El Roi — The God Who Sees You in Your Suffering by Veronica Kota

Suffering is a universal experience; there are no exceptions. For some, the burden is physical or psychological illness; for others, it manifests as financial hardship, family strife, or professional discord. Broadly speaking, Scripture categorises suffering into two types, based on cause versus correction.

The first is suffering caused by sin — a consequence one bears for wrongdoing. Repentance and turning to God for forgiveness is the only solution, and He will give the strength and grace to endure.

1 Peter 4:15 — If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.

The second type of suffering is a matter of correction or discipline. It comes as a result of doing good or being a Christian, and this is transformational.

For instance, this discipline can be compared to the training a new employee undergoes during an initial probation period. During this phase, the person learns and grows before becoming a permanent member of the company. In the same way, we live in this world for a temporary period, to be trained and transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ, so that we may live eternally with God in heaven.

Hebrews 12:7-12 — Endure hardship as discipline… No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Jesus Christ, being God and part of the Trinity, came into the world in the flesh to redeem us from sin and death. Despite His sovereignty, He was tempted in every way, just as we are, and was subjected to suffering in His body — yet He did not sin. He was obedient in suffering, and once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation.

Hebrews 5:8-9 — Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

The Word of God says in 1 Peter that one who undergoes suffering is done with sin, and will no longer live to satisfy evil desires but to please and do the will of God.

1 Peter 4:1-2 — Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

But the Lord is mindful that we are mere mortals, only dust. He will allow only what we can bear and will not subject us to death. His grace is sufficient for us.

Psalm 118:18 — The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.

We are all familiar with the story of Abraham and Sarah. When they were childless, Sarah gave her maidservant, Hagar, to Abraham to bear children. When Hagar became pregnant and was mistreated by her mistress, she fled. But the Lord visited Hagar and told her to go back to her mistress and to name the child Ishmael, for the Lord had heard of her misery. Then she gave a name to the Lord: "You are the God who sees me."

Later, when Sarah bore Isaac to Abraham, she demanded that Abraham send the servant away, saying that Ishmael would not share the inheritance with Isaac. The next morning, Abraham sent Hagar and the boy away with some food and water. When the water in the skin was gone, Hagar put the boy under one of the bushes and sat down a bowshot away, because she could not bear to watch the boy suffer. God heard the cries of the boy and opened Hagar's eyes to a well of water. He also promised that the boy would become a great nation.

In this story we learn that God allows us to go through situations, as part of His discipline, where we may be uncomfortable, oppressed, or in distress — but He will, at the right time, bring us out of it.

El Roi — the God who sees. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We are blessed to have this faithful Lord as our God, who sees and is with us in our suffering. Let Him lead you through these situations, and learn to lean on Him as He transforms you into His likeness and equips you with the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

— Veronica Kota