Paul’s Perspective on Suffering

The Apostle Paul wrote extraordinary words about suffering: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Cor 4:7).

Seeing our bodies as clay pots is insightful, but grasping that God has placed his power in these ordinary vessels is mind-boggling. This gave the apostle the strength to endure: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor 4:8-9).

This led the apostle to this conclusion about suffering: “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, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” 2 Cor 4:16-18).

The comparisons emerge from the paragraph: outwardly vs. inwardly, light troubles vs. eternal glory, what is seen vs. unseen, and temporary vs. lasting. This is the essence of Christianity—to see beyond this world. To understand that our suffering has a purpose and there is something far better that awaits us. There is no denying that suffering is real and painful. Still, it is temporary, and what cannot be seen with the eye is more powerful—the hand of God working his resolve. No wonder the Prophet Isaiah wrote: “For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:27).

David’s painful path to the throne is filled with suffering, but God is with him every step of the way. Many of the psalms speak to the sufferings of David. In the story of David, we read of the Philistines being delivered into David’s hand or Saul declaring that David had been delivered into his hand. Still, the hand that ultimately matters is God’s hand.

Jonathan came to him at one of David’s low points and “strengthened his hand in God” 1 (Sam 23:16). David needed this kind of encouragement. Encouragement to trust God even though everything doesn’t make sense—God will one day make sense of it. This is the type of encouragement we need—to trust God.