To Be Continued: Suffering

But why, God?

Last week I began a new series: To Be Continued. Every week until Spring, I plan to address somewhat difficult topics. Whether they related to my life or not, they’re all topics that haven’t been ultimately resolved (or perhaps won’t be until Jesus returns). And so, To Be Continued…

In some respects, this post is a continuation of last week. However, there’s a lot more to it than that. Why does God allow us to suffer and experience trials? What can we learn from the Bible’s most recognizable book on suffering? And how do physical health and spiritual health relate?

To Suffer.

We all go through hard times. Don’t think I’m singling myself out here. Sometimes we’re the one who experiences it, and other times it’s a family member or friend. And while it isn’t easy, God is still there with us. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18, NIV).”

A theme at camp this summer was “God is God and I am not.” When hard things come our way, we shouldn’t accuse God of being unfair. God has already forgiven us of all our sins, redeemed us, and promised us eternity in heaven. God has been incredibly unfair to us – giving us far more than we could ever deserve.

Unfortunately, we do dwell in a sinful, fallen world – a world of suffering. But one day our suffering will end and He will return. I know it’s not much of a reassurance in the moment, but in the long run He will wipe all our tears away.

As 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV) says, “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

When you suffer, God is not being unfair.

Or Not to Suffer.

On the converse, some people never seem to struggle. We look around us and see those who seem to be doing well. First off, read last week’s post, because that isn’t always the case.

As I read the book of Job this week, a topic caught my interest. Our suffering (or lack thereof) doesn’t necessarily have to do with whether or not we’re righteous. Yes, there are occasions in the Bible when godly people suffered, and that was God’s judgment. But this doesn’t mean that every time we suffer it is God’s punishment for our sin. Not at all – our world is flawed.

Throughout the book of Job, his friends buy into the logic that because Job is suffering, God must be punishing him. But God wasn’t. If you’re going through hardship right now (like I did in Fall), please don’t buy into the lie that it’s explicitly your fault. God has forgiven us of our sins and washed us clean. However, I would still suggest praying about it. Perhaps there’s something He’ll lead you to confess anyway.

When you suffer, don’t buy into the lie that God is punishing you for your sins.

Job & My Job.

God uses suffering to teach, guide, challenge, and redirect us. In the case of Job, God also grew his faith. Job was not a guinea pig for God’s big experiment – Job was a shining example of staying faithful when things are hard. God often uses suffering to shape our character, even if we can’t see it.

When I lost my job in Fall, I was confused. Why had God allowed it to slip away after only a month? After praying through it, I think I can list a few reasons.

1. God wants us to be okay with failure. He knows that living a life for Him will include suffering in the short term, but it will be worth it in the end. Maybe He was testing me to see my response to hardship. Maybe He knew that if I were to make a difference in His Kingdom, I would have to get acquainted with failure.
2. God wants us to be dependent on Him. Now I don’t think I was placing my worth in a job, but it was certainly something I had spent time thinking about. While I’ll never know for sure, God may have known that certain things would have led me away from Him.
3. God wants us to turn to Him. In Job’s story, the devil tried to prove that if Job suffered, he would curse God. Maybe the devil wanted to see the same in my story. Well in both cases, suffering only drew us closer to God.
4. God wants to protect us from harm. I have no way of knowing what may have happened at my job in the future. It could’ve been great, but God could also have protected me from circumstances, events, and people that could have damaged my relationship with Him.

Sometimes we can’t see God’s ultimate plan in suffering. But that’s not the point. If you want to control everything, God isn’t your best option. But I promise you, if you want the most control and guidance you’ll ever get, turn to God.

Job 28:28b (NIV) declares, “The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” Life is not about questioning God’s will, it’s about obeying it.

When you suffer, God has a divine plan.

The Cup.

Jesus suffered physically on the cross, yet His spiritual resolve strengthened. When I suffered physically in Fall, my spiritual health grew. Prayer and reading the Bible are essential (I especially like the YouVersion Bible app), and they’re staples of a deepening relationship with Christ.

Suffering this Fall wasn’t fun, but I won’t deny that it drew me closer to God. As Romans 5:3-5 (NIV) says, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

One of the greatest examples of suffering takes place in Matthew 26. In verse 39 (NIV) it says, “Going a little farther, He [Jesus] fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”

Not even Jesus wanted to suffer, yet He did it. And if He did, I’m more than willing to suffer for His sake. There’s a good chance that what happened this Fall was merely a precursor, a way for God to test my response to failure, to see how I would react and who I would turn to.

I do not have all the answers about what I went through, or about what those around me are going through, but I do know that God’s plans are for the best. I know that through suffering He strengthens our faith, draws us closer to Him, and reminds us that this world will never be enough.

When you suffer, remember that Jesus did too.

To Save Your Life.

Matthew 16:24a-25 (NIV) declares, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Jesus tells us that we will suffer for His name. But it’ll be worth it.

Would I repeat my season of hardship? Would you? Probably not. That doesn’t mean it open my eyes to God’s faithfulness, provision, and peace. Suffering and hardship hurt, but when we turn to God in them, He will be there for us.

When we suffer, God is not being unfair, nor is He always punishing us. Rather, He has a divine plan – because He too suffered.

There is no reason to fear suffering. It is hard – and I deeply sympathize with whatever you are going through – but through it all, God has a divine plan. You and I don’t know what it is, but He does. To quote Psalm 91:5 (NLT), “Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.”

Even in our suffering, God is always with us. I pray you will remember this truth, and know that you can always turn to Him. Even in our suffering, God is looking out for us and caring for us. So fear not! For as Michel de Montaigne said…

“A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.”