Why Suffering?
One of the most difficult topics I wrestle with as a Christian is that of suffering. Why would a good God allow suffering? I’ve asked God this many times and I have had many discussions with seasoned Christians and those who don’t even know God about this very topic.
I’ve learned a lot about suffering (not everything) but one thing I do know is there was no simple answer. Nonetheless, I have received comfort from studying God’s Word, conversation and various sermons on the topic. First, it is probably good to define suffering – meaning the bearing of pain, inconvenience, loss, distress or injury that has occurred.
Some examples are death of a loved one, various types of abuse, neglect, bullying, hardships, psychological warfare and things like this. If, as Christians, we choose to do everything right, why do we still have suffering? Many believe hardships come if you are not following God correctly or God is mad at you. But this belief is not true. Both Christians and non-Christians experience tribulation. Even dedicated Christians, those who strive for righteousness, face hardships.
In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
Tribulation
Jesus warns us in John 16, that we will experience tribulations. These hard times should be expected and should not pull us away from Christ. We should resist temptation to turn away from God during trials as described in the parable of the sower.
As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
Matthew 13:20-21
Easier said than done right? When I feel down in the dumps I don’t really feel like talking to anyone and often that includes Jesus. But He is there for us during our troubles and wants us to cling to Him.
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 63:8
Hope
One sermon I watched on suffering gave an amazing explanation. Essentially, this young Pastor said that we will have suffering in this life, with or without Jesus. But with Jesus, we have hope. Hope is what brings us through suffering.
We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
Suffering can’t take control of our lives or bring us into despair when we have hope. Before I accepted Jesus into my heart, I was living a pretty sinful life. I got pregnant at the age of 15, began drinking and smoking in grade school and often acted rebellious with my group of rebellious friends. This is how I grew up, this lifestyle was normal for me. I thought I was still a good person because the world told me I was, so I decided I was – that was MY truth. The world reinforced my feelings, telling me I deserved the best. I deserved nice things and drugs and alcohol were cool, sex was part of life and I was just exploring and learning who I was. But many of these choices brought suffering. The difference in my past suffering is that I did not have Jesus and my hope was in useless, earthly idols. I never found peace in any of the earthly comforts such as food, alcohol, angry outbursts, partying or boyfriends.
These choices that I made, only brought frustration, turmoil, pain and emptiness. When things didn’t go well, I told people off, got drunk or acted impulsively. Sometimes things got better for a wile before I felt lost again. But this dysfunctional life cycle went on for many years, until I found Jesus and learned there was a better way.
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:8
His Truth
Now that I have received Jesus into my heart, I have learned what He finds acceptable and Jesus has to realigned my heart. I now realize that He wants me to strive for holiness, not drunkenness nor impurity. I quit clinging to people and addictions for comfort and began to cling to Jesus. Now, it took time for the Lord to change my thoughts, actions and my heart. I have since quit drinking. I now avoid filthy language and bad influences and I will continue to work towards what the Lord has called me to do. Not because I want to pretend I’m better than anyone else but because it is what the Lord loves and I love Him. He rescued me and He can rescue you too.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6
In a world full of suffering, I have found that it is better to cling to Jesus. Just because we have tribulation as Christians does not mean that the Lord does not fight for us. In fact, He is our advocate. I can’t tell you how many times He has protected me from situations and sheltered me from disaster. But when I do suffer, I know that God sees it and will reward me if I am being tormented while abiding in Him.
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”…
For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:14, 3:17
Our Savior uses anything that happens to us for good. There is always a reason for the trials we go through. We may not understand it at the time, but with patience and perseverance, God’s reasons will eventually be revealed.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
God’s ways are higher than our ways and just like when I try to explain things to my young children who do not yet understand things fully, it is the same with God and us.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
The Unknown
As Christians, I think it is okay to admit we don’t really understand suffering completely. I often wonder why the Lord gave me such a sensitive heart in such a rough world. Sometimes, resting in the fact that I don’t understand completely and that hopefully God will reveal it to me, in His time, gives me comfort. I have a much better understanding of it now but there are still awful situations that come up in the news or conversation that breaks my heart and makes me question it all over again.
Have you ever asked, “Why doesn’t God just remove evil?” It seems like a logical question. We naturally are drawn toward justice when things do not seem right. But if we remove evil, wouldn’t we have to remove free will? If God removed our ability to act evil, either we would be in a robotic state, not really making our own decisions, or in a totalitarian state where freedoms would have to be taken away (kind of like the law in the Old Testament) in order to prevent people from doing evil.
Free will allows us to choose right or wrong. We would not know what is morally good without experiencing what is morally bad. Our suffering brings forth change and refining that may not have been brought forth otherwise. C.S. Lewis once said:
One thing that the Lord keeps bringing to my attention when it comes to suffering is that in our weakness we are made strong. For a long time I could not wrap my head around this concept.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10
In Our Brokenness
When we experience trouble, often we turn to God. When we turn to Him in our weakness, He has compassion on us. It reminds me of the difference between when Martha and Mary came to Jesus, in John 11, when their brother, Lazarus, died. They both came to Jesus with the same message – ‘If You had been here, my brother would not have died.’ However, Mary came to the Savior weeping and fell at His feet. Jesus was moved, in spirit, when seeing Mary. She came to Him humble and broken and Jesus wept.
Pastor, Bill Johnson, recently said that “Answers don’t fix the problem, (God’s) presence does.” God’s presence gives us peace and helps mold us. If we are comfortable, we are not growing. Have you noticed how those who have went through heavy suffering are often the most extraordinary people in scripture? Suffering creates humility and a surrendering to God’s will. This surrender is necessary for God to be able to us, when He calls us to do His work.
Jesus is our ultimate example. He is the lion who humbly became like a lamb, taking our sins upon Himself, to be tortured and killed. That’s humility. A King, with all the power of the universe, bowing down for His people. Jesus loves us so much that he suffered for us in a way we can’t imagine.
So many amazing characters in the Bible, such as Moses, Abraham, Job and Mary also went through great suffering but also had God guiding them and helping them along the way. These brothers and sisters were used by God to change the world. So next time you are going through hardships, take heart, perhaps God wants to use you for something great!
Leave a Reply