Why Do I Suffer? What Should You Know, Do, And Understand About Suffering

Do you ask God tough questions such as…”God if you love me why do I suffer so much?” If you aren’t careful you can become stuck in the “why me” category, otherwise known as the “woes me” category. Did you know God uses your suffering to show His glory through you?

Remember this one thing above all else…just because you are a born-again follower of Jesus Christ doesn’t mean your life will be easy.

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Where Is God When You’re Suffering?

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 4:17-18

God Is Always By Your Side Walking With You

It’s easy to wonder, “Why do I suffer” When you hear these words:

• I’m sorry, I have done everything I know to do for you and we’re out of options.
• It’s completely unexplainable.
• I’ve got to send you to someone else…I’m So Sorry!

The words said to me when I saw my Specialist this past Thursday. Honestly, I knew it was coming already. I knew my body and could see it for myself.

The never-ending months upon months of treatment weren’t working. This poor doctor just hung her head in frustration. It was written all over her face how badly she felt. Everything she has tried has failed to help me.

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See, beloved, I have several autoimmune disorders, and it’s like my body attacks itself. The short version is that I had plantar warts on both hands. After months with no improvement, she decided to cut them out. To say this was a mistake is putting it mildly.

It took over five months, for both places to heal. My hands are good to go now my foot is not so much. I have clusters of plantar warts deeply rooted in the bottom of my foot. They have tried EVERYTHING to get rid of it.

7 Examples of Physical Suffering

1. Freezing
2. Burning
3. Immune Serum Injections
4. Chemotherapy Bleomycin Injections
5. Chemotherapy Cream
6. Squaric Acid
7. MMR Injections

None of these treatments have worked to get rid of these troublemakers. She said she would NOT cut them out since my body does NOT heal correctly.

I WILL QUOTE HER, “I WOULD NOT CUT THEM OUT IN A MILLION YEARS…EVER.”

What Should You Know, Do, And Understand About Suffering

What she said next left me speechless for a bit. She said, “Angie, we need to send you for an MRI to see how deep this lesion is. I’m starting to worry that this is Verrucous Carcinoma which is a form of Cancer.”

Once I’m scheduled for the MRI and get the results I would need a rather large amount, to send off for a biopsy. She did NOT beat around the bush about how excruciating this procedure would be. I was like I handled needles upon needles and had straight Bleomycin injected in my foot.

1. Pain is Inevitable In Life

I think I can handle a little pain and suffering DR. You’d thought I’d sprouted horns right there in the office or had a third head or something Y’all. Depending on how deep the place is it would be a possibility that I could lose my foot. Let’s be real NO ONE wants to lose a body part.

2. Trust God Regardless Of How Things Appear

Talking about becoming scared! I got in my car and sat there for a few minutes to calm my racing heart. As I prayed to my Heavenly Father I asked others to start praying as well and I felt the prayers being said for me.

Not only this I knew the assurance of whatever the outcome for me Jesus is there right by my side! God will NEVER leave me, and he will NEVER forsake me, not for a single moment.

3. Stop Asking God Why do I suffer…Why Not Me

I have been asked more than once the most recent being Friday during lunch at work. Angie, why is God allowing you to go through so much? You’re such a good Christian woman, and I don’t understand WHY he would do that.

It’s a question many Christians and non-Christians wonder about themselves: Why do I suffer? I’m sure she would give you my response if you were to ask her.

4. Understand There Is A Reason And Purpose In All Situations…Including Suffering

You are put on this earth for one purpose. Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Whatever you face in your lives is being used to show the Glory of God through them. Instead of saying “Why do I suffer?” say WHY NOT ME?

But when Jesus heard it he said, This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it. John 11:4

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

I must confess that when my health first started to go downhill back in 2008, I did NOT have the attitude I have now.

At the time I had turned my back on God. I was bitter for several reasons and struggling with fear. You can read my God at work testimony to give you an idea.

5. Change the Woes Me Mentality

I felt sorry for myself and wanted others to pity me. Since returning to my faith in 2013 God has made a major change in my life and most importantly he’s done a heart change in me.

I view things much differently now. Trust me when I say the change in me, did NOT happen overnight.

What Is The Definition Of Woe Is Me?

Sad or mad is used humorously to say that one is sad or upset about something.

6. Fully Rely on God’s Strength Instead Of Yours

See sweet friend, during this time God was making my faith in him stronger and he is still doing that even now when all is uncertain.

When everything is going right in our lives, we tend to put God on the back burner. It is during our most difficult challenges, that we learn we can’t handle things with our strength.

We realize that we need to lean on Him, to see us through them as we’re trusting God in the unknown outcomes. Also during the hard times is when we learn the most about ourselves.

God wants to use our lives to change those around us. When people see us going through difficult situations time and time again they pay attention.

7. Faith in times of suffering Show God’s Glory through you

How can she or he be going through what they are but still keep a smile on their face? How can she or he keep raising their hands in praise, to the God who is allowing them to face ______?

Friends I am here to tell you other people’s lives and hearts will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ watching you and me in our everyday trials and sufferings.

Working with Cancer patients will change the way to view your circumstances! Trust me when I say, I see much heartache, daily. I am reminded every single day, that I could be having it much worse than I do.

8. someone is worse off than you

To be honest I think God opened the door for me to get my job there to change me and my attitude Working in Oncology will open your eyes for sure. 

9. Suffering leads you to greater dependence and obedience to God

God knows what He is doing, and His ways are much better than our ways. He sees the whole picture whereas we do NOT!

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MY HEALTH JOURNEY

The way I see it is if God wants to use me and my health struggles to help others through theirs I’d say “Here I am Lord, use me.”

Your Turn

The truth of suffering is not particularly comforting to those who are going through numerous illnesses. You’ll legitimately go through challenging seasons and times of questioning God. You are human and flawed. God is not offended when you pour out your heart to Him. Approach God with your request and share your burdens with Him. Are you enduring a sickness that’s being used to test and refine your faith? One final thought…sickness leads you to greater dependence on and obedience to God.

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