God Approved Sufferings
The Bible frequently presents suffering not as a sign of God's rejection, but as a tool He uses for spiritual growth and refinement. The common reaction of men is to reject suffering. This part of the statement reflects a natural human tendency. We instinctively avoid pain and hardship. The Bible acknowledges this, but also provides a different perspective.
We read in Hebrews 12:11 that the verse directly addresses the unpleasantness of suffering and its eventual positive outcome. – “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." The word “discipline” here does not point exclusively to physical suffering. While it can include physical hardship, the Greek word used, paideia (pa?de?a), has a much broader meaning. The term paideia refers to the entire process of raising a child. This includes education, training, instruction, and correction—all with the goal of fostering moral and spiritual maturity. It encompasses a wide range of experiences, both pleasant and painful, that God uses to shape believers into His likeness. This compares God's discipline to that of an earthly father. A loving father corrects his children not to harm them, but to guide them toward a good and prosperous life. Similarly, God's discipline is a sign of His love, not His anger. This discipline can manifest in various forms, including:
Trials and hardships – These can be physical, emotional, or financial. They test our faith and force us to rely on God.
Conviction of the Holy Spirit – The inner turmoil and guilt we feel when we've sinned is a form of discipline that prompts us to repent, and our conviction of our conscience that we feel guilty including sins committed is only produced by the Holy Spirit.
Correction through God's Word – The teachings of the Bible correct our wrong thinking and behavior, guiding us toward a righteous path.
God allows us to experience the consequence of our own actions and the natural results of our sin, which can be a painful but effective lesson. Ultimately, the "discipline" in this verse refers to any form of training or correction that God uses to lead believers to maturity. The suffering and pain are not the goal, but rather the means through which God produces the "harvest of righteousness and peace."
The harvest of righteousness stated in the verse is the key towards salvation. While the Bible doesn't present it as a simple, mechanical checklist, it precedes repentance. Conviction by the Holy Spirit is the starting point; before a person can repent of his sins committed and trust in God, he must first be convicted and transformed by the Holy Spirit for a renewed mind and spirit, becoming spiritually minded to eventually turn from sin.
Once a person is convicted of their sin, the next logical step is repentance. Repentance literally means a "change of mind" or a "turning around," turning away from sin. Acts 3:19: "Repent therefore, and turn TO God, that your sins may be blotted out." Luke 13:3: "I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Repentance is the natural response of men after the Holy Spirit convicts and transform them. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit in John 16:8, "And when He (the Holy Spirit) come, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." Conviction leads the person to trust in God, and recognize his need for a savior, generating faith – acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. This conviction is not merely a feeling of guilt but a divinely-imparted revelation of our spiritual condition and our separation from a holy God. It's the moment a person's eyes are opened to their own sinfulness and their inability to save themselves. It's not just feeling sorry for a mistake; it's a decision to turn away from a life of sin and toward God. Romans 2:4: The apostle Paul states that it is "the kindness of God" that "leads you to repentance." This shows that repentance is not something we conjure up on our own but is a response to God's grace and an essential component of salvation. This turning away from sin is a necessary part of the process, as it demonstrates a sincere desire to follow God, have faith in Jesus, and not remain in rebellion against Him, but rather obey Him.
After repentance, the person places their faith in Jesus Christ. This is the act of acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior and trusting in His atoning work on the cross for the forgiveness of sins through Him, as well as salvation through Jesus. Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10, Luke 5:24 “But that you may know that the Son of Man has the power on earth to forgive sins.” Romans 10:9-10: "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." The passage from Ephesians clarifies that faith itself is a gift from God, not something we earn, not anything that human effort can do, but it is solely by the work of God Himself alone that salvation is produced. It is at this point—the moment of genuine faith—that a person is justified (declared righteous in God's eyes). This is the "righteousness" that is attained. It is not a righteousness that we have earned through our own actions, but the righteousness of Christ that is imputed, or credited, to us by means of God’s grace alone. Righteousness is what justifies us before God. Righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior: Romans 3:22 “Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe.”
