Good morning. It’s Sunday, January 4th, aka National Bagel Day.

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

Suffering is part of being human. It looks like loss, stress, sickness, disappointment, waiting, or life not turning out the way you hoped. Sometimes it is loud and obvious. Sometimes it is quiet and personal. Either way, the Bible never acts surprised by it.

Suffering shows up early in the Bible. After sin enters the world in Genesis 3, pain becomes part of everyday life. From that point on, God’s people suffer. Joseph is betrayed. David spends years running for his life. Job loses everything. None of this means God stopped caring. It means the world is broken.

Jesus says it plainly. “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). That one sentence clears up a lot. Hard seasons are not a sign you failed spiritually. They are part of life here.

So why do we experience suffering? The Bible says creation itself is broken and groaning (Romans 8:22). We live inside that brokenness. But God does not waste it. Paul says suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3–4). Pain has a way of shaping people. It reveals what we trust and strengthens it.

Jesus shows us what suffering looks like up close. Before the cross, He is overwhelmed. He prays honestly and asks if there is another way (Matthew 26:39). God allows honesty. But Jesus still obeys. Hebrews 12:2 says He endured the cross because He trusted what was coming next. That is suffering well.

So what does it mean to suffer well? It means trusting God without pretending life is easy. It means praying honestly. It means continuing to do what is right even when you feel tired or confused. Peter puts it simply. “Those who suffer should commit themselves to God and continue to do good” (1 Peter 4:19).

Suffering well also means remembering this is not forever. “Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed” (Romans 8:18). Pain is real, but it does not get the final word.

God does not ask His people to like suffering. He asks them to trust Him through it. And that trust changes everything.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: God You, You are faithful, steady, and near even when life hurts.

Confession: I admit I avoid pain and struggle to trust You in suffering.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for staying close and using hard seasons for good.

Supplication: Help me suffer well, trust You deeply, and keep doing what’s right.

In Jesus name, Amen

“My Story, Your Glory” by Matthew West

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Thanks for letting us be part of how you start your day with God.

See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God