Q155_100526 Rom. 8:36 Will You Suffer For Christ's Sake?

Q155_100526 Rom. 8:36 Will You Suffer For Christ's Sake?

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This episode turns to Romans 8 to ask a bold question: "Will you suffer for Christ's sake?" and links that question directly to everyday struggles, including addiction.

It is all about what God is doing for human beings." From there, he unpacks Paul's words in Romans 8:36–37 and argues that suffering is "not because God is punishing" and that believers are "not under the force of the power of death." Rather than seeing pain as pointless or purely personal, Colin suggests that "we are suffering for God's sake" – that as people trust God in "tribulation, or distress, or persecution," their lives become a witness to God's grace.

Colin Cook reflects on why suffering is such a hard topic, especially when most books start with "Why do we suffer?" and "How can we feel better?" Instead, he keeps pointing back to what he calls God's perspective: "The gospel is all about God. He makes a clear distinction: "Suffering in itself is not a good. It is an evil," but God's grace "interlocks with this suffering" and changes its effect.

You’ll hear him describe everyday frustrations as "little deaths, mini-deaths" – disappointments, worries, anger – that can either crush someone or become moments to turn to God. This has obvious relevance for anyone dealing with addiction, where setbacks and shame can feel relentless. Colin keeps bringing it back to practical faith training: giving thanks "under all circumstances," honestly admitting that suffering is "terribly unpleasant," and yet choosing to praise God in the middle of it.

If you’re wrestling with why life hurts, especially while trying to leave alcohol or other addictions behind, this episode asks a tough but honest question: could your hardest moments become part of a bigger story of grace?