When Suffering Becomes Sacred Ground (Suffering Well Bible Plan)

There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes with suffering. Not just the physical kind, though that’s real too. But I’m talking about the soul-weariness of wondering if pain has any purpose at all.

I know, because I’ve been there.

For two years I was mostly bedbound. Multiple myeloma had taken me to the edge of death, and some days I wasn’t sure which side of that edge I was on. The pain was relentless. The weakness was humbling. And in those long, quiet hours when all I could do was breathe and pray, something unexpected happened.

Jesus met me there.

Not in some dramatic, burning-bush kind of way. But in the gentle, persistent presence that whispered truth when my body screamed lies. Those Scripture verses became lifelines when I had nothing else to hold onto.

It was a slow, sacred work of stripping away everything I thought I needed until only He remained.

That season—the one I would never have chosen—became the ground where my faith grew deepest roots.

The Relief We All Need

Here’s what I’ve learned about suffering that changes everything: Our sufferings in Christ will only bring Christ glory.

Read that again, friend.

Not might bring glory. Not could possibly bring glory if we’re really spiritual about it. Will bring glory.

There’s such relief in that truth. Because it means our pain isn’t pointless. Our tears aren’t wasted. Our weakness isn’t failure—it’s the very canvas on which God paints His faithfulness for the world to see.

When we suffer well, our lives become testimonies that He is worth trusting, even when everything hurts.

Our Anchor in the Storm is Scripture

During those bedbound years, I couldn’t do much but lie down. But I could hold onto God’s promises that he stated in His Word.

Words about refining.
Words about glory that outweighed my present suffering.

Those Scriptures became my worship when I couldn’t sing, my prayer when I couldn’t find my own words and my anchor when the waves threatened to pull me under.

And that’s why I created the Suffering Well Bible Plan.

The plan is thirty carefully selected verses that speak directly to the ache of suffering, not to minimize it, but to meet you in it. These aren’t platitudes or quick fixes, because the Lord knows we don’t need any more of those! They’re the solid, time-tested truths that have held God’s people through every kind of darkness.

The Promise That Holds Us While Suffering

Romans 8:28 isn’t just a nice sentiment to needlepoint on a pillow. It’s the bedrock promise that God does work all things for His good—even the things that break our hearts, even the diagnoses that steal our breath, even the losses that leave us gasping.

I’ve seen it. I’ve lived it. And I’m still experiencing the side effects of it.

Suffering has a way of exposing what our faith is really built on. It strips away the comfortable theology we quote on good days and forces us to decide what we actually believe when everything around us if falling apart- including our own bodies.

Your suffering isn’t an interruption to God’s plan for your life. It’s woven right into the fabric of how He’s making you more like Jesus and displaying His glory through you.

An Invitation

If you’re in a season of suffering right now—whether it’s physical illness, emotional pain, relational heartbreak, or the thousand other ways this broken world wounds us—I want you to know you’re not alone. And I want to give you a tool that helped me.

God’s Word.

Download the Suffering Well Bible Plan Today

Print it out. Keep it by your bedside. Let these thirty verses become your companions in the valley. Write them out slowly, letting each word sink deep. Pray them back to God. Let them remind you that your suffering has purpose, that Christ is near, and that glory is coming.

Because here’s what I know for certain after walking through the valley of the shadow of death: God doesn’t waste our suffering. He redeems it, transforms it, and uses it to draw us closer to His heart than we ever thought possible.

And that, dear friend, is grace beyond measure.

30 Scriptures That Speak of Suffering Well as a Christian

Here are the Scriptures in the plan:

Psalm 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Lamentations 3:22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:31-33 For the Lord will not cast off for ever. But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Romans 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
1 Thessalonians 3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
2 Thessalonians 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.