A dear friend shared an observation that struck me deeply: the best of men are the ones who suffer most. It’s a statement that challenges our typical view of suffering, especially when we are tempted to think of hardship as a punishment or consequence of wrongdoing. Yet, as we turn to Scripture, we see that suffering often falls on those who are righteous, not because of their sin, but as a part of God’s mysterious and redemptive purposes.

Ed Welch, a Christian counselor and author, offers a profound insight on this topic: “After the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can no longer think that our suffering is a consequence of our personal sin (unless the link is obvious). Though Job’s story should have been all we needed to hear, the death and suffering of the perfect One suggests just the opposite: the best are the ones who suffer.”

Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, endured the greatest suffering the world has ever known. His anguish was not because of any personal sin—He was perfect, blameless, and holy. Yet He bore the full weight of suffering, not only through the physical agony of the cross, but also in the spiritual torment of taking our sin upon Himself. His suffering was redemptive, not punitive. It was the greatest act of love, the ultimate sacrifice, through which He secured salvation for all who believe.

Similarly, the story of Job, an upright man who “feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1, BSB), reminds us that suffering is not always tied to personal failure. Job’s trials were severe, but they were not a punishment for sin. They were part of a divine plan, a way for God to reveal His sovereignty and grace, even in the midst of unimaginable loss and pain.

This pattern repeats throughout Scripture. The prophets, the apostles, and countless saints have endured suffering for the sake of righteousness. In fact, Paul reminds us that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12, BSB). Far from being a sign of God’s displeasure, suffering often reveals our union with Christ and our participation in His redemptive work.

While it’s natural to ask “Why?” in the face of suffering, the cross of Christ changes the way we understand pain. It teaches us that God is present in our suffering, using it to refine us, to deepen our dependence on Him, and to display His power in our weakness. Christ’s suffering was not the end, but the pathway to glory. In the same way, our suffering, though painful, is not without purpose. It draws us closer to the One who suffered for us and promises that one day, He will wipe away every tear and make all things new (Revelation 21:4).

So, when we see the godly suffer, let us remember that their suffering does not mean God has abandoned them. Quite the opposite—God is at work in their lives in ways we cannot fully understand. The best of men, like Christ, often bear the heaviest burdens, but they do so knowing that their pain is not without hope or purpose. The One who suffered most walks with them, and in Him they find both comfort and strength.