Why Do We Suffer?

Why Do We Suffer?

Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. – Hebrews 5:8

Deuteronomy 8:5 Just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you for your own good.

1 Peter 2:19-21:

For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment. Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

The Concept of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG)

In the 1990s, contemporary psychology introduced the concept of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) as a framework for understanding how individuals can experience positive transformation following suffering and trauma. This theory posits that those who overcome mental and emotional challenges often emerge stronger, with a renewed sense of identity, a deeper understanding of the world, and enriched relationships.

Psychologists identified five key areas where such growth typically occurs:

• A heightened appreciation for life
• Strengthened relationships with others
• The discovery of new opportunities
• Increased personal resilience
• Spiritual transformation

While PTG was a groundbreaking discovery for psychologists made through trial and error, the Scriptures revealed this truth long ago. Adversity and trials have always been the Father’s primary tools for fostering spiritual growth and transformation. Through suffering, the Father refines us, strengthens our resilience, and deepens our understanding of ourselves, others, and our relationship with Him. This divine process is not arbitrary but meticulously designed to shape us into Christlikeness.

Learning Through Affliction

The Scriptures teach that suffering is a means by which we learn obedience and grow in faith. As the psalmist reflects:

Psalms 119:67: “Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word.”

Affliction redirects us, teaching us to obey and follow the Father’s will. Even the Lord Jesus Christ, though sinless, learned obedience through suffering. As Charles Stanley notes, “What teacher did God use? Suffering, just as He does with us. God intends to use our suffering to teach us the value and the power of obedience.”

Hebrews 5:8: “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.”

Theological Paradox: The Obedience of Christ

The dual nature of the Lord Jesus Christ, fully divine and fully human, presents a profound theological paradox. As the sinless Son of God (Hebrews 4:15, 7:26), why would He need to learn obedience? The answer lies in His human experience.

Though inherently obedient, Jesus gained experiential knowledge by living as a human. He grew physically, emotionally, and spiritually (Luke 2:40, 2:52), facing suffering and temptation. Through these experiences, He learned the cost of obedience in the face of adversity. Each victory over temptation was achieved by submitting to the Father’s will, demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness.

The Greek language offers a fascinating insight into this process. In Hebrews 5:8, the phrase “He learned from what He suffered” contains a linguistic play on words: emathen aphʾ hōn epathen. This alliteration connects mathein, “to learn,” with pathein, “to suffer,” a recurring theme in ancient Greek thought. As Barclay and O’Brien note, this rhetorical device emphasizes the idea that “learning comes through suffering.”

What Does It Mean to Learn Obedience?

To “learn obedience” does not imply that Jesus was ever disobedient. Instead, it means that His obedience was tested and proven through real-life experiences, particularly through suffering. As He encountered new challenges, His faithfulness to the Father was continually tested and affirmed. His ultimate test came in the suffering leading up to His death.

Through this process, the perfect Son of God became a compassionate and perfect high priest for His people. His appointment as high priest was not based solely on His divine nature, but also on His human experience of suffering, overcoming temptation, and remaining without sin.

Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.”

As Girdwood and Verkruyse explain, Jesus “earned” the right to represent humanity through His suffering, making Him uniquely qualified to intercede for us. His ability to sympathize with our weaknesses comes from His firsthand experience of human hardships.

REFLECT & PRAY

The apostle Paul’s commitment mirrored that of the Lord Jesus Christ. He said in Acts 20:24: “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”

Father, thank You for loving me so deeply that You are willing to invest in my life and shape me.

INSIGHT

The Difference Between Discipline and Punishment

Discipline and punishment, though often used interchangeably, are fundamentally distinct. “Punishment” is retrospective, focusing on past actions and imposing appropriate consequences. It seeks to address wrongdoing by delivering penalties. “Discipline,” however, is forward-looking. It is a process of training and preparation that equips individuals for future challenges and growth.

As a loving Father, God disciplines His children not out of anger but out of deep love and care. His discipline is an expression of His desire for our ultimate good, shaping us into the people He has called us to be.

Proverbs 3:12: “For the LORD disciplines those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.”

The Purpose of Divine Discipline

The writer of Hebrews provides an insightful explanation of God’s discipline, framing it as a sign of His love and a mark of our identity as His children.

Hebrews 12:5-11:

“And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, ‘My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.’ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.”

“Whoever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.”

“Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.”

“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening; it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

God’s discipline is not a punishment for past mistakes but a tool for growth and preparation. It is a means by which He molds us into His image and prepares us for the future He has planned. Discipline is an integral part of His loving care, designed to help us share in His holiness and produce a harvest of righteousness.

Discipline as an Expression of Love

Is discipline the result of God’s anger? Absolutely not! When we face suffering, it is not an act of divine wrath but a demonstration of divine investment. It is easy to misinterpret hardship as abandonment or anger, but Scripture reveals a different perspective.

The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 endured immense suffering, not because God was displeased with them, but because He delighted in them. Their faith was not superficial or convenient; it was deeply rooted and unwavering, even in the face of mistreatment, torture, and death.

As Ortlund notes, “Theirs was no country club religion.” These individuals trusted God with their whole hearts, remaining steadfast despite their trials. Far from being a sign of God’s anger, their suffering was met with His commendation. He took pride in them and delighted in their faithfulness.

Hebrews 11:2, 6, 39: “God is not ashamed to be called their God.”

This truth reframes our understanding of suffering. Hardships are not a verdict against us; they are evidence of God’s love and His active work in our lives. They are proof that He cherishes us and is preparing us for something greater.

Suffering as Preparation for Destiny

God has a unique purpose and destiny for each of child of the King. Recognizing this truth is essential to understanding the role of discipline and suffering in our lives. As Ortlund beautifully states, “You are a person of destiny; your greatness has already been won for you by Christ at his cross.”

Suffering and discipline are the Father’s tools to prepare us for the fulfillment of that destiny. They are not random or meaningless but are part of His divine plan to shape us into the people He has called us to be.

The ultimate example of this is found in the life of Jesus Christ. Though He was the Son of God, He learned through suffering.

Hebrews 5:8: “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.”

This principle illustrates profound logic: if the sinless Son of God was perfected through suffering, how much more will we, His children, be shaped by trials?

Recognizing the Father’s purpose in Christ’s suffering reframes our hardships. Suffering is not pointless pain but preparation to develop and mature us to fulfill the Father’s purpose for our lives.

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© Dr. H 2026