Devotional Guide 19 April 2026

 ADULT DEVOTIONAL COMPANION
God and Suffering
Week 1: Why Does Suffering Exist?

Senior Pastor Dr. G. Ryan Perry PhD.
Good Hope Baptist Church
19 April 2026

The BIG Idea (repeat daily)
God did not create suffering as the design of creation. Suffering entered through a world broken by sin, yet God still rules over it with purpose.

DAY 1 — God Created Goodness, Not Chaos
Scripture: Genesis 1:31

When God finished creation, He called it “very good.” That means creation was ordered, whole, flourishing, and functioning as intended. Suffering was not part of the original blueprint. Pain, death, injustice, disease, and fear are intruders, not foundations. This matters because many people assume suffering proves God made a bad world. Scripture says the opposite. God made a good world that was later fractured.

Reflection:  Do you think of suffering as normal, or as something foreign to God’s design?  How does this change the way you view pain?
Prayer:  Lord, thank You that You created what is good. Help me trust Your original design even in a broken world.
 
DAY 2 — Sin Distorted What God Ordered
Scripture: Genesis 3:17–19

Sin is more than rule-breaking. Sin is rejecting God’s authority and choosing self-rule. When humanity turned from God, disorder entered creation. Relationships fractured. Work became toil. Fear entered the human heart. Death began its reign. Sin always promises freedom, but it produces bondage. We still see this today whenever people define good and evil for themselves rather than trusting God.

Reflection:  Where do you see disorder caused by sin in the world?  Where do you need to surrender self-rule to God?
Prayer:  Father, forgive me for trusting myself above You. Restore Your order in my life.

DAY 3 — The Whole World Feels the Fall
Scripture: Romans 8:20–22

Creation groans. That means suffering is not only personal, it is cosmic. The world does not function perfectly now. Bodies weaken. Storms destroy. Systems fail. Hearts break. The Bible explains what we all experience: something is wrong here. But groaning is not the same as dying. Groaning often comes before birth. Romans 8 says creation groans because restoration is coming.
Reflection:  What brokenness around you reminds you this world is not yet healed?  How does hope change the way you endure hardship?
Prayer:  God, when I feel the groaning of this world, remind me that renewal is coming.

DAY 4 — Some Suffering Comes from Human Evil
Scripture: Genesis 4:8

Cain killed Abel. Very early in Scripture, suffering comes through violence, jealousy, hatred, and sin. Some pain in the world exists because people choose evil. This includes abuse, oppression, betrayal, greed, and injustice. God does not celebrate evil. He sees it, judges it, and will one day end it fully.

Reflection:  How have you seen human sin harm others?  How can you be a force for righteousness and healing?
Prayer:  Lord, make me someone who resists evil and reflects Your goodness.

DAY 5 — God Still Rules in a Broken World
Scripture: Psalm 115:3

Suffering can make life feel random. Scripture says it is not random. God remains sovereign. Nothing escapes His authority. Nothing can overthrow His purposes. That does not mean all things are good. It means God is greater than all things. He rules even in what He hates, and He can bring redemption from what others meant for harm.

Reflection:  What suffering feels chaotic to you right now?  Can you trust God even before you understand?
Prayer:  King Jesus, help me trust Your rule when life feels uncertain.
 
DAY 6 — God Uses What He Does Not Approve
Scripture: Genesis 50:20

Joseph suffered betrayal, slavery, false accusation, and prison. Yet later he said: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” Same event, different intentions. People can mean harm. God can mean redemption. This does not make evil good. It shows God is powerful enough to overrule evil.

Reflection:  Have you seen God bring good from pain in your past?  Where do you need faith for redemption you cannot yet see?
Prayer:  Lord, redeem what has wounded me, and use it for Your glory.

DAY 7 — Suffering Is Real, But Not Final
Scripture: Revelation 21:4

The Bible does not end with tears. It ends with restoration. No death. No mourning. No crying. No pain. Suffering is present, but temporary. Christ will bring the world to full healing. For believers, pain has an expiration date.

Reflection:  How would your daily life change if you truly believed suffering is temporary?  What hope do you need today?
Prayer:  Jesus, anchor my heart in the promise that suffering will not have the final word.

© 2026 Dr. G. Ryan Perry, PhD | Good Hope Baptist Church (GHBC) | Cross+Walk Ministries. All rights reserved. Permission granted for personal use, family discipleship, and local church ministry use. Not for resale or unauthorized commercial reproduction.