Wait… You Mean Suffering Is Part of the Christian Package?
- Whitney Anujuo
- Apr 7
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 25
Why didn’t anyone tell me that suffering is part of the Christian walk?
When I truly surrendered to God, I was ready for light, joy, peace, blessings, and the occasional prophetic dream. What I wasn’t ready for? The fire. The pain. The trials.
No one sat me down and said, “Hey sis, this walk comes with persecution. Your yes to God might cost you everything like—people, comfort, even your own will.”
It was a slow, stretching surrender. I started to change, and people around me didn’t know what to make of it. Honestly, I didn’t either. But one thing was clear—I couldn’t keep doing what I used to do. I lost the appetite for it. I wasn’t trying to act “holier-than-thou,” I just wasn’t the same. And when you truly begin to walk with God—like really walk—it shows. It must show. I wasn’t performing—I was transforming. And transformation is offensive when everyone else is comfortable in compromise and sin.
The Truth—many Christians have never seen transformation modeled well. We say we love Jesus, but for many, He’s Savior—not yet Lord. So when someone begins to truly change, it looks foreign. It looks “extreme.” But how can we claim to walk in Light and still be cool in sin? 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away…”
I was mislabeled, misunderstood, misinterpreted—even by people who claimed to love me. And it hurt. Deeply. That was my first taste of tribulation. I realized then: This is part of the walk. Not everyone will get your convictions. Even when you’re doing the right thing, it can feel wrong when you’re standing alone.
Suffering Is Part of the Process
Y’all. I thought it would get easier as I continued to get deeper with God —but it felt like all hell broke loose. Literally. Spiritual warfare came at me like a flood. Physical challenges hit too. Friendships died. Finances 😅 . Family members got distant. One thing after another. I was losing more than I was gaining. And I wondered—is this really what I signed up for?
And yet… I thought the more I obeyed God, the smoother life would be. I thought things would get better fast. But honestly? It got harder initially.
I kept thinking of Peter when he said:
“We’ve left everything to follow You! What then will there be for us?” — Matthew 19:27
Jesus replied with the promise of eternal and earthly rewards, but then—in the verse—He smuggled in the word “persecution.” Like, excuse me, Lord… you tucked that part in real smooth. Had I known that persecution was part of the reward .
Let’s Talk About It: The Forgotten Gospel of Suffering
In today’s teaching of the gospel, one topic tends to stay real quiet in the pulpit: suffering. It’s often skipped, overlooked, or sugarcoated—but the truth? The Bible is littered with it. Suffering isn’t a glitch in the Christian walk—it’s part of the journey.
Yes, God is good. Yes, He gives blessings, favor, mercy, and power. But He also allows the fire that forges us. The wilderness that humbles us. The trials that refine us.
Look at Paul. Flogged. Beaten. Shipwrecked. Misunderstood. Imprisoned. Still, he wrote, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life… shall separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38–39). That’s not poetic fluff—that’s the voice of someone who lived through the storm and still stayed anchored.
And Peter? The apostles? Beaten for preaching the gospel —and walked away rejoicing (Acts 5:41). Who does that? People who know the cost but count Christ worth it.
Even Elijah, the fire-caller himself, ran from Jezebel, weary and ready to give up. Obedience will stretch you. Sometimes it will break you. Nobody told me following Jesus would mean losing comfort. Nobody said yes to the King came with a cross.
Tribulation Has Purpose
Now let me say this: some suffering is allowed by God. It’s a refining fire meant to mold us into the image of Christ.
“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” — Romans 5:3-4
God uses suffering as a tool. A chisel. A forge. It is often the furnace where His perfect will is formed in us.
Look at Hannah. Her womb was closed. She was mocked by her husband’s other wife—year after year. She prayed and prayed… and still, silence. I imagine her prayers started out raw and desperate: “God, give me a child!” She prayed. Nothing. She wept. Still nothing. But as she matured in the suffering, her prayers shifted and aligned with God:
“Lord, if You give me a son, I’ll give him back to You.” — 1 Samuel 1:11 (paraphrased)
Boom. Alignment. Heaven said “yes.”
“So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son… and she called his name Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked for him from the Lord.’” — 1 Samuel 1:20
All along God was molding her. Shaping her capacity. Refining her prayer. Heaven responded once her prayers aligned with the will of God . Her pain birthed one of Israel’s greatest prophets—Samuel, the one whose words never fell to the ground. The one who anointed kings. That kind of promise child Hannah carried required deep surrender and alignment .
The Truth—sometimes suffering is the stage where God performs His greatest miracles. But we must stay consistent even when Heaven seems silent. Keep praying. Keep trusting. And maybe ask—Lord, is my prayer aligned to your will? If not, align me, shift me, refine me.
Some Suffering Is Self-Inflicted: Not All Suffering Is From God
We don’t talk about this enough. Some trials come from God—they’re part of the process. But let’s be honest, some suffering comes from our own choices. We brought it on ourselves. Wrong decisions, disobedience, pride, compromise and sin. We can’t blame God for what we invited in.
God is merciful but He won’t override our free will. We open doors sometimes, and the enemy walks right in. But even in that, God redeems . He says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us” (1 John 1:9). He makes a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). But we must be honest, repent, and close the doors we opened.
“All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28
Not for those who love sin. Not for those who love comfort. Not just visit Him on Sundays. Key phrase: For those who love God.
So let’s ask ourselves—am I suffering because I’m being refined? Or because I need to repent?
What Do We Do With the Pain?
We endure and persevere.
We surrender our will until they align with His will.
We remember Jesus’ prayer:
“Not my will, but Yours be done.” — Luke 22:42
We ask: Is my prayer selfish? Or is it kingdom-aligned?
Because there are some breakthroughs you can’t get until your heart posture shifts and aligns with his will.
Final Words
So, family… I leave you with this:
Yes, suffering is part of the walk. But it’s not the end. It’s the refining hallway between who you were and who God is calling you to be.
It’s part of the walk. It’s the narrow road. But don’t lose heart. God is working even in the silence, even in the heartbreak, even in the unanswered questions.
The heat may rise, the pruning may cut deep, the losses may hurt—but the reward? Eternal.
God is calling us to a deeper place—a purer faith. Not built on an IDEA of him, but on Him. He’s not after perfection. He’s after persistence. After hearts that still say yes in the fire.
“He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” — Hebrews 11:6
Stay faithful, even in the flames. He’s with you. He’s shaping you.
If nobody else told you—I will:
Persecution is part of the package. But so is His presence.
MUSIC TIME — Kingdom Edition!
Today’s song is “Covenant Baby” by Emandiong — and listen, the moment I heard it, I connected instantly. It’s not just a vibe, it’s truth. This is my jam! Confident, set apart, covenanted & covered — this one hits deep. (And yes, it’s the anthem of my life — no debate!)
Now instead of dropping another song, I gotta put y’all on to this vlog I found — pure gold. Sis is preaching holiness with power and grace. Her page is such a breath of fresh air!
And her slogan??
“Your big sis in the gospel.”
Iconic. I’m so here for it.
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