Learning to Pray Through Pain

• By candidasullivan
• September 30, 2025
• No Comments

What do you want me to learn from this, Lord?

The moment adversity strikes and hardships come upon me, I try to get away from them. I want everything to be better right now. In my misery, I don’t want to learn anything or grow. Growth is hard. It breaks us down, so God can build us up.

Romans 5:3–4 KJV
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope.

Growth is not something we talk about often. But it is such a necessary part of our lives. We need to grow so we can become the person God created us to be.

In painful seasons of growth, if I can remember that it is all for my good, then I can accept the pain and even lean into it. However, if I resist it, I will stay stuck in a cycle of pain.

The length of my hardship depends on me. I have a choice:

• I can fight against the Lord.
• I can be stubborn and disobedient.
• I can numb myself and pretend that none of it is my fault.
• Or I can surrender to God and trust Him to do what is best for me.

God loves us too much to allow us to be anything but our best selves. Every trial that God brings upon us is for our benefit.

I know they can be so incredibly hard, sweet friends. It helps me to remember that they are supposed to be. God designed them especially for us. He knows the exact pressure to apply to mold us.

When God starts applying the pressure, if I can humble myself and be willing for His will to be done, then I can pray through the pain and misery, instead of resisting it. Instead of asking God to remove it, I can ask Him to help me overcome it.

Overcoming hardship is what strengthens us and helps us grow.

John 16:33 KJV
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We don’t know how to overcome, but Jesus does. He overcame the world, so He can help us overcome whatever tribulation might befall us.

The whole point is that we work with God and walk with Him. An easy life doesn’t require much faith or trust in the Lord. But oh, when the trials and tribulations occur—it’s in those moments that we discover just how much we need the Lord.

Our flesh yearns for an easy life without the Lord. But our souls desire Him. Deep in our souls, we want to be more like Him. The trials and tribulations help us to be more like the Lord and get closer to Him.

1 Peter 4:12-14 KJV
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

It’s an honor to be chosen to suffer for Him. If we grow through the process, we can shine a light to others and glorify His name.

So today, when I face trials, I whisper again: “What do you want me to learn from this, Lord?”