Suffering as a Microphone – Finding Purpose in Pain

When Trials Become Testimonies

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe in being the change as Jesus has changed us through “Just 3” – Study, Share, and Serve. But what happens when life falls apart? When suffering comes, how do we live out this mission? Jesus gives us a radical perspective in Luke 21 that transforms how we view our hardest moments.

The Promise of Persecution

Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat reality. In Luke 21, He warns His followers: “You’re going to be put on trial, thrown in jail. Even your loved ones will betray and abandon you for my name’s sake. Some of you might even be put to death.”

Not exactly an encouraging recruitment speech, right?

But then comes verse 13 with a stunning twist: “This will be your opportunity to bear witness.”

In other words: when everything falls apart, tell people how great I am. In your moment of suffering, this is what I’ve called you to do.

Our Natural Tendency

Let’s be honest. When life gets difficult, our natural tendency is to turn inward. We think:

• “Why is this happening to me?”
• “How am I going to fix this?”
• “Woe is me!”

We focus on our problems, our pain, our need for solutions. This self-focused response is completely natural—and completely opposite to what Jesus calls us to.

A Revolutionary Perspective

Jesus is calling us to keep our eyes fixed on Him, even in suffering. He’s presenting a revolutionary idea: Have you ever thought of evangelism—sharing the good news with someone else—as a way to help you through your own suffering?

This flips our entire perspective. Jesus is saying:

• Don’t wait for stability to be faithful
• Don’t wait for safety to speak
• Don’t wait for comfort to witness

The world sees suffering as a disqualification from ministry. Jesus sees it as a microphone to His glory.

Why This Matters

It’s not in spite of suffering that we see God’s goodness—it’s often through it. When we share Christ in our pain, something powerful happens:

1. We remember what’s true – Speaking truth to others reminds us of truth when circumstances lie to us
2. We shift our focus – Looking outward to help others pulls us out of the spiral of self-pity
3. We display God’s power – Our witness in suffering shows that our hope isn’t in circumstances but in Christ

Living “Just 3” in Suffering

This is where our mission becomes transformative:

Study – When we’ve built a foundation in God’s Word before trials come, we have truth to stand on when everything shakes

Share – Evangelism in suffering isn’t just about helping others find Christ; it helps us remember why we have hope

Serve – Love in action during our own pain demonstrates that our faith is real and our God is sufficient

The Example of Christ

Jesus practiced what He preached. After betrayal, false trials, beatings, and while hanging on the cross—bearing the weight of the world’s sin, fighting for His next breath—what did He do?

He brought glory to His Father. He cried, “It is finished!” In His moment of greatest suffering, He completed the work of redemption.

This is the God we serve. If our Savior suffered and used that suffering for eternal good, maybe we should reconsider how we view our own discomfort.

Your Suffering Has Purpose

Whatever you’re facing today—health battles, family conflict, financial pressure, grief, uncertainty—Jesus is inviting you to see it differently.

Your trial isn’t a disqualification. It’s a microphone.

Your pain isn’t wasted. It’s purposeful.

Your suffering isn’t the end of your story. It’s a chapter that can bring glory to God and hope to others.

At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we’re committed to walking through suffering together, reminding each other that our hope is secure in Christ, and using our trials as opportunities to bear witness to His goodness.

Don’t let suffering silence you. Let it amplify the message of hope you carry.