The Redemptive Power of Unearned Suffering!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said that "unearned suffering is redemptive". Dr. King didn't gain that knowledge from his study of Greek Philosophy; no, it was not Socrates, Plato or Aristotle's metaphysical debates as they sat upon the Parthenon between 500 - 200 B.C. He did not stumble upon this truth while studying the great military Conquerors that are plastered on the walls of history as he looked back through the annuls of time. It was not the teachings of Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander or Napoleon.

Dr. King did not serendipitously stumble upon this truth while endeavoring to make sense of the sporadic disposition man in his progression through history. It was not found in the faith of Columbus or the dread of Joan of Ark. It did not originate from the very one for whom he was named after, Martin Luther's quest to unlock the key to grace was not the revelator of this truth.

No, Dr. King found this awesome truth embedded in the text of Genesis chapters 37-50 in which a young boy named Joseph reveals a vision to his brothers and for his trouble he was thrown in a pit, sold into slavery, and imprisoned before finally being exalted to the the 2nd highest position in the kingdom. Joseph would tell you that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Dr. King could see it in the story of young man named Jeremiah, who despite his youth, accepted his God-ordained calling, but soon found himself to be ridiculed, mocked, thrown in a pit, and threatened of life, but even at his wits end, declaring that he would no longer speak in the name of the Lord, but in the same breathe declare that The Word of God has become like a burning fire shut up in his bones; he tried his best to contain it but he could not. He suffered much for the Lord, but in the end he is remembered as a Prophet of God. Jeremiah would tell you that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Dr. King could have visited a number of Old Testament prophets that would have given the same testimony. Then he would have come over into the New Testament to visit what many theologians considered to be the crown jewel of the Bible Chapter 8. He would move passed the impenetrable doctrine of justification. He would move past the infallible doctrine of sanctification. He would give notice to the doctrine of spiritual adoption, but he would stop there. He would make a significant stop at verse 18, where he would read "For I consider that the sufferings of this present moment are not worthy to be compared to the Glory that will be revealed in us." In essence, "unearned suffering is redemptive.

Dr. King didn't stop there, he moved on down to verse 28. If Romans chapter 8 is the crown jewel of the Bible, then verse 28 is the flawless centerpiece that anchors the entire structure. "For we know if fact, that "the" God works all things together for the good of those that love Him, to the called ones, according to his predetermined plan." (Rom. 8:28, corrected translation). Bottom Line, Unearned suffering is redemptive.

Joseph could say, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good because unearned suffering is redemptive. Jeremiah could  spit the fire of God's infallible Word in the face of adversity and death because unearned suffering is redemptive. Stephen could pray for those that were stoning him because even in the face of death, unearned suffering is redemptive.

I've said all what has come before this to let you know that your circumstances have no power to rob you of your joy, unearned suffering is redemptive. You heartache cannot deter you from your destiny, unearned suffering is redemptive. Betrayal and abandonment cannot block your inheritance, unearned suffering is redemptive. That failed marriage cannot quench God's movement in your life, unearned suffering is redemptive. The loss of a loved one that seems so inexplicable and ill-timed, is not the final nail but the initial move of God to fulfill his promise.

Dr. Rick Wallace

I don't care what you are going through right now, God has a plan for your life. He has a plan to prosper you beyond your burdens. He has a plan to elevate you above your struggle. He has a plan to strengthen you in the midst of the storm. He has a plan to deliver you from darkness and devastation. He has plan to transform your test into a testimony. He has a plan to remove the remnants of your desperation.


My friend, hold your head up for the battle is in the hands of the Lord and the miracle moment has just begun. Shake off the anxiety. Shake off the disappointment. Shake off the uncertainty. God is about to bust a mighty move in your life. ~ Dr. Rick Wallace