ManTalk

How God Relates to Us in Suffering

Written By

BBI

Published On

February 16, 2026

"When life hurts, do you chase comfort, or embrace God’s refining work?” Learn how God relates to us in suffering. Discover why His purpose differs from human expectations, how trials refine the soul, and how eternal rewards motivate obedience and trust."

SUFFERING is a universal experience, yet God’s perspective on our pain is vastly different from human expectations. While men often measure life by what brings comfort, ease, and immediate relief, God measures life by what develops the soul, strengthens character, and produces eternal reward.

1. God Uses Suffering to Refine Faith and Character

When we face trials, God is not distant or indifferent. Scripture shows that He is actively working in our lives:

James 1:2–4 reminds us: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance; and let perseverance finish its work, that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
1 Peter 4:19 adds: “Those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing what is right.”

God uses suffering as a refining process, much like gold is purified by fire. His goal is not simply to remove discomfort, but to grow patience, resilience, and spiritual maturity.

Men often want: freedom from pain, immediate relief, and personal comfort.
God wants: growth of the soul, obedience, and everlasting joy.

The difference lies in eternal perspective versus temporal satisfaction.

2. God Rewards Faithful Endurance

Motivation to do what is right in suffering comes from trusting that God sees beyond our present pain:

Matthew 16:27: “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”
2 Corinthians 5:10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad.”
Revelation 22:12: “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”

God’s reward is tied not to comfort or ease, but to faithful perseverance and alignment with His will. This heavenly motivation invites us to trust Him even when the path is painful, because His perspective extends beyond the temporal into eternal joy.

Men often respond: by seeking shortcuts, self-soothing, or avoidance.
God desires: faithful endurance, trust, and surrender to His purpose.

3. God’s Joy is Lasting, Men’s Joy is Fleeting

Human instincts push us to avoid suffering at all costs, often prioritizing ease, pleasure, or safety. God, however, measures success differently:

God’s joy is everlasting, grounded in knowing Him intimately (Psalm 16:11).
Man’s temporary relief may reduce pain but rarely produces spiritual maturity.

When we allow God to work in suffering, we gain eternal fruit, cultivating character, perseverance, and a deepening relationship with Him.

Illustration:

Joseph endured betrayal, slavery, and false accusation. He could have rebelled or sought revenge, but he trusted God. The result: salvation for nations and fulfillment of God’s purpose (Genesis 50:20).
Job endured unimaginable loss, yet he trusted God’s purpose. In the end, God restored him abundantly and Job’s soul was refined (Job 42:10–17).

4. How to Align with God During Hard Times

Go to God in honesty: Bring your pain, confusion, and anger before Him without pretending.
Trust His purpose: Believe that God’s plan is shaping your character and producing eternal rewards.
Do what is right: Even when it costs comfort or pleasure, obedience cultivates lasting joy.

By responding this way, men move from self-centered reactions to soul-centered growth.

5. Why Men and God Differ in Suffering

Men measure success by comfort and avoidance of pain.
God measures success by character, perseverance, and eternal fruit.
Men seek what feels good now.
God gives what lasts forever: soul maturity, peace, and joy in knowing Him.

Understanding this difference changes how we endure trials. When men shift focus from what is easiest to what is eternal, suffering becomes an instrument of growth rather than a burden.

Conclusion: Responding to Suffering God’s Way

Suffering is inevitable, but how we respond matters. God’s perspective challenges us to:

Trust Him even in pain
Endure trials with obedience
Pursue soul growth over temporary comfort
Keep our eyes on eternal rewards

As Job declared:

“When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

What will you say after your trial? Will you chase temporary relief, or embrace God’s refining work that produces everlasting joy and soul maturity?

Suffering is not meaningless—it is God’s tool to transform us into men He can use for His glory

What Men Want vs. What God Wants During Suffering

Aspect	What Men Often Want	What God Wants	Biblical Basis
Pain Relief	Immediate comfort, avoidance of pain	Refinement of character, patience, and perseverance	James 1:2–4
Control	To fix, escape, or manipulate outcomes	Trust in God’s sovereign plan	1 Peter 4:19
Quick Solutions	Easy, convenient resolutions	Steady growth and obedience, even in difficulty	Hebrews 12:11
Pleasure & Happiness	Temporary joy, freedom from discomfort	Eternal joy rooted in knowing Him	Psalm 16:11
Recognition & Success	Visible achievements and approval	Faithful service and eternal reward	Matthew 16:27, 2 Corinthians 5:10
Predictability	Life without surprises, stable circumstances	Spiritual maturity through trials and testing	Revelation 22:12
Avoiding Painful Lessons	Escape from consequences, shame, or loss	Transformation and refinement of the soul	Job 23:10

Key Takeaways:

Men measure life by comfort; God measures life by growth.
Suffering is a tool for eternal reward, not temporary relief.
Responding God’s way requires trust, obedience, and patience, even when it hurts.

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Common Questions

Being born again secures your salvation—your sins are forgiven, and you belong to Christ. You don’t need deliverance to be saved.

