The Cup of Suffering

Sadly, the cup of suffering is drunk by many who feel forsaken, even by God. Indeed, affliction is the hard labor of the soul, and those who struggle often suffer in silence alone. So, if you are one of the “walking wounded” who carry grievous wounds and torments that you hide from others, please read further. 

From experience, as we groan in bitter distress, our eyes overflow with tears. And no one can comfort us but the balm of God’s mercy and compassion.  But we often push Him away because we won’t admit, even to ourselves, that we are mad at God for allowing suffering into our lives. Therefore, to gain a different perspective, let’s turn to the Word of God.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-13

So, according to this verse, if you are a follower of Christ, troubles of various kinds will be an inevitable part of your walk with the Lord. Although unquestionably, no one wants pain, hardship, or loss, the fruit of suffering will reveal genuine faith and a life transformed by the Spirit of God.

God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering. Genesis 41:52

God will Redeem Your Suffering

Sorrow and pain result from living in a sinful world, but God promises to redeem every heartache for your good and His glory. Therefore, because God has a divine plan for your life, your suffering is never senseless. Instead, he uses trials to prepare you to be used by Him.

For example, Joseph was sold by his brothers and spent 13 years as an Egyptian slave. And, as though those heartaches were not enough, he was also falsely accused and spent years in prison. But, in God’s perfect timing, He elevated Joseph to become second in command to Pharaoh in Egypt. And because of this, God then used Joseph to save his family and two nations from famine. So likewise, as you trust Him, God will also use those things you suffer to prepare you for the work He has planned for you to do. And through the process, He is conforming you to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. Romans 8:28-29

Given this verse, God promises that He will work all your experiences together for good, and He will waste nothing. So, will you cooperate with God as He breaks up the fallow ground of your heart to look more like Jesus? Then, lean on God in the hard places of your life and ask Him to help you persevere.

The Trials of Suffering

Trials are a pressure cooker, and the temptation to doubt God’s goodness and His care for you is powerful. In addition, when you focus solely on your circumstances instead of Jesus, you ultimately lose heart. So, instead, ask God to strengthen your faith in your fiery trial. And then cling to what you already know and believe about Him, like “God is good.”

And be mindful that you often ask God for what you think you need from an earthly viewpoint. But remember that God answers you from His perspective and perfect will for your life because only He sees the end from the beginning. Subsequently, when you believe that God’s plan is not to harm you but to give you hope and a future, you will want to rely on Him instead of yourself.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

Continually Seek the Lord by Faith

In adversity, ask God to strengthen your faith and refuse to miss the blessing of knowing Jesus better and experiencing Him more intimately.

I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death. Philippians 3:8, 10

May God calm the anxieties of your heart and enable you to find peace and rest in Him, even in suffering. And remember that the rainbow comes after the storm.

And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.  To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11

The Cup of Suffering Called Grief

Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. Lamentations 3:31-33

Grief is intense emotional pain caused by loss, and it will change you from the inside out as your heart breaks. And sadly, the depths of pain may take you to the lowest of lows, where only Christ can resurrect you! God called you to be the fragrance of Christ, but the scent of a flower is released only when crushed. So, instead of running away from God, plant your tears with the vision of Him by your side. Therefore, come near to the Lord, who has compassion for you, and process your emotions with Him in prayer.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

The Bible tells us that Jesus was a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.  And in death, He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. So, because Jesus experienced crushing grief Himself, He certainly understands yours. Indeed, nothing you suffer will ever compare to the great price that Jesus paid to save you from your sins and eternal death.

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Jesus fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:38-39

In Sorrow, Allow God to Comfort You

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Considering this verse, God knows best how to console you. So, ask God to comfort you if you never have, and believe that He will. Subsequently, God can use you to encourage others when they need it. And then, you will realize that God transformed you through suffering to look more like Jesus.

For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:5

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your compassionate and merciful Presence. Please give me a humble heart that trusts you and is willing to follow you wherever you lead me. And help me always turn to you first for sympathy and support.

Jesus Drank the Cup of Suffering

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. 1 Peter 2:21

Jesus drank the ultimate cup of suffering, so He understands your sorrows and is sympathetic. So then, identify with Christ as you walk through the darkness and cling to God in prayer as Jesus did. And rejoice that Jesus is always with you to be your strong support.

Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on His God. Isaiah 50:10

Jesus understands that you want your circumstances to change and your troubles to go away. Because even Jesus asked God, His Father, three times if it was possible to release Him from what He was about to face.

Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Matthew 26:42, 44

Undoubtedly, Almighty God can change any hopeless situation because nothing is too hard for Him. But given Jesus’ prayer, will you trust that God has a greater purpose for your suffering when He does not change your circumstances? And will you believe that God promises to work for your good and His glory in all things? Jesus is the source of everything you need. So then, for your sake, continue in prayer, remain in God’s Word, and follow Him by faith.

