How to Face Suffering as a Christian

For this article I had the privilege of interviewing Jaquelle Crowe –bestselling author of This Changes Everything – on the topic of dealing with earthly trials as a child of the King of Heaven. Her answers are full of wisdom and experience, I hope they bless and encourage you today!

1.First, could you share with us why you chose, and continue to choose, to follow Jesus?

Ultimately, because Jesus chose me! In his kindness and mercy, he delivered me from the power of sin and darkness into his kingdom of light. He changed my life from one of loneliness, selfishness, and pride to one of joy, peace, and perseverance. 

2.The Bible makes it clear that we will face trials on this earth what is one experience that tested your faith?

A few come to mind, but I’ll mention this one: when I lost my grandmother (one of my dearest friends) to cancer. 

3.Looking back, what are some things that helped you persevere and choose joy during that experience?

Remembering that God is both sovereign and good. Surrounding myself with a loving community. Leaning into lament while also pursuing joy. Diving deep into God’s Word, especially the many accounts of suffering and perseverance we see there. 

4.Would you say that your faith was made stronger because of that experience? Why or why not?

Absolutely! Faith is simply your belief and trust in God. Through each difficult circumstance I’ve experienced, I have learned to believe and trust God more. That tends to be a pattern in the Christian life. 

Just look at Hebrews 11 (known as the “Hall of Faith”). Which of these individuals did not go through hard, painful situations? None! And that’s part of the point of Hebrews 11: “Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect” (vv. 35-40).

5.In John 16:33 Jesus says that in Him we may have peace. How do you, personally, remind yourself of God’s peace, and rest in Him, during hard times?

Primarily by meditating on His Word. Psalm 119:65 says, “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” Related to that, I also remind myself of God’s peace by prioritizing worship with my church on the Lord’s Day. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve received comfort, encouragement, and blessing from this gathering when I’m going through difficult times. 

6.How do we respond to earthly suffering and trials in a way that brings glory to God?

I think James 1:2-4 gives us our answer: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

We should not be surprised by trials. We should pursue joy in the midst of suffering; we should focus on endurance. And we should aim for steadfastness, trusting that God is using these experiences to make us more like Jesus.  

7.What do you think of Matthew 5:10 “blessed are those who are persecuted…”? And how does it apply to our trials today?

In Matthew 5, Jesus is addressing the “upside down” nature of his kingdom. Here, the last shall be first, those who are poor and mourning are blessed, and the weak will be made strong. Similarly, the persecuted and suffering are blessed. Why is that? Because the Christian life is about the long game – God is most concerned for our eternal good, not just giving us an easy life on this earth. 

I think we should consider our trials as instruments of God’s mercy. I recently heard someone say that nothing happens in our life that we would be better off without. That doesn’t mean we should pretend that evil is good or suffering is painless. But it means we should trust that God knows more what we need than we do. And nothing is meaningless.

8.Do you have any tips, encouragement, or words for readers who may be suffering right now?

God will never put you in a situation where faithfulness is impossible. This is my life motto. Faithfulness will look different in different circumstances (sometimes it is simply endurance), but God will always give you the strength you need to be obedient. 

And remember that God is at work in your life – He has not abandoned you. He doesn’t hate you. He is doing something. You may not understand it. It may hurt deeply. But he is working for your eternal joy, to sanctify and strengthen you, and to draw you closer to himself. Do not despair.