When we look out into the world—at war, injustice, illness, and loss—it’s easy for our minds and egos to fixate on the pain. There’s no denying that this world can be cruel and deeply unjust. Even in the most natural realities of life—sickness, aging, and death—we wrestle with fear and powerlessness.We try so hard to stay safe, to hold on to time, to protect ourselves from the inevitable. And yet, no matter how hard we try, we cannot stop what is coming.
On this earth, we will suffer. We will grieve. We will lose people we love, and we may suffer ourselves. But in all of it—God will never forsake us.
God sent His only Son, Jesus, to suffer and die—not to escape pain but to enter fully into it. To align Himself with the human experience in its most tragic form. And He allowed it to happen. Not because He abandoned His Son or us—but because it was the only way to redeem it all.
The Cry on the Cross
At the peak of His suffering on the cross, Jesus cried out:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
— Matthew 27:46
This wasn’t a random cry. Jesus was quoting Psalm 22:1, a passage deeply familiar to His people:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?”
— Psalm 22:1 (NIV)
In that moment, Jesus reminded us of two powerful truths:
Even the Son of God felt the ache of absence.
And yet, even in that agony, God’s promises remained.
Psalm 22 does not end in despair. It moves toward hope, victory, and restoration. Jesus wasn’t just crying out in pain—He was pointing us to something greater.
Faith in the Face of Suffering
Jesus, perfect and sinless, took on all our sin, pain, and shame. At that moment of suffering, He became our Savior. And through that suffering, He opened the door to eternal life.
As I reflect on this, I know that I too will have moments of sorrow—seasons of confusion, despair, and loss. But in those moments, I will call on Jesus. I will remember His cry and hold on to the promise of what is yet to come.
God never promised us a life without pain. He never said the road would be easy. But He did promise we would never be alone. That is faith: to live in a broken world, to continue forward through imperfection, and to still trust in something greater.
We May Suffer, But Not Without Hope
I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know why some people suffer deeply or why some lives end too soon. But I do know this:
God will never forsake us.
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
— 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, in your moment of greatest agony, you did not hide your sorrow. You cried out honestly, showing us that even in doubt, we can turn to God. Help us remember that you have walked through suffering and come out the other side victorious. When we feel alone, remind us that you are near. When we feel forsaken, remind us of the cross—and the hope that followed. Amen.
