LIFE IS SUFFERING

A few days ago, my beloved cat Wilbur passed away unexpectedly. For thirteen years, Wilbur had been my faithful companion, bringing me joy and reminding me every day of my wife who passed away last year. Losing him hit me hard, and I felt grief return like an old visitor. But is it really just a visitor? Or has it been living quietly with me all along? 

Not all suffering is the same, and maybe somewhere along the way, we stopped noticing the many little pains that come with life every day.

People have been searching for answers about suffering since the beginning of time. Why does pain and sadness seem to be such a normal part of life? For me, the answer comes from my faith. It tells me one thing very clearly: if life is suffering, then we need to learn how to live with that suffering.

IF LIFE IS SUFFERING, THEN WE MUST LEARN TO LIVE SUFFERING
God never promised us a life without suffering. Instead, He calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross (Matthew 16:24). That might not sound very inviting at first. But He also promises something amazing - He will never leave us (Matthew 28:20). His support, His wonders, His wisdom will be with us every step of the way.

To truly live, we have to be willing to accept suffering in all its forms and let it become part of us. Only by facing it head-on, by walking through it, can we understand it and find strength and wisdom through it. The goal is not to give up, but to find life even in the middle of suffering.

OUT OF OUR DEPTHS, GOD AWAKENS NEW HEIGHTS
In Genesis 50:20, Joseph says to his brothers, who once sold him into slavery: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

The Bible reminds us in Romans 8:28, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Even the toughest challenges can turn into blessings for those who trust Him.

Job, despite great suffering, recognized that everything came from God: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away” (Job 1:21). Though it was painful, Job trusted God was working out something good.

Time and again, the Bible shows that God is in control of all things—He can bring something good from even the worst situations if we trust Him.

Although biblical suffering is often presented within the context of faith, the Bible also explains why suffering is the condition of life in this world as a whole.

We often forget that in the story of creation, at one point God deeply regretted making humankind because of the evil and brokenness in this world:

Genesis 6:6 - “The Lord saw how great wickedness had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.”

WHY THE WORLD IS BROKEN
Our pain has its roots in the fallen, flawed nature of this world and its people. Sickness, death, natural disasters, broken relationships—they all come from being separated from God and the imperfection that entered creation. That’s why Jesus came—to restore what was broken, not just for this life, but for the life beyond.

Learning to live with suffering isn’t easy. But it’s the only way to find true fulfillment and understanding of ourselves. When we embrace the pain rather than run from it or hide it, we free ourselves from its hold. We open the door to live fully—with awareness, gratitude, and the deep peace of God that goes beyond anything we can comprehend.

The cycles of birth and death, coming and going, won’t last forever—because this world won’t last forever. And that truth gives us hope.

Right now, we might feel like tiny sparks in a massive fire. But through Jesus, we are forever connected to God’s love. His love is what gives us hope and joy every single day.