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This past week, the topic of suffering has been an unrelenting theme, surfacing again and again. And just this morning, it reared its head once more in our online Bible study. It seems the church has normalised perpetual suffering without ever pausing to question its source. Not all suffering, it turns out, is the same—some of it is needless, preventable, even pointless.

In my view, there are three main types:

• Suffering because humanity fell and opened the door to Satan – Genesis 3 tells us how sin, sickness, and death invaded the world, corrupting creation and giving Satan legal access to steal, kill, and destroy. But this is the very reason Jesus came—to undo the power of sin and break the cycle of suffering at its root.
• Suffering because of our own ignorance – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Many believers suffer not because God wills it, but because they do not know what He has already accomplished on their behalf. They lack understanding of how to walk in His provision, how to resist the enemy, and how to enforce their victory in Christ.
• Suffering because of our faith and consequent persecution – Jesus made it clear that true discipleship comes with opposition. Yet, most Christians in the West do not endure direct persecution per se. Instead, much of our suffering is rooted not in persecution, but in a lack of knowledge—a failure to grasp the fullness of what Christ has made available, that is, the fullness of the gospel—the good news.

This distinction matters because the entire reason Jesus came was to alleviate humanity’s suffering. We say He died for our sins—but what would be the point of that if it did not also address sin’s consequences? If the cross does not deal with suffering, bondage, oppression, and affliction, then what kind of salvation are we preaching? We only need to look at what Jesus did during His life to see what He truly wants for us.

Charles Spurgeon put it plainly:

“It is the most absurd thing in the world to think that God, who is love, would be pleased with the sorrows of His children.”

The whole world is suffering—anyone can see that. What we don’t see, what we fail to grasp, is what to do about it. This is why Paul declares:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel (good news), for it is this: the power of God saves all who believe.” (Romans 1:16).

Salvation—sozo—is not just forgiveness; it is a complete restoration. It is rescue, healing, deliverance, justification, and wholeness. If the gospel (good news) we believe doesn’t set us free from suffering, then perhaps it is time to re-examine whether we have truly embraced the Gospel of Christ—or if we have unknowingly accepted a counterfeit (bad news). Because one thing is certain:

A powerless gospel is not the gospel at all.

This is the enemy’s great deception—to keep us bound, believing that suffering is inevitable, when Christ has already paid the price for our freedom.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• Have I unknowingly accepted suffering as “normal” without questioning its root? What beliefs have shaped my understanding of suffering, and do they align with what Scripture truly teaches?
• In what areas of my life am I suffering due to ignorance? Do I fully grasp what Christ has accomplished for me, or are there aspects of my faith that I need to study and apply more intentionally?
• Am I actively resisting the enemy and enforcing my victory in Christ? Or have I passively endured hardships that Jesus has already given me the authority to overcome?

DEVOTIONAL PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

I come before You today, seeking clarity and truth. I refuse to accept any suffering that Christ has already carried for me. Open my eyes to see where I have settled for less than the fullness of Your salvation. Where I have been ignorant, teach me. Where I have been passive, awaken me. Where I have believed a lie, replace it with Your truth. I choose to stand in the power of the Gospel, to walk in the victory Christ purchased, and to resist every work of the enemy in my life. Thank You for being my deliverer, my healer, and my salvation.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.