Devotional #7: Understanding Suffering
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. – Romans 8:18 NIV.
We have established throughout the previous devotionals that Christ is not the author of suffering. So, if God does not “give” us suffering, why does He allow us to suffer? This is an incredibly complicated question. I will tackle this complex question with my understanding of a few truths I have found in scripture. I must acknowledge that there are other authors that have studied this question in greater detail: Joni Eareckson Tada, Ravi Zacharias, and Corrie Ten Boom to name just a few. I also must acknowledge that, although there are reasons God allows suffering, it does not mean he delights in our suffering. As previous established, suffering was not part of God’s original plan for mankind.
As discussed in Devotional 5, while sickness is not a punishment for sin, our sin and the sin of others can cause us pain. However, I would like to address in this devotional other reasons why God may allow suffering. As a reminder, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV.
First, scripture tells us that suffering makes us better people, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 NIV. Few people understand this better than those who have experienced the loss of a child. Only those who have experienced such loss are equipped to comfort others who also loss children. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Of course, we would prefer to not suffer at all. For me, I would have given anything to have not lost my baby nephew Elijah. I am comforted in knowing two things: I will see him again, and God has not wasted the experience. Elijah’s short life has impacted me and my family to serve and have unmatched compassion for others who have lost loved ones.
Second, our suffering allows God to demonstrate his power and perform great miracles. By the time the tumor in my brain was discovered, it was the size of a lime. It was not discovered for quite a while despite my visits to several different doctors. Likely, my tumor didn’t start off as a presumably “terminal” cancer. My mom and I had wondered why God had allowed so much time to go by before it was discovered. One day my mom said, “Perhaps God wants to perform a greater miracle.” This statement had a huge impact on me because, for the first time, I could see how God could use my tragedy to demonstrate His glory.
Consider the death of Lazarus. Four days after Lazarus had been laid in a tomb, Christ rose Lazarus from the dead. Mary and Martha questioned Christ, noting that is He had arrived earlier Lazarus would not have died. Christ allowed Mary and Martha to suffer extreme grief for several days before He raised Lazarus from the dead, but not because He lacked compassion. In fact, Christ had great compassion for Mary and Martha, and felt the pain himself. Scripture said, “Jesus wept. Then the Jews said ‘See how much He loved him!’” John 11: 35-36 NIV. God may have delayed saving Lazarus to demonstrate that even death was subject to Christ’s power. The fact that Lazarus had been in a tomb for four days had caused the people to question the power of Christ. John 11:37-39 NIV. Christ responded, “’Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40 NIV.
Third, suffering can be a direct attack from Satan. We have seen this throughout scripture. Job, written around 1900 BC, is known to be the oldest book in the Bible outside of Genesis. Job covers the story of a righteous man directly attacked by Satan, who caused destruction to his children, his property and his health. Ultimately God restores to Job double his property, and equal number of children and 140 additional years of healthy life. As we move through scripture we see numerous ways in which Satan attempts to cause destruction in the lives of humans, even those close to Christ, like Paul and John. Continuing through the book of Revelation, we know that the righteous will suffer until Christ returns. I have come to believe the more good we do for Christ, the more Satan will attack. But we must also remember that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. Paraphrasing 1 John 4:4 NKJV.
Lest I be misunderstood, please do not assume that the reasons stated above make the tragedies that happen in our lives okay or “worth it.” All I know is that God has immense love for us. 1 John 3:1 NIV. I also know that, for those of us who know God, He will not waste our tragedies, “ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV.
For Additional Study & Discussion
1. Think of a time you suffered. Why do you think God allowed you to suffer?
2. Listen to the story of Joni Eareckson Tada at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVXJ8GyLgt0. How does Joni’s experience live out the promise God makes us in Romans 8:28. Did Joni say anything to you to help you come to terms with suffering you are experiencing?
3. Think of 3-5 scriptures of Bible stories that demonstrates the depths of Christ’s love for us. How can these scriptures/stories help us process our suffering.