However, even as a believer, you can still struggle with patterns, strongholds, or spiritual oppression from the past. Deliverance isn’t about salvation; it’s about applying Jesus’ freedom to those areas. If you experience ongoing struggles, prayer, renunciation, and pastoral support can help you walk fully in the liberty Christ has already won for you.
Breaking a generational curse, in a religious sense, is seen as a spiritual journey of repentance, faith, and deliberate action. It begins with acknowledging sin—both one’s own and, in some beliefs, the lingering effects of ancestors’ wrongdoing—and turning away from it through heartfelt repentance and prayer. This recognition is often accompanied by a conscious renunciation of the curse, verbally declaring that one no longer accepts the negative patterns or misfortunes that may have been passed down through the family line.

Faith plays a central role in this process. Believers rely on the power of God to intervene, heal, and restore, trusting that divine authority can break spiritual strongholds that have persisted for generations. Prayer, sometimes accompanied by fasting, Scripture reading, or intercession from spiritual leaders, is used to call on God’s guidance and protection.
When we receive salvation, our spirit is redeemed immediately. Our sins are forgiven, we are justified, and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 1:13–14). Salvation restores our relationship with God and secures eternal life.

However, the curses or effects of sin in the world—sickness, generational patterns, fear, poverty, or emotional wounds—are not always broken automatically. The reason is that while our spirit is saved, our body, mind, and circumstances still exist in a fallen world under the consequences of sin (Romans 8:20–22).
If you struggle with something but generally overcome it, it is not necessarily a spirit. The Bible shows that even faithful believers wrestle with sin and weakness—Paul himself admitted in Romans 7:15–20 that he struggled to do what was right even as he desired to obey God. A true “spirit” or demonic stronghold is usually characterized by persistent, overpowering opposition that cannot be resisted through prayer, Scripture, and obedience.

If you are able to resist, repent, and grow despite the struggle, it is more likely an area God is using to refine your character and strengthen your faith. Struggles can reveal patterns in our lives that need God’s grace, teaching us dependence on Him, humility, and perseverance. Victory is not about perfection; it is about continuing to walk in obedience, relying on God’s Word, and trusting His Spirit to lead you forward.
Yes, according to Scripture, the human spirit can be influenced, but it’s important to be precise about what that means. The Bible teaches that we are spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The “spirit man” is the part of us that connects with God, discerns spiritual truths, and communes with Him (John 4:24; Romans 8:16).

A demonic spirit cannot possess the spirit of a born-again believer because the Holy Spirit indwells them (1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 John 4:4). The Spirit of God protects and fills the spirit man, so it cannot be taken over. However, the spirit man can be influenced or oppressed by external spiritual forces if there is neglect, unrepented sin, or agreement with lies, which can affect our thoughts, emotions, and will.

Satan and his spirits can tempt, deceive, and oppress, but they cannot inhabit the spirit of someone truly born again. That’s why Scripture emphasizes guarding your heart and mind, staying in God’s Word, and walking in obedience—this keeps your spirit man aligned with God and resistant to attack (Ephesians 6:10–18; James 4:7).
consequences of sin, wrongdoing, or negative behavior can extend beyond an individual and affect their descendants. In this context, a generational curse is not merely about inherited traits or family patterns in a psychological sense, but rather a spiritual or moral consequence passed down through family lines.

For example, the Bible mentions in several passages, such as Exodus 20:5 and Numbers 14:18, that the sins of the parents can affect their children “to the third and fourth generation.” This is often interpreted to mean that unrepented sin or disobedience to God can create spiritual or circumstantial burdens like poverty, addiction, illness, or relational strife that may continue to manifest in subsequent generations.

Religious teachings often emphasize that generational curses are not inevitable. Through repentance, prayer, faith, and obedience to God, it is believed that individuals can break these curses and restore spiritual blessings to themselves and their descendants. In Christian practice, this might involve confession, seeking deliverance through prayer, or living a life aligned with God’s commandments to end the cycle of negative spiritual influence.
Feeling anger is not automatically a “spirit.” Anger is a natural emotion that God Himself expresses in certain circumstances (Exodus 32:10; Psalm 7:11). What matters is how you handle it. If you feel angry but do not act in sin, controlling your words, thoughts, and actions, this is not a demonic spirit—it is a natural human response being managed in obedience to God.

A spirit of anger in Scripture refers to a persistent, controlling, or destructive force that dominates a person’s behavior (Ephesians 4:26–27 warns against letting anger give the devil a foothold). If your anger arises but you remain calm, forgive, and do not allow it to control you, it is simply an emotion, not a spirit.
When faced with temptation, there are times to run and times to resist, and Scripture gives clear guidance.

You run from sin when it is dangerous, seductive, or beyond your natural ability to resist. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:18, “Flee fornication.” You remove yourself from the source of temptation—whether it’s a place, a person, or an opportunity—because staying there puts your soul at risk. Running is not cowardice; it is obedience and wisdom.

You resist when you are confronted with pressure or attack that you can face through God’s power. James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Resisting means standing firm in faith, speaking Scripture, and relying on the Holy Spirit. This is active confrontation, not passive endurance.

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