Five Truths to Hold Onto When Life Doesn’t Seem Fair

Holding onto biblical truths when life gets hard won’t make the suffering go away, but it can soften its hardest edges and bolster hope.

Two decades ago my dreams were shattered when my first baby slipped away as a preborn in the first trimester. My heart broke, and the world went dark for a season. In the years that followed, we lost four more babies to miscarriage, had two other babies born with birth defects, and are currently caregivers for our 23-year-old intellectually delayed daughter. It hurt; it still hurts. 

Biblical Truths that Bring Hope

Riding the roller coaster of this unexpected life hasn’t been easy, but biblical truths have anchored me and brought perspective. I thought they might be helpful to you as well. 

(1) Jesus Christ suffered for us. And we are called to share in that suffering. What a privilege to suffer with my Savior, to offer this sacrifice to the One who gave His all for me! Bonus: He has already secured victory!

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

(2) We won’t understand. We can’t possibly understand why God allows what He does. And that’s good. If we understood the Lord, He wouldn’t be much of a god to serve, would He? I take comfort in the fact that my Lord knows infinitely more than I do, including all that has been, is now, and will be. 

“’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.’ This is the Lord’s declaration.” Isaiah 55:8

(3) God is sovereign. He possesses supreme power. Initially, this truth frustrated and even angered me. If God could stop the pain, why wouldn’t He? Yet His sovereignty assures us that whatever we face has come through Him first. He has sifted it, weighed it, and deemed it appropriate to accomplish His purposes in our lives. How am I to argue with that? (In addition, we can only imagine what He has protected us from.)

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” Isaiah 46:9-10

(4) We don’t suffer alone. We will not go through our trials on our own. God is faithful and promises to never abandon us. He loves, comforts, empathizes, strengthens, and gives us insight. Knowing the Lord sits with me in my suffering provides peace when despair threatens. 

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18

(5) Our suffering will one day be redeemed. It may not be in this lifetime, but God promises that something good will eventually come from all our difficulties. One of the greatest blessings I’ve received from my trials is a more faith-based perspective. Another redemption aspect of my story is the empathy I’ve developed for fellow sufferers, especially for those whom special needs occupies a place in their life. 

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 

A Hope Perspective

Suffering will never end this side of heaven, but we needn’t live in a state of hopelessness. The truths of the Lord’s suffering and death on the cross for me; His sovereignty, understanding, and faithfulness; and the redemption He promises fuel a hope perspective. One that will carry us through the pain. 

Holding onto biblical truths when life gets hard won't make the suffering go away, but it can soften its hardest edges and bolster hope. Share on X

Suffering will never end this side of heaven. But the truths of the Lord's suffering and death on the cross; His sovereignty, understanding, and faithfulness; and the promised redemption fuel a hope perspective. Share on X

Reflections: What scriptural truths do you hold onto when life gets hard?