Where were you on December 7, 1941, or September 11, 2001?
Matthew 5:10; James 1:2; 1 Peter 4:13;
Hebrews 10:24; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 12:9 Philippians 1:19-25; 2:17
"My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life."
(Psalm 119:50)
Such dates galvanize us as Americans; perhaps they can even define a generation.
This is what had happened with the people living during WWII and what may be
happing in our current generation since 9/11. Such dates cause us to ponder, to
stop what we are doing, and seek order and purpose in senseless tragedy. No one
likes suffering. As much as I try to avoid it, it keeps happening to me. Maybe
you know someone who has dealt with this. Perhaps you, too, have suffered
through tragedy or loss and have wondered, why. Perhaps you have sought an
answer or the significance of an event. I have often asked why, and have sought
a purpose or meaning.
I have found that suffering has a way of getting my attention, and usually my
‘why's?’ and ‘how come's?’ This can become the all-consuming focus for
us in the Christian walk, and, of course, a serious, if not devastating, assault
to our faith may result. Those assaults of suffering will either build up or
destroy our faith in and commitment to Christ. To a non-Christian, this is very
tragic indeed. Without a strong foundation of faith and obedience, one will gain
nothing from an experience. It will be meaningless and senseless. Yet, God has
chosen to make suffering a part of His plan, a plan to help us grow, to learn,
to see what life is really about, and to see what is important, versus what is
trivial.
Too often we
seek the whys when we encounter suffering, whether it be from seeing it in the
news to personally experiencing a loss. We ask, why did this happen to me? Or,
perhaps we rush to judgment, blaming someone or something for it, without
looking carefully at the situation. We need to consider that sometimes there is
no answer, as was in the case of Job. There will be a time when all of our
questions will be answered, but, for now, our attention should be on Christ, not
on the situation.
In Biblical, Christian theology, we are given a worldview and perspective of
life and suffering that does not fit with that of society, or with our own
feelings or desires. We are given a purpose that transcends suffering, where the
big picture is not on earthly goods and situations, but in relationships, and
ultimately in Christ. We are also given a picture that does not mesh with our
self-perceptions, because we see ourselves as good and not deserving of
suffering. Yet, in God eyes, we are not good, nor do we deserve good. We do not
like such statements. They cause us to be angry—perhaps, even at God. Yet, our
anger is misplaced, as God is perfect, and just in His judgment. He is holy,
sovereign, and pure. We, by our own free will and choice, sinned against Him,
beginning with Adam and Eve, and continuing with all peoples since then. Sin is
absolutely heinous in God’s sight. So, Christ paid the ultimate price for our
sin, that we might enter His presence with our sins covered, having a place
securely reserved for us in eternity. That is what atonement means. We are under
the veneer of His redemption. Even though we are corrupted and full of sin, we
are still called to grow and to seek His Will. Whatever you may have been
taught, experienced, felt, or thought, nonetheless, our sin is still there. So,
we need to understand that our ideas of, we do not deserve this, are not rooted
in Biblical precepts, but rather in our own mind. That does not mean God does
not care or that He does not have a wonderful plan for our life, because He
does. It just may not be what we want. However, it is what is best.
We only see a small, small fragment of life and meaning. God sees the whole
picture. Our time here is a mere vapor to what is ahead. We do not see the big
picture, but only the here and now. He sees us with eternity in mind, so to help
us be formed and matured for His purpose. His plan is best. Although it can be a
hard and long road for some, it is worth it more than we can possibly imagine!
Take this to heart: He is there guiding, loving, empowering, and even carrying
us through it!
What does Suffering mean?
As we look at church
history, especially in the lives of many Christian saints throughout time, one
key theme runs through it all. From the first century Christians to modern
China, that theme is suffering. Oswald Chambers wrote, You cannot help
suffering; it is a true and needful training for the soul that dares to be true
to God. Suffering is an essential aspect of our Christian growth, whether it is
mental, physical, financial, or spiritual. It is the main connection that
enables the battery to power us to be the best Christian possible. It is the
link between the Holy Spirit and God’s perfect plan working in us. Without
this vital connection, the power source--our Lord--will not be able to prime us
for His service. We may have the ability and the power of the Spirit, but the
vital link between them is missing. A spark of truth and service may pass
between them that causes us to think we are working and doing fine. But, there
can be so much more! So, when that connection is firmly in place, the power will
flow the most, and our walk in Him becomes our best. That is why we are
encouraged in the Word to hold on tight and be tough to the end. In other words,
perseverance knows that our future is in His Hands, in His control, and whatever
consequences we may face, we are to look to the rewards to come. Our hope and
purpose is to be with Christ in everlasting eternity.
John, chapter nine, records a personal tragedy, a seemingly valid reason to ask
why. A person was born blind at birth. How could there be anything more
senseless? The Disciples quickly picked up that this could be sin, our original
sin that penetrates and corrupts everything in the universe (Rom. 5:12-21).
After all, it is classic Jewish thinking to jump to that conclusion, as did the
friends of Job. There are situations where sin does infect the innocent. A child
with cancer is a prime example, as the cells of our body are not perfect, nor is
our environment, so when the two converge, devastation can result. But, in the
case of the blind man, sin was not the issue; he was blinded so that God could
be glorified. Again, people may cry, foul. Why would God do such a dreadful
thing, especially to a newborn baby? But, He did not do a dreadful thing. The
miracle of Christ willing to work in us and to give us anything, including a
limited life, is pure Grace, and not senseless. So, when bad things happen, we
are not to see the dilemma, rather what we have left to work with, what we have
in front of us to go on, and learn to count it as joy.
