Suffering and Pain Can Produce Empathy and Understanding – (Proverbs 20:30)

Daily Bible Study
As followers of Jesus, suffering changes our hearts, because it opens our eyes to the reality of the fallen world we live in and it reminds us that we need to turn to God in faith for help. Without adversity we can become complacent, proud, arrogant and more concerned for our wants and our desires, than for those around us. An existence without trials can produce a shallow perspective on life. However, trials and suffering can produce empathy and a deeper understanding that life is not about the pleasures of this world and having material possessions. It's about faith, love, family and friends and following God's will through the daily guidance of the Holy Spirit. It's about having relationships with others and helping those around us, as we deepen our relationship with God. A relationship with God, that only comes through faith alone, in Christ alone and not by any works of our hands.

While no one wants to be hurt or experience pain or suffering, we have to remember God can bring good out of pain and loss. God is not the author of sin and God doesn't make bad things happen, however He can use the bad things to bring good into our lives and the lives of others. Bad things happen because of the fallen world we live in, which brings decay, chaos, loss and death. Bad things also happen because of our sin and the sins of others, and because of the spiritual warfare which is waged all around us. However, God is faithful to bring good and happiness where there was only pain and loss. And that's the message the author is conveying in these passages. And this is why Christianity is about relationships, our relationship with God and those around us. It's about having a deep and loving relationship with a God who loves us dearly, restored through Jesus by our faith in Him. And it's this relationship through which we receive strength, a new heart and most importantly the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to help us make it through the tough times we know lie ahead.