The Bible teaches that salvation is a present reality for those who have put their faith in Christ; and salvation will give us future reward of eternal life in God’s kingdom after our days are over here on earth. At the moment of faith, we receive this future reward of salvation in heaven. John 5:24: "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." Romans 8:1: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." The "harvest of righteousness and peace" from Hebrews 12:11 is the lifelong process of sanctification and future salvation in the heavenly kingdom. This is a progressive experience where the Holy Spirit works in the believer's life to produce fruit and conform them more to the image of Christ. This is why suffering can be so beneficial—it is a part of the "training" that produces a life of practical righteousness and peace, which is a key evidence of our salvation.
So in sequence, it will be this way:
Conviction (Holy Spirit) ? Repentance & Faith (Human Response) ? Justification & Righteousness (God's Action) ? Sanctification & Salvation (Ongoing Process & Present Reality)
It is considered normal and a common part of the Christian life to experience various forms of suffering, and this suffering can serve as a powerful evidence of one's identity as an heir to God's kingdom. Romans 8:17-18 “And if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him.” "Suffer with Him" means suffering for righteousness sake that may involve persecution, because our Lord Jesus Christ even though sinless, yet He suffered crucifixion and death. This is the most direct and common understanding of "suffering with Christ." As followers of Christ, we share in the world's hostility toward him. The world that hated and rejected Jesus will also hate and reject His followers. This can take many forms, from social ostracism and ridicule to outright harming, persecuting, imprisonment, and even martyrdom. John 15:18-20: "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you… If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you."Matthew 5:10-12: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 2 Timothy 3:12: "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Because we are united with Christ, we are also united with the suffering of a broken and fallen world, sharing in the present sufferings of this world; it is a broader sense of suffering. This includes not only persecution but also the common human experiences of pain, loss, illness, and hardship. While these are not unique to Christians, our suffering is given a new meaning when viewed through the lens of our union with Christ. The Bible presents suffering as an expected part of the Christian journey, not an exception to it. In following Christ's example, Jesus Himself promised that His followers would share in His experience of rejection and suffering. In John 15:18-20, He said, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you… A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you." To walk the path of Christ is to walk the path of the cross.
Becoming a Christian means being "transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light" (Colossians 1:13), signifying it is a sign of spiritual conflict. This act of spiritual allegiance creates an immediate conflict with the world's values, which are in opposition to God. The world's response to this can range from ridicule and social exclusion to severe persecution and physical harm. Suffering is part of the divine discipline that purifies and matures a believer's character.
Romans 8:22-23: "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies." This passage speaks of the universal suffering that believers share with the rest of creation – a released from pain, suffering and sickness. A part of the Christian life is the ongoing struggle against sin. This involves the painful process of "putting to death the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13). This internal spiritual battle against our sinful nature is a form of suffering that is part of the Christian walk. Colossians 1:24: "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church." Paul is not saying Christ's atonement was incomplete. Rather, he means that the church's ongoing suffering and endurance is part of the unfolding plan of God, which Christ's suffering began.
Suffering doesn't earn our status as heirs, but it can confirm it in several ways. It's not the primary evidence, but a powerful secondary one. Suffering is an evidence of heirship because it is a sign of our union with Christ: Our suffering for the sake of righteousness (for doing what is right in God's eyes) demonstrates that our allegiance is to Christ and not to the world. It shows that we are so united with Him that we are willing to endure hardship for His sake. The apostles, after being beaten for preaching the Gospel, "rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Jesus name" (Acts 5:41). Their suffering was a badge of honor and a clear sign of their commitment to Christ.
The primary biblical evidence that we are heirs is the indwelling Holy Spirit. Romans 8:16 states, "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." Our ability to endure suffering with hope, peace, and even joy is a supernatural fruit produced by the Holy Spirit. This supernatural endurance is a powerful confirmation that we are not relying on our own strength but on the Spirit of God. An ordinary person cannot endure hardship without the aid of the Holy Spirit. Some people might commit suicide because of so much suffering because they are not guided by the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit within us is the confirmation that we are children of God and a heir in God’s kingdom.
Suffering is not a prerequisite to become an heir, but a normal consequence of being one. The prerequisite to be an heir with Christ in His kingdom is indeed faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior and repentance to turn from sin. These two elements are not separate, independent prerequisites, but rather two inseparable sides of the same coin. The Bible consistently presents them as two simultaneous and essential components of a genuine conversion experience, so as to inherit God’s eternal kingdom.