God’s
perfect purpose is to ordain us to flow in His perfect Will. Yet, we do not live
in a perfect world. So, He has to work in us--through the sin and corruption of
the world, and through our bad choices. This is what Romans, chapter eight, is
about. In this, we are to see Him loving us and working in us, regardless of the
situation. This is what generates the joy. Our ultimate joy is who we are in
Him, not our circumstance, not our experience, not our knowledge, or education,
and definitely not our feelings. Our Joy comes from the fact of our free gift of
Grace that we did not deserve. Our joy in Christ must supersede all else. It
must be the centerpiece in our lives.
The path to
following God’s Will and seeing that joy is not always an easy path, is a path
filled with potholes and highwaymen. Yet, the modern church considers suffering
negative, because it does not line up with happiness, peace, and joy. Some even
teach that suffering is a sign that you are out of God's Will and have
unredeemed sin. However, this is not Biblical. It is a difficult journey, but
take heart; our sufferings are very temporary in the scheme of our eternal
existence. Check out John 16; 33; Romans 8:18 and 1 Peter 4:19.
Understanding the ‘whys.’
Why, why, why? we ask! Yet, it is not so much a question of how we answer the
question of suffering (what is called the problem of suffering theologically),
the why it has happened to me. It is not about how we can get an answer,
seeking the why from God. Job discovered that the why is not important.
Rather, it is about how we live our lives, regardless of our circumstances. God
understands that even though we may have buried a loved one, we cannot bury our
feelings. We need time to mourn and vent—and even invent ways of coping with
the loss in our lives. (Hence why there are so many conflicting theories in
psychology!) God records in His Word that people in biblical days were in no
hurry to rush through the process of grief. But, they did eventually get on with
their lives! "A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down
and a time to build", (Ecc. 3:3). The why is not the solo quest we are to
seek. Why is not the place we are to live our lives and concentrate our
devotions. Dwelling on the why will keep us from learning, and take our eyes off
Him. It even interferes in His healing grace, because, when we are so full of
whys, there is no room for Christ!
Remain faithful and enjoy the ride of life even when you hit a pothole and
bump your head.
Suffering has five main themes to it:
1. Our God is good. Our pain allows us to identify
with our Lord, who suffered for our sin in our place, being without fault and
undeserving of the suffering. So, why should we expect better? It draws us
closer to and more intimate with Him. God will actually enter into the pain with
us. So if there is no healing, He is just working harder in us!
2. God will use our suffering for the greater good
that is His purpose. Consider it fertilizer to the garden of life. Giving our
burden to God through prayer, as Paul did, will allow us to grow in greater
depth spiritually.
3. Remember, God is working even when we do not
feel it! The chief purpose of God's Will for us is to grow us closer to Him! It
is not about money, or power, or our bodies, or work, or anything else! The
focus on Christ and His character will perfect our character to be more Christ
like and be in His will.
4. Suffering is not being a martyr; rather, it is
valuable for our living as we learn to surrender everything to Him. Never force
suffering on yourself for attention, as this does not glorify God, only
yourself!
5. When we are filled with joy, even in the mist
of suffering, we mirror to the world the character of Christ. The main theme of
suffering is not how we answer the ways and whys, but how we live our lives so
to still give God the glory! How do we allow Him to use us, and then share our
experiences for the benefit of others, such as people like Joni Erickson Tada?
Suffering is a choice, not of will we go though it or not, but how will we
deal and learn from it. That is what is important! When we trust in Him, He will
not forsake us, leave us, or abandon us. He is always there. Remember, Jesus
Himself suffered the most on our behalf--the Person, the God who cares for us!
He took our place of suffering and bore our sins so we could have meaning,
purpose, and a place in Heaven.
We need to take to heart that when life is at its darkest, God is there. He
understands, and loves and carries us though it. We need to accept the fact that
God is in control, even if we do not understand. It is by faith we can endure
it. We can place such faith in Him because of the assurance we have through His
Word, even when we do not understand. Our true home and purpose is not here; it
is still to come. We are not made for this world, we are just here to learn all
we can, and with what Christ has given to us, make the best and most of the
situations in which we find ourselves. Then, one day, we will be called to our
true home in eternity, in Heaven. So, let us cling to the hope we have, not the
things we experience!
For further help please see our articles on: God
Really does have a Purpose behind your Problems! and Growing through
Difficult Times of Waiting and Confusion .
Some further comforting verses: Psalm 31:9; Psalm 119:50; Isaiah 41:10; Romans
8:18; 28-29; 35-37; James 1:2-3; 12; John 9; 14:1; Colossians 1:24;
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:12-19; Hebrews 10:34; Revelation 21:4.
© 1998, 2001, 2002 R.J. Krejcir, Into Thy Word Ministries, www.intothyword.org
“The Holy Spirit longs to reveal to you the deeper things of God. He longs
love through you. He longs to work through you. Through the blessed Holy Spirit
you may have: strength for every duty, wisdom for every problem, comfort in
every sorrow, joy in His overflowing service.” T.J. Bach