How Do We Understand Suffering? Trusting God in the Great Controversy

 Uniting Heaven and Earth

Christ in Philippians and Colossians 

Lesson 3 - Friday Further Thought

Question #3

How Do We Understand Suffering? Trusting God in the Great Controversy

Suffering is one of the hardest realities of life in a fallen world. It raises questions that touch the deepest parts of the human heart: If God is good, why is there so much pain? Why do the faithful suffer alongside the unfaithful? Why doesn’t God intervene more visibly? Scripture never minimizes the weight of suffering, nor does it offer shallow explanations. Instead, it invites us into a larger story—one that helps us see suffering not as meaningless, but as part of a cosmic conflict whose outcome is already assured.

The Bible presents this larger story through what is often called the great controversy motif—the ongoing conflict between Christ and Satan over the character of God and the loyalty of His creatures. In this framework, suffering is not proof that God is absent or indifferent. Rather, it is evidence that this world is not as God intended it to be. Sin has fractured creation, distorted relationships, and brought death and pain in its wake. The great controversy helps us understand that evil exists not because God lacks power, but because He allows freedom—real freedom that includes the possibility of rebellion. Without this lens, suffering can feel random and cruel; with it, we see that history is moving toward a just resolution in which God will ultimately set all things right.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians reflects this perspective. Writing from prison, Paul does not deny the reality of hardship, yet he places it firmly within God’s redemptive purposes. He reminds believers that suffering is not a sign of abandonment but can be part of faithful discipleship: “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29, NKJV). This does not glorify pain for its own sake; rather, it affirms that suffering, when endured in faith, is caught up in God’s larger work of revealing truth and building His kingdom.

Still, even the great controversy does not answer every emotional question. It explains why suffering exists, but it does not, by itself, heal the heart. That is why, in the end, we must look to Jesus on the cross. The cross is the fullest and clearest revelation of the Father’s love. There, God does not remain distant from human pain—He enters into it. In Christ, God bears injustice, rejection, and agony. The cross tells us that God would rather suffer with us than abandon us to suffering alone.

Philippians points us directly to this truth. Paul urges believers to adopt the mindset of Christ, who willingly humbled Himself and endured the cross for our sake: “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8, NKJV). The cross reveals that God’s love is not theoretical; it is costly, sacrificial, and unwavering. When we cannot understand our circumstances, we can still trust God’s heart, because it has been laid bare at Calvary.

This trust reshapes how we face suffering. Paul could say, even in chains, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV), and he could testify that God’s peace guards the hearts and minds of those who bring their anxieties to Him (Philippians 4:6–7). The promise is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ—a presence strong enough to sustain us until the final victory is revealed.

In the worst of times, then, we cling to three anchors: the reality of the great controversy, which explains the brokenness of this world; the cross of Christ, which proves the depth of God’s love; and the hope of God’s final restoration, when suffering will have the last word no longer. Until that day, we walk by faith, trusting the God who has already shown us, beyond all doubt, that He is for us.

Prayer

Gracious Father, we confess that suffering often confuses and overwhelms us. We do not always understand Your ways, and at times the pain of this world feels unbearable. Thank You for showing us the larger picture, for helping us see that this world’s brokenness is not the end of the story. Above all, thank You for the cross of Jesus, where Your love was revealed most clearly. Teach us to trust You when answers are few and the road is hard. Give us the mind of Christ, the peace that passes understanding, and the hope that one day You will make all things new. We place our lives, our questions, and our pain in Your hands, trusting in Your unfailing love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More on Lesson 3 Life and Death

This Quarter's Sabbath School Lessons Here: Christ in Philippians and Colossians