Suffering Does Not Disqualify You

Devotional From The Sermon: Purified Through Pressure

Rev. Dr. Bankole Akinbinu

Reading: Romans 5:3-5; John 15:20; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Devotional:

One of the most disorienting experiences a believer can face is the collision between sincere faith and genuine suffering. If God is good and I am His child, why am I going through this? The answer the Bible gives is not comfortable, but it is clarifying. Jesus Himself, the perfect Son of God, suffered. He was betrayed, mocked, and crucified. John 15:20 reminds us that no servant is greater than his master. Suffering does not mean God has abandoned you or that your faith has failed. Romans 5:3-5 reveals that suffering, when met with faith, produces endurance, character, and hope. You are not being punished. You are being prepared.

Personal Reflection:

• Have you been interpreting your suffering as evidence that God is displeased with you?
• How does the truth of Romans 5:3-5 challenge or reframe that interpretation?

Practical Application:

• Read through the list of New Testament passages that address suffering: Romans 5:3-5, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Philippians 3:10, Colossians 1:24, and 2 Timothy 2:3.
• Make a note of one truth from each passage that you need to incorporate into your theology of suffering.