Seeking God through Suffering

Crying Out to God with a Kingdom Perspective

By Heather Hagstrom

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I cried out to God every day. I knew my diagnosis would change my plans, desires, and dreams. But at first, faced with numerous surgeries and cancer treatments, I didn’t even know how to pray. However, knowing that God had a bigger purpose and plan helped me seek after Him in prayer.

To encourage me and give me hope, God led me to specific Bible verses. As I prayed through Scripture during the physical and emotional struggles, He gave me peace and joy. And He taught me some principles that can guide all of us in praying through suffering—our own and that of others.

Pray Faithfully

God calls us to persevere whether we are praying for ourselves or interceding for others who are suffering. Romans 12:12 encourages us to “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Before every doctor’s appointment, medical test, surgery, and cancer treatment, I persevered in prayer, and God gave me patience to endure the pain and stress. As I focused my attention on Him through prayer—instead of dwelling on my pain, disappointment, and suffering—He also gave me joy and filled me with hope.

God calls us to pray faithfully for others, also, as they suffer. Paul says, “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Eph. 6:18).

Now, when I hear that someone has cancer or is struggling physically or emotionally, I know the importance of praying consistently for him or her. Even when we think there is nothing we can do except pray, that is actually the most important thing we can do.

Pray Honestly

God invites us to pray and intercede honestly. When King David fled from Saul into a cave, he prayed honestly about his need for God’s help: “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed” (Psalm 57:1).

When we share with God our concerns, fears, and emotions, our dependence on God deepens. As we depend on God more, our relationship with God grows stronger.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). When I came to God and honestly prayed through all of my emotions, He gave me His peace and rest.

God also assures us that as we honestly pray for His comfort, He alone comforts us so that we can comfort others (2 Cor. 1:3–4). That’s what He did in my case. God’s comfort to me showed me how to pray and how to speak to others with cancer and other struggles.

Pray Submissively

God calls us to submit to His perfect plan. Instead of only praying that the suffering will end, it is better to pray that God will be glorified and that His will may be done. Praying with a submissive heart in the midst of our suffering can be difficult, but it can prevent disappointment and anger when our prayers are not answered the way we want.

Jesus, on the night before His crucifixion, modeled a submissive prayer. His honest and heartfelt prayer in Luke 22:42 gives us permission to pray with emotion and passion, but also with trust: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Understandably, Jesus wanted to avoid the excruciating physical and emotional pain of the cross. But He submitted that desire to God. As Jesus prayed, Luke writes, “an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him” (Luke 22:43). When we pray for God’s will to be done—even if that means enduring intense suffering—God will strengthen us to persevere.

I remember talking to the Lord about losing all of my long, beautiful hair during cancer treatments. As I submitted my will and desires to God, He helped me endure through each step, including losing my hair twice and watching it grow back in again.

Even though suffering initially seems negative, God can use it to promote His Kingdom. As I prayed submissively, God gave me numerous opportunities to share His love and salvation message with other sufferers. We cannot fully understand why we are enduring intense suffering, but praying submissively can deepen our trust in God’s sovereignty and fill us with His peace.

Pray Thankfully

God also calls us to “rejoice always, pray continually, [and] give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess. 5:16–18, brackets added). How can we be thankful in intense pain and suffering? We do not have to give thanks for everything, but we can pray thankfully in every circumstance. Since God’s character never changes, we can praise Him and thank Him for who He is even when we are suffering.

The week I found out I would have to undergo 34 cancer treatments and lose my hair was the week of Thanksgiving. Even though I did not initially feel thankful, when I thanked God through prayer for His love for me, I know His presence was with me. I was, and am, grateful for His love in saving me from my sins so that I do not have to fear death. In my gratitude, God gave me joy.

Now, as I look back to the way God carried me through my entire cancer journey, I am so thankful for the opportunity God gave me to deepen my personal relationship with Him and to use this experience to share Jesus’ love and salvation with others. I am thankful that I am currently in remission and blessed with curly hair. As I go to my follow-up appointments every six months, I pray for opportunities to encourage others who are currently receiving cancer treatments.

Even if our prayers are not answered in the ways we want, we can be thankful for God’s constant presence, His faithful character, His unfailing love, and His unending grace. As believers in Jesus, we can be thankful even when facing death because Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).

Believers in Jesus have the assurance we will be with Him for eternity. When we pray thankfully in good times or in suffering, God fills us with His joy.

Confident Trust

Above all, God calls us to be confident as we pray. When facing suffering or when praying for someone else who is, we can pray faithfully, honestly, submissively, and thankfully. And because God hears our prayers and concerns, we can pray confidently (1 John 5:14–15).

We can trust Him. He is always with us, right by our side, in every situation, to encourage and comfort us in our suffering.

HEATHER HAGSTROM, who lives in Kansas, is a teacher and a member of the Heart of America Christian Writers Network.