Four Stages of Suffering
Margaret MinnicksUpdated:Jan 14, 2025
The Story of Joseph and His Suffering
The Story of Joseph and His Suffering
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Suffering: Definition
Suffering is defined as the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship. Suffering is an unpleasant or even anguishing experience that severely affects a person in many ways. It can be the torture of the body or mind. In some cases, it affects the entire being.
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Everyone can agree that no one is exempt from suffering. Suffering comes to shape us into what God wants us to be, but it is very difficult to see it that way when one is going through four distinct stages of suffering.
The four stages of suffering are clearly seen throughout Joseph's life, whose story covers more chapters in the Bible than anyone else's except those about Jesus. (Genesis Chapters 37-50).
First Stage of Suffering: Surprise
Joseph's suffering started as a surprise. After having a good night's sleep with pleasant dreams, he woke up one morning and had no idea how his day would turn out. However, his suffering began in Genesis 37:23-28 and continued through Genesis 50.
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the robe of many colors he was wearing and they took him and threw him into the pit.
Joseph was put in a pit by his own brothers when he was 17 years old.
His brothers sold him to some Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver when they passed by.
The Ishmaelites took him to Egypt and sold him into slavery.
Joseph remained in slavery in Egypt for 13 years, including time spent in prison for something he didn't do.
He was released from prison after spending his teenage and young adult years away from home.
Joseph was indeed surprised because he never expected his life to turn out that way when he woke up that morning and told his brothers about his dream while wearing his coat of many colors his father had given him.
Second Stage of Suffering: Being Stripped
Joseph loved his coat of many colors. His brothers stripped him of the coat, covered it with blood, and gave it to his father to make him think his beloved son was dead.
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his coat of many colors. (Genesis 37:23)
Therefore, the second stage of suffering is being stripped of something you love. Be prepared to be stripped of something you treasure. Depending on how you handle your loss, you could get something back more abundantly. When Joseph was made second in charge of Egypt, Pharaoh gave him royal robes (Genesis 41:42).
Third Stage of Suffering: Confusion
The third of suffering is confusion. You become confused because you can't understand how those closest to you could treat you that way. People you thought you could trust turn their backs on you for no apparent reason. They seem to treat you worse than they treat others.
Joseph went on to live away from home and his family because his brothers betrayed him. He was confused about why his brothers set into motion years of his suffering (Genesis 37).
Fourth Stage of Suffering: Deliverance
While Joseph was going through the first three stages of suffering, his brothers went on with their lives, the cupbearer forgot about him, and Joseph was left in prison for a crime he did not commit for many years (Genesis 40:23).
After the first three stages of suffering were over, a change happened in Joseph's life. He was released from prison and made second in command of all Egypt, the same place where he had been enslaved.
Joseph wasn't expecting his deliverance when it came. Notice that it happened only after the first three stages had been completed.
To reach your point of deliverance, you MUST also go through the first three stages, just as Joseph did.
four-stages-of-suffering
When you suffer, remember Joseph's story and the stages of suffering that he went through before God delivered him when Joseph did not expect it.
Surprise
Being Stripped
Confusion
Deliverance
Use the story of Joseph to see how God is using your suffering to bring glory to Him. Remember, you must endure during the first three stages before you get to the final stage.
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