Suffering as Spiritual Formation

January 21st, 2026 | 17 min read

I: The Formative Nature of Suffering

When we speak about spiritual formation, we usually focus on intentional practices: Scripture, prayer, sacrament, community, obedience. What is striking, however, is that one of the most powerful forces of formation in the Christian life is not an intentional discipline at all—and yet it is unavoidable. I am speaking of suffering.

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James Wood

James R. Wood is Associate Professor of Religion and Theology at Redeemer University (Ancaster, ON). He is also a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, co-host of the Civitas podcast produced by the Theopolis Institute, co-host Mere Fidelity with Mere Orthodoxy, and former associate editor at First Things.

Topics:

Formation

Suffering as Spiritual Formation

I: The Formative Nature of Suffering

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