Why Do Christians Suffer?
It was a sunny Spring morning. Norman was practicing his "chip shots" in the yard anticipating a golf outing with his friends. His wife was backing down the drive on her way to the grocery when she saw her husband charging toward the car shouting, "Wait, I didn’t get my kiss this morning!" Just before he reached the car he suddenly collapsed. The heroic efforts of the Emergency Technicians were too little too late. Norman died of a massive heart attack in front of his wife and three children. Why would God permit this to happen? Why would He take one of His children in the prime of life? Why would He allow three children to navigate through life without their father? If God loves His children, why does He allow them to hurt?
Two Misconceptions
Some respond, "God does not intend for His children to suffer. If we suffer it’s because of sin in our lives. If we would remove the sin, the suffering would vanish." That sounds good, but it "suffers" from one major problem: how do I know which sin is responsible for my suffering? The Bible teaches we are sinful people. The Apostle John reminds Christians, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves..." It would be an impossible task for me to focus on one sin causing divine punishment when my self-analysis reveals a multitude of transgressions worthy of no less than eternal death.
Others declare, "We suffer because we lack faith. If we truly believed, God would heal all our maladies. Faith can move mountains." Again, we are attracted to the logic of such an answer, but it ignores some important biblical texts. In 2 Corinthians 12 the Apostle Paul described a painful affliction developed after receiving some glorious revelations from the Lord. He identified his pain as God-given. Was it due to a lack of faith? To the contrary, Paul gave two reasons for his "thorn in the flesh": first, to prevent him from falling into pride; second, to teach him dependence on God (2 Corinthians 12:1-10). The answer to our question is not to be found in a lack of faith.
Suffering - A Biblical View
Any discussion of Christian suffering must begin with the Person of God. What do God’s children know about their Heavenly Father? He is infinitely wise (Romans11:33). He is infinitely loving (Jeremiah 31:3). He is unchangeable (Malachi 3:6). As His children we can confidently rest in these unshakable truths. We can always be assured of His love. We can have unwavering confidence in His wisdom. We can rest in His being the same yesterday, today and forever. Added to these attributes is the biblical fact of His Sovereignty. He controls all things. He is the King of Kings. Nothing happens by chance or blind fate (Daniel 4:35).
But, why do we suffer? Because God is working in us for His glory and our good. Job understood this. After losing his children, his wealth and his health he said, "But He knoweth the way I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold"(Job 23:10). Do you understand that God is in control? Do you believe this Sovereign Lord would hurt you? Can you trust in His wisdom, believing that He knows what is best for you? Do you think that He would ever act toward you in an unloving way? Can you confidently rest in His goodness even when you are hurting? Romans 8:28 goes to the heart of the issue: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Pain and suffering are a necessary part of the maturing process. We cannot truly appreciate health without sickness. We learn dependence by facing trials that force us to see our weakness. We grow in our understanding of God’s grace as we experience it extended to us amidst our tears.
We often are perplexed by life’s circumstances. You may be reading this article through swollen, tear-stained eyes. May I remind you of Who your Heavenly Father is - He never makes a mistake. He sees every one of your tears. He is dealing with you in infinite love. He knows best; therefore, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you"(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
