From Pits to Praise
One of the hardest questions Christians face is, "If God is good, why am I suffering?" Or "Where is God when I'm suffering?"
If we feel that suffering is wrong, we are assuming (presupposing) a moral standard by which to call it ‘wrong’. But to know something is wrong means you have some standard of ‘right.’ Thus, moral standards require a moral lawgiver. This last point brings us to the moral argument for God in apologetics. It goes like this:
If objective moral values exist, then God exists.
Objective moral values do exist.
Therefore, God exists.
When we cry out against injustice, pain, or evil, we are not acting in opposition to God—we are actually reflecting His image. Our outrage at suffering confirms that we instinctively know this world is broken and that it shouldn’t be this way. That sense of “ought” and “ought not” points back to a moral Creator.
Christianity not only acknowledges the issue of suffering but also provides a solution through the person of Jesus, who endured it alongside us, ensuring that suffering would never hold the final say.
The atheist must wrestle with explaining why things like love, dignity, or even justice matter at all in a random, godless universe. But the Christian worldview has a coherent answer: we hurt because we were made for something more. The world is broken, yes—but it is being redeemed through Christ.
Suffering, in this light, becomes not a meaningless interruption but a painful thread in a greater redemptive tapestry. As Paul wrote:
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)
This message doesn’t minimize suffering but provides us a framework to endure it without being crushed by it.
In Jesus, we see the ultimate answer to suffering—not an abstract idea, but a Person who entered into our pain, bore our grief, and conquered death. The cross wasn’t clean, comfortable, or painless. It was brutal. And yet, it became the greatest symbol of love and victory the world has ever known.
So when we ask, “Where is God when I suffer?” The answer is both profound and personal:
He’s on the cross.
He’s in the garden.
He’s with you in the pit.
And He’s leading you to praise.
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.” — Psalm 30:11-12
This is the beauty of the gospel: God does not waste your pain. What begins in the pit can end in praise—not because your situation is perfect, but because God’s presence is enough. Praising God doesn’t mean ignoring your wounds. It means trusting Him with them. It’s choosing to say, “Even here—especially here—I will lift my eyes.” It declares with the Psalmist:
“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”
— Psalm 27:13
The best example I can offer is my testimony. First, I need to explain the difference between emotions and feelings.
Emotions are God-given responses to circumstances, often immediate and physiological. They’re instinctive, often intense, and part of how God wired us. Examples: anger, sadness, fear, joy, and compassion.
Feelings are how we interpret or process those emotions—what we become consciously aware of. Feelings are influenced by our thoughts, beliefs, past experiences, and spiritual condition.
Think of it like this: one is reactive; the other is reflective.
Now, emotions themselves are not fruits of the Spirit. But the way we handle emotions can reflect the fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22–23
These are spiritual virtues or Christlike qualities and they impact how we experience and express our emotions.
Joy is not the same as happiness (an emotion); it’s a settled confidence in God.
Peace is not the absence of anxiety (an emotion); it's the presence of trust in God's sovereignty.
Self-control helps us manage emotions like anger or fear rather than being ruled by them.
The Bible values emotions, but warns against being ruled by them.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
— Jeremiah 17:9
“Be angry, and do not sin.”
— Ephesians 4:26
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? ... Put your hope in God.”
— Psalm 42:5
These verses show:
Emotions must be examined, not ignored.
Feelings must be redirected, not suppressed.
God's truth must govern, not our emotions.
Now, that we have clarified that, back to my testimony. When my parents were dying, I was eight months pregnant. I was overwhelmed by sadness—grieving deeply at the reality that they were leaving this world. And yet, at the same time, I was filled with joy—not because the circumstances were favorable, but because God’s goodness showed up in the middle of it all. He provided in ways I couldn’t have imagined. He cared for my parents. He comforted me. The outcome didn’t change—sadness was still the path I had to walk. But in that valley, I chose to rest in joy—in seeing how God worked through even the most impossible situations. His comfort was real, tangible, and present. He gave me something to physically hold; a baby to love and hug to carry me through grief.
Even during one of the most challenging periods of my life, I couldn't refrain from praising Him.
When we begin to praise—even while we’re still in the pit—something changes.
Not always do our circumstances change, but certainly our hearts do.
We are lifted, strengthened, and set on solid ground with a new song in our mouths.
Praise can reframe our pain. It has the potential to pull us out of self-pity and provides us a different perspective. It reminds us that we are connected, remembered, and hopeful. In this way, praise becomes a spiritual weapon against despair.
What you can do today:
Here are some biblically grounded steps toward healing:
1. Lament Honestly
The Psalms teach us to pour out our complaints to God. Lament is worship in the minor key. It's acceptable to cry. It's okay to question. Just don’t stop talking to Him.
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit… He put a new song in my mouth.”
— Psalm 40:2–3
2. Lean into Community
Isolation fuels mental distress. The early church “devoted themselves to fellowship” (Acts 2:42). Find a trusted friend, counselor, or pastor who walks with you.
3. Renew Your Mind
Thought patterns profoundly influence mental health. Romans 12:2 encourages us to undergo transformation through the renewal of our minds. This includes therapy, Scripture meditation, and even neuroscience-informed practices aligned with biblical truth.
4. Preach to Yourself
The Psalmist said, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? ... Put your hope in God” (Psalm 42:5). Speak truth over your emotions, even when your emotions don’t agree—yet.
5. Trust in God’s Timing
The pit is never the end of the story for the believer. Resurrection is the final chapter. Hold on.
References
New International Bible. (2011). Zondervan. (Original work published 1978).