Deny Yourself and Drink the Cup 

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25

You will suffer a thousand deaths in your earthly life as God releases the strong will of “self” that opposes God and His will for your life. Consequently, there will be a struggle until you surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ and allow Him to rule. But it is through suffering that you are in the process of becoming God’s masterpiece, so cling to Him by faith!

Undeniably, you will not understand everything God does when you drink the cup of suffering. Hence, He asks you to rely on Him, not yourself, because only He knows the way through it all. And mercifully, Jesus walks right beside you up the steep mountain of hardship, so be sure to talk to Him along the way. So, will you surrender yourself to His loving care and walk where He takes you?

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13

Biblical Examples of Those Who Drank the Cup of Suffering

Jesus Christ Willingly Suffered for You

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Although He was a son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. Hebrews 5:7-9 

Jesus’ life was a continual process of doing the will of God, so He knows how to help you. Accordingly, ponder Jesus’ remarkable attitude toward suffering and then, by faith, allow Him to live His supernatural life through you.

Should I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” John 18:11

Suffering Tested Abraham’s Faith 

Then God said to Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will show you.”  Early the next morning, Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. Genesis 22:2-3

Abraham trusted the holiness of God, so he traveled up the narrow road of faith to the mountain of “sacrifice” to obey the Word of the Lord. Because he knew God and trusted Him, Abraham was willing to give up his only son until God intervened. Indeed, your faith pleases God, and the fruit of genuine faith is obedience. So, what is God asking you to surrender?  

Job Lost Everything and Did Not Know Why

Job was thrust into the crucible of suffering and tested grievously through no fault of his own. As a result, Job lost his wealth, possessions, children, and health. And even though Job did not understand why he was suffering, he uttered remarkable expressions of faith in God.

At this, Job got up and tore his robe, and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”  In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Job 1:20-21

Later, Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. But Job replied, “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?”  Indeed, Job had questions and doubts that he expressed to God, yet he remained faithful.

Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him. Job 13:15

Even now, my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God. Job 16:19-20

I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end, He will stand upon the earth. Job 19:25

Drink the Cup of Suffering and Trust the Lord

We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22

It is easy to say that we trust God when the sun shines. However, as Jesus, Abraham, and Job demonstrate, it is through trials that faith is perfected and proved genuine.  So, will you surrender and allow God to continue His good work in you? Because suffering will teach you that God is in control and He is enough when nothing else is left.

I’ve lost everything

Yet I will rejoice

For God led me here

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Even If

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Bible study for “The Cup of Suffering”

Week 1:  Genesis 22:1-18; 41:52; Job 1:1, 8-22; 2:9-10; 3:1-10, 20-26; 5:7, 17; 13:15-16; 16:15-17, 19-21; 19:25; 23:10; 36:15; 42:1-17; Psalms 6:3-7, 9, 34:4-5, 17-19; 41:1-4; 42:1-3, 5-11; 46:1-3; 56:3-4, 8; 73:21-26; 95:1-7; 107:13-16, 19-22, 28-31; 116:1-15; 119:49-50, 67, 76, 132-133, 153; 126:4-6; 138:3, 6-7; Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 4, 7; 7:1-4, 10, 13-14

Week 2: Isaiah 25:4, 6-9; 38:1-22; 40:27-31; 41:10, 13; 45:5-7, 12, 22-23; 49:13-16; 50:4-7, 10; 51:12; 53:1-12; 55:8-11; Jeremiah 29:11-13; 31:13; 32:17, 26; Lamentations 3:1-26, 31-33, 37-40, 55-57; Habakkuk 3:16-19; Zephaniah 3:17; Matthew 5:1-4, 11-12; 7:7-11; 11:28; 16:24-25; 20:20-23; 26:36-46, 50-54; Mark 4:35-41; 8:31-38

Week 3:  Luke 17:5-6; 24:25-27, 44-47; John 9:1-3; 11:21-27, 32-36, 38-44; 16:33; 18:11; Acts 5:41-42; 14:21–22; Romans 5:1-5; 8:17-18, 24-32, 38-39; 12:12, 15; 2 Corinthians 1:2-5; 8-11; 4:7-11, 16-18; 5:7; 11:23-31; 12:9-10; Galatians 2:20; 3:7-9, 14; Philippians 1:29; 3:7-14; 4:12-13; Colossians 3:1-4

Week 4:  1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; 5:16-18, 28; 2 Thessalonians 1:2-5; 2 Timothy 1:7-12; 2:1, 3; 3:12; 4:6-8; Hebrews 2:9-18; 4:14-16; 5:7-10; 7:24-26; 10:32-39; 11:1-40; 12:1-12; 13:5-6; James 1:2-8, 12; 2:14, 20-24, 26; 4:7-8, 10; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 2:19-25; 3:17; 4:1-2, 12-19; 5:6-7, 10-11; Jude 24-25; Revelation 1:9; 21:3-4