Why Are We Hurting and Suffering, if we are “in GOD’s Hands?”
Scripture teaches that if GOD Himself holds and sustains us, no one or nothing can harm us — because His hands are the very Source of our being, protection, and peace.
The Bible often uses the image of God’s hands to show His power, care, and purpose. We have read that during the creation, all else was spoken into being, but the shaping of each person (Psalm 139:14) is something else altogether. GOD’s hands are the origin and sustainer of life. As Job 10:8 says, “Your hands have made me and fashioned me altogether” — meaning that if the Creator of all of us and all of that made us and spoke everything else, He is the One Who can protect us. We MUST understand and believe that!
יֹצֵר (yots’er) – “Former” or “Fashioner,” from yatsar (to form, shape), often used in Isaiah 45:6–13 to describe GOD as the One Who forms light and creates darkness.
עָשָׂה (asah) – “Maker” or “Shaper,” broader in scope, often for human craftsmanship but also for heavenly acts.
What can touch us? Why do we suffer and hurt? If we are in GOD’s hands, the only “touch” that truly matters is His own. Scripture shows that GOD’s touch can heal and cleanse.
We have read on numerous occasions about Jesus touching the leper and the woman with the uncontrollable bleeding were healed, renewed and transformed.
We have looked on in hope that the Lord Yeshua would be bringing the same restoration as seen in Matthew 8:2–3 & Mark 5:25–34. when will He… Will He ever come to our own address?
In other words, we know He can do that – either with His touch or, His Words.
However, the dilemma is still real… Why do we suffer and hurt, if we are in His hands? Maybe He wants to bring about a renewal and transformation of faith that was not seen or experienced previously in you and I.
Maybe He wants to show the Satan that His love and trust in us is as His for Job. GOD’s man, Job, did not know what was going on and what happened to bring this pain and loss to bear, but the words, “Though He may kill (slay) me, I will still trust Him,” were in his lips.
NOTE: That is confidence in GOD, from man and in man, from GOD. Did Job’s endurance bring about a renewal and transformation of faith that was not seen or experienced in him prior to all of that “touching?” Yes. Where was Job during all of this pain and suffering? He was “in GOD’s hand.”
NOTE: He is not always gonna close His hand, so we will “be safe.” Don’t we already know that we are secure, even though “feeling safe” may not look like the hand is closed.
When we understand that GOD’s hands are the Source of our life, nothing can harm us without His permission. As Psalm 91:10–11 says, “No harm will come to you… for you have made the LORD, your Refuge.”
“Blessed Assurance” is a fantastic song! …even more so, when you know the origins of it. When we trust that we are in GOD’s hands, we rest in the truth that we have that Blessed Assurance that He is ours and we are His.
No one can separate us from His love – see Romans 8:38–39
No one can harm us without His will. Why? His will is for our good (see Romans 8:28)
Examples show our Faithful Creator GOD walking with people through our suffering:
Joseph was betrayed, imprisoned, and sold into slavery, yet GOD used His pain to save a nation
David cried out in pain but found comfort in GOD’s Presence
GOD Himself entered into human pain at the cross, saying, “My GOD, My GOD, why have You forsaken Me?”
When we are hurt and experiencing pain, it’s natural to wonder if GOD is truly with us. Scripture affirms that GOD is never absent in our suffering. Even in the darkest moments, His Presence is real, and His purpose can be at work.
If we are in GOD's will, hurt can and will arrive in our lives to prune and make us stronger and more faithful.
Scripture teaches that if we are in GOD’s will, He can and may allow hardship to come into our lives as a form of loving discipline that prunes us, strengthens our faith, and produces lasting spiritual fruit.
The Bible describes GOD as a Gardener and Refiner Who removes what hinders our relationship with Him so we can grow in holiness and fruitfulness.
In John 15:1–2, Yeshua says, “the Father prunes every branch that bears fruit so it can bear more.”
In Proverbs 3:11–12, The LORD disciplines those He loves.
In Hebrews 12:10–11, Discipline produces righteousness and life, not destruction.
In Malachi 3:2–3 and Isaiah 5:1–7, We can see how GOD refines His people like silver in fire, removing impurities.
This trimming back for future growth and beauty is not rejection but a sign of belonging, intent to restore, train, and shape us for greater maturity.
Did you know that GOD’s will is not only about avoiding pain but about aligning our lives with His purposes. Even when trials are not used for direct discipline, our Holy GOD “wastes nothing” and works through them (trials) to refine our character, endurance, and faith.
In this return visit, Scripture affirms that GOD can and will use hardship to prune and strengthen believers, because His will is to shape us into the image of His Son, our Messiah, and to produce lasting Spiritual Fruit in us.
NOTE: Consider that martyrs, Yeshua, Job, Daniel, the 12 disciples of Jesus and the prophets were all in GOD's hand and will. They were damaged and killed!
The Truth of ADONAI consistently shows that He sovereignly directs the lives of His people, including those who suffer persecution, execution, or loss, for purposes that associate with His will. This includes both the Old (TaNaKH) and New Testaments (Brit Chadasha), where figures like Job, Daniel, the prophets, Yeshua, and the Twelve Disciples are portrayed as being under GOD’s providential care.
NOTE: Our suffering places us in “rare air.”
The Bible presents these lives as examples of God’s providence, where suffering and sacrificial death are not random but purposeful, leading to spiritual growth, witness, and the strengthening of the faithful.
ANY and all servants of Yeshua are in the hands of GOD. His hands can be open or closed. Either way, we are secure in them.