A few years ago we experienced a rare Pacific Northwest house-shaking BOOM of thunder which led our daughters quickly out of their bedroom in search of comfort, and answers. Their mom and I reminisced about our developed fondness for frequent thunderstorms growing up in Indiana and Florida, and comforted them with a satisfying scientific lesson and assurance of God’s sovereignty over the storms.
But, in the morning, our second oldest wanted MORE answers!
She said, “Dad, God makes the lightning that comes out of the sky and kills people. WHY WOULD HE DO THAT!?” I replied, “And, there, my lovely daughter, you have asked the number one question that keeps people away from God and struggling through life. Why do people suffer?”
“16 Reasons”
Why do we suffer? We need answers! By God’s love and grace, the Bible gives us the answers.
In my sermon yesterday titled, “If God Is So Good, Why Is There So Much Suffering?” I distributed an incredibly helpful tool that was developed by my dad over the course of decades of pastoral ministry, and I promised to share that tool on this blog post today.
[Watch this sermon here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PJuwC2MSRg]
My dad tells the story that one of his seminary professors in the 1960’s challenged his class to study the Scriptures to determine that very thing – why God allows suffering in the world. My dad, the young pastor, concluded from his study that Scripture identified five basic reasons why people suffer. He placed those five on a small piece of paper in his Bible as he visited people with some physical or emotional affliction. Over years of more study his small piece of paper grew into a detailed chart. He ultimately concluded that God’s Word gives 16 general reasons why people suffer in this world.
Dad’s journey was years. I want everyone to have this in their hands right now. So, (with his permission) I have attached his document here. It is not a simple question, but it is a vital question for us to answer, one which will lead to glories, faith, peace, assurance, and convictions of many kinds. Please consider these 16 reasons prayerfully, and then research the Scriptures for yourselves.
This is shocking to many American minds, but notice that there are some things that God holds as more important than our comfortable circumstances, such as: His glory, the fulfillment of His redemptive plan to eradicate evil, and the closeness of our relationship with Him.
By His grace He shares His glory with His children who share Jesus’ sufferings. In future glorification in heaven, believers attain likeness to the glorified Christ and are freed from both physical and spiritual defect. We will never again experience bodily decay, death or illness, and will never again struggle with sin. We will see God as He is, face to face, and walk and reign and rule with Him forever.
But What About Right Now?
Right now, in the face of your struggles today, the delight of knowing Him and being His brings joy, peace, satisfaction, and contentment in this life, in all circumstances. If you grasp these truths, you will experience routine praise. You will not be shocked at any bad thing. You will say to suffering, the lower you lay me the higher you raise me.
Or, you might waste it. In an article called “Don’t Waste Your Cancer,” John Piper and David Powlison identify several mistakes which can make us waste God’s plan in our suffering. I’m going to change the word “cancer” in these to “sufferings” because they apply to all. They write:
- You will waste your suffering if you do not believe that God will work it for good.
- You will waste your suffering if you think that “beating” it means staying alive rather than cherishing Christ.
- You will waste your suffering if you grieve as those who have no hope.
- You will waste your suffering if you treat sin as casually as you did before.
- You will waste your suffering if you fail to use it as a means of witness to the truth and the glory of Christ.
Are You a Child of God?
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12
It all starts with salvation from sin and spiritual life in Jesus Christ. Whether you are in a time of prosperity and comfort right now, or in a time of suffering, pain, disappointment, or loss, God says that we are all sinners and stand condemned without repentant trusting faith in Jesus Christ. But, Jesus suffered for our sins so that He may save us from our sins.
If you have not believed in Him and received His salvation, don’t wait any longer. Repent of your self-worship and call on Him for salvation today. He will answer. You will be given new life in Him!
Experiencing the hardest parts of life together, with patience and endurance, for God’s glory and our joy,
Pastor Reg
The CG Blog 