men are wrestling with this: What’s the point of all this suffering?
This devotional isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about finding the right question to ask—because maybe the question isn’t why am I suffering? but how is God using this? Let’s look at what the Bible says about purpose in pain, and how that truth can reshape how we walk through the fire.
Scripture
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”
—Romans 5:3–4 (ESV)
Reflection/Teaching
The Apostle Paul doesn’t sugarcoat suffering. He faced beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment—things most of us will (thankfully) never endure. And yet, here he is in Romans, rejoicing in his suffering. That always used to bother me. Rejoicing? Really?
But I missed the point. Paul wasn’t celebrating pain. He was celebrating the process. Suffering, he says, leads to endurance. Endurance builds character. And character produces hope. That’s a blueprint every man can respect. It’s not instant, and it’s not easy—but it’s a path with purpose.
I remember a season of my life when everything crumbled—career doors shut, close friends disappeared, and my prayers felt like they bounced off the ceiling. For a while, I thought God had left me behind. But in that wilderness, something deeper happened. I learned how to keep walking when I had no map. I learned how to lead without applause. I learned that God wasn’t trying to break me—He was trying to build something in me that comfort couldn’t.
If we look at Scripture, Job’s story is another heavyweight example. This guy lost everything—his wealth, his health, even the respect of his wife and friends. He never got a neat answer from God, but he did get a revelation: that God’s presence is bigger than our understanding. Job’s story tells us it’s okay not to know why. What’s important is learning to trust the Who behind the story.
Application
If you’re going through something right now, here’s what I’d challenge you to do: don’t waste your pain. Use it. Let it forge something in you. Every hard season can either break your faith or deepen it. It all depends on whether you surrender to God’s process.
Start by being honest with Him. You don’t have to be polished in prayer. Just be real. Tell Him it hurts. Tell Him you’re tired. He can handle it. Then open the Word—even if it feels dry at first. Romans 5, James 1, 1 Peter 5—these passages aren’t just religious pep talks. They’re survival guides. They remind us that we’re not alone, and that there’s strength on the other side of this struggle.
And if you’ve walked through something heavy and come out the other side, look around—there’s probably another man who needs your story. God doesn’t waste anything. Your scars can be someone else’s survival manual.
Prayer
God, I don’t always understand why You allow suffering, but I trust that You do nothing without purpose. In my weakness, show me Your strength. In my confusion, give me Your peace. Help me to endure—not with bitterness, but with hope. Build in me the kind of character that only hardship can shape. And use this season to draw me closer to You, so that I come out of it stronger, wiser, and more surrendered than before. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Closing Thoughts / Call to Action
You might not be able to change your situation today—but you can change how you walk through it. If you’re in the thick of it right now, I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or reach out directly. Let’s walk through this together.
And if this devotional encouraged you, subscribe to the newsletter so we can keep walking this road of faith side by side. You weren’t meant to do this alone.
Stay strong. Stay rooted. And never forget—God’s not done with your story.
Sources
- The Promise: God’s Purpose and Plan for When Life Hurts by Jonathan Morris (2008)
- 5 Powerful Bible Verses for Dealing With Pain (ChatHolyBible, 2024)
- Daily Devotional: “Is There Purpose in Pain?” (Love Worth Finding, April 24, 2025)
- Topical Bible: Embracing Suffering with Purpose (BibleHub)
- Logotherapy – Viktor Frankl’s existential approach to meaning in suffering
- Hope Beyond Suffering (Insight for Today, 2025)
- 30 Powerful Bible Verses About Why There Is Suffering (Bible Study For You, June 25, 2025)
- Five Purposes for Suffering (Desiring God)
- Billy Graham Daily Devotion: Suffering as a Christian
- Devotionals on Suffering (Knowing‑Jesus.com)
- What Does the Bible Say About Pain and Suffering (ChristianityPath, 2025)
- Lessons from Job – Finding Hope and Purpose (The Bible Teaches This, 2024)
- Redemptive Suffering (Wikipedia, Catholic theology)
- What Does the Bible Say About Suffering and Purpose? (OpenBible.info)
- 12 Verses About Pain: Finding Comfort in the Midst of Suffering (FreeBibleStudyHub, 2025)
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing. Readers should consult relevant experts or authorities for specific guidance related to their unique situations.