The New Testament is unequivocally clear that we are made children of God and heirs with Christ through faith alone. This faith is what makes us "children of God" and, consequently, "heirs" (Galatians 3:26 and Romans 8:17). While faith is the means of receiving salvation, true, saving faith is never without repentance. Repentance is not a work we do to earn salvation, but a necessary and immediate response to God's grace and a component of what true faith looks like. Acts 20:21: The Apostle Paul's message was consistent: "I testified both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." He always preached both together. Repentance signifies a complete change of direction in one’s life from unrighteous living to a godly life. Although faith is what makes a person a child of God and an heir to His kingdom, it is not considered a genuine faith without repentance. So genuine faith constitutes both turning to Christ and simultaneously turning away from the life of sin. Thus, one cannot happen without the other.
2 Corinthians 7:10-11 “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation.”
In navigating life's hardships with faith and hope, and when you practice faith in Jesus and repentance to turn from sin, and at the same time experience painful suffering, you should indeed not be afraid and not think that God has abandoned you. Furthermore, this very experience, when viewed through the lens of faith, serves as a powerful assurance of God's heavenly kingdom. So if you suffer painful experience, the Christian response to suffering is not one of panic or despair, but of trust and endurance, because our suffering is a normal part of our union with Christ that are experience by believers.
The Bible does not promise that we will be exempt from suffering, but it does promise that God will be with us in it. Our suffering is not a sign of God's absence, but often a catalyst for experiencing His presence in a deeper way. In sufferings, God’s presence is promised. It is a shared path of a divine life, not a punitive one. As we've discussed, suffering is a common and normal part of the Christian life. This means you are not alone on a unique or punitive path. It is also experience by all believers in Christ. You are walking the same path as Jesus, the apostles, and countless believers throughout history. This shared experience is a source of solidarity and comfort, not a reason for fear. The suffering is not an exception to the Christian life, rather it's a mark of it.
The pain of suffering, as stated in Hebrews 12:11, is purposeful as a form of God’s discipline. It's designed to train you and produce a "harvest of righteousness and peace." Knowing that God is using this hardship to mold you into a better person—to draw you closer to Him and help you turn from sin—removes the fear of being abandoned. A loving Father disciplines His children, and the discipline is a sign of His love, not His rejection.
This experience is not just something to endure, but a profound source of assurance. The suffering itself is not the source of salvation, but the endurance of your faith through suffering is evidence of its genuineness, and as a result, this provides assurance of God’s heavenly kingdom.
The perseverance of true faith is manifested through sufferings. The ability to continue practicing faith and repentance while enduring painful suffering is a powerful sign that your faith is real and not superficial. James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." Your perseverance demonstrates that your faith is genuine and has the substance to endure to the end.
The ultimate assurance of God's heavenly kingdom is not your own suffering or your ability to endure it, but the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. The Bible teaches that when you put your faith in Jesus and repent, you are "sealed" with the promised Holy Spirit, who is a "guarantee" of your inheritance. Ephesians 1:13-14 states, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance." So the guarantee of our salvation is the seal of the Holy Spirit.
When you practice faith and repentance and endure suffering, you are not simply experiencing hardship; you are living out the core reality of the Christian life. Your ability to persevere through it is a testament to the genuineness of your faith and an assurance of the eternal inheritance that awaits you in God's heavenly kingdom.
The more we experience the suffering of this present life, the more we are reminded that this world is not our final home. It gives us a glimpse of our future eternal glory in heaven. The contrast between our "light and momentary troubles" and the "eternal glory" that awaits us (2 Corinthians 4:17) solidifies our hope. The painful suffering reminds us that there is something better to come, which is God's heavenly kingdom where "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:4).
Thus, the anticipation of future glory helps a Christian endure present suffering. It is a foretaste of heavenly glory to come. When we suffer, we are reminded that this world is not our home and that our true inheritance is yet to come. This perspective is a powerful evidence of a person's faith in the promises of God. As 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
In summary, while not every moment of a Christian's life will be filled with pain, various forms of suffering are indeed a normal and common part of the journey. This suffering is a powerful testament and a confirming evidence of our spiritual reality—that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. It shows that we are following in the footsteps of our Savior and that our hope is not in this world, but in the eternal glory that awaits us in heaven.
