The Problem of Suffering

A perennial question we all grapple with is why—why do bad things happen, why do we suffer?  What are we to make of a world in which disease and violence and accidents and disasters are par for the course?  How are we to understand the power, love, and wisdom of God while we walk this dangerous road on our way home to heaven?

The “why” question is complicated by the very uneven distribution of suffering in the world:  some people seem to breeze through life relatively unscathed while others endure harrowing, devastating trials.  And it’s way too easy to say that suffering is simply “karma” you deserve—Jesus rejects that notion, read John 9:1-3 and Luke 13:1-5.  There is no simple moral math we can use to blame the sufferer and say, “I guess he had it coming.”

Job was a good man (Job 1:1) and he suffered terribly.  But his adversities must be seen against the backdrop of eternity.  Job worshipped the living God, and he rested in the promise of future resurrection (19:25-27).  The Apostle Paul faced unspeakable suffering which came precisely because he followed and testified of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:23-27), but in the grand scheme of eternity he considered it nothing more than a “slight momentary affliction” (2 Corinthians 4:17).  That certainly puts all our suffering into perspective.

Nevertheless, this side of heaven thorns and thistles and toil and death are our lot (Genesis 3:1-17-19).  Yes, God is able to deliver us from any affliction, but his usual way of doing so is by leading us through it and not around it.  Faithfulness to Jesus in this life will bring trouble your way (2 Timothy 3:12).  Don’t think that it’s strange when a fiery trial strikes (1 Peter 4:12; what should surprise us are long seasons of smooth sailing).

Jesus describes the Christian life as cross-bearing, and a cross was an instrument of execution.  Daily death to self-serving and sin of all kinds is what it looks like to follow Christ:  “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).  But don’t miss how Jesus concludes that passage:  the faith the follows Jesus is the believing that leads to life, true and eternal life.  Death doesn’t get the last word; it’s “sting” has been taken away (1 Corinthians 15:55) and one day death will be no more (Revelation 21:4)!

Rest assured:  all prayers for the healing of God’s people will be answered in the affirmative.  The only question is when—whether God will heal now, later, or when we get to heaven.  Jesus taught us to pray—ask, seek, knock (Matthew 7:7-11); and Scripture says to pray “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and pray about everything (Philippians 4:6-7).  So by all means pray for healing, and for peace and comfort and strength and patience—and also pray that God will use our trials to open doors for us to love others and share the hope of salvation in Jesus.  Pray that God will help us to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:11).  After all, the Lord is always present with us (Hebrews 13:5) and he’s at work for our good in everything we face (Romans 8:28).  Will you trust him with your trials?

We do not lack for helpful Christian resources about facing pain and loss.  Here are a few that I would like to recommend for your thoughtful, prayerful consideration:

• Make sure and take to heart the message of Joni Eareckson Tada.  Check out her ministry, Joni & Friends.  Read her reflections on the fiftieth anniversary of the diving accident when she broke her neck.  Joni helps us think straight about the hope of heaven.
• And check out Joni’s review of Tim Keller’s book, Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering (she says it “may be the most comprehensive contemporary book on the subject”).  Let me add that Keller’s Bible-rich book is excellent—here’s my own brief review of it (by the way, pray for Tim Keller, he’s currently battling pancreatic cancer).
• Also, don’t miss Joni’s conversation about the sanctity of life with Nick Vujicic who heads up Life without Limbs (he was born with no arms or legs—here’s Nick’s story).
• Nancy Guthrie is another believer who’s faced great suffering and from whom we can learn much.  Time Magazine ran the story of Nancy and David Guthrie’s harrowing grief at the loss of two infant children.  Here’s a conversation between Nancy and Joni about suffering, healing, and the hope of eternity.  I appreciated Nancy’s thoughts about praying past our preferred outcomes.
• Cameron Cole wrote a book, Therefore I Have Hope, after facing family tragedy.  He shares the story of how the truths of Scripture became his and his wife’s lifeline in the midst of unthinkable grief in a short video here.
• Vaneetha Risner shares her testimony of sorrow and affliction.  Her book, The Scars That Have Shaped Me, is available as a free PDF download.
• Krista Horning gives testimony to God’s good design in her life amidst the trials of Apert Syndrome.
• Pastor Steve Fuller’s article, “Why Bless God If He Takes Things Away?” has been a help and encouragement to me.
• Jonathan Darville shares about “Suffering and the Good Life.”

While I’m here, let me link to a handful of my “For the Journey” letters that are on topic:

• A Slight Momentary Affliction
• This Winding Road
• Here in these pandemic times, remember What Hasn’t Changed
• What do we mean when we sing, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”?
• Remember, God Is With Us
• God is love, and God is more than love
• We don’t know everything God is up to in our suffering, but we know some things
• Here’s a long list of Bible verses reminding us that “God is able”

And so, my friends, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).