Suffering Part 2:
Why God allows suffering
One of the first things that comes to mind when we talk about suffering and why God allows it, is that for some reason it seems to strengthen our faith. Just as this passage says:
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
As this verse says, God allows us to suffer so that our faith in Him will be strengthened and we can be mature in Him. Do you remember the parable Jesus told about the different houses that were built?
Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
The rain and the wind in these verses represents the trials we go through and the things that cause us to suffer. The rock of course Is Jesus. In these passages we can see two types of "Christians". The "Christians in name only" who have built their house on sand, and true believers like us, who have Jesus as the firm foundation of our faith. Let's look at another passage that talks about this:
Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
This passage isn't talking about rejoicing in suffering as in some kind of sadistic way. What it is telling us is that we can look beyond the suffering to what the end result of it will be and rejoice in that. So we're not actually rejoicing in the suffering, but rather in the outcome.
In today's world especially, perseverance and character are in short supply. We live in a world of instant gratification, with computers, microwaves, cell phones, fast food restaurants etc. (I'm not saying these things are bad, only that they don't usually build a persons character) There are not too many people in the world today that can put off instant gratification and deal with something on a long term basis.
God however does not want us to stay as little children, always seeking instant gratification. He wants us to become mature in Him, a process which is often painful. The good news is that He helps us through this process and when we have gone through it, our faith will have been strengthened and we will have developed an even deeper and closer relationship with Him.
Notice the last sentence in that passage:
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us
As we go through these trials and experience suffering, the Holy Spirit which dwells within us, will encourage us and remind us that God won't fail us or let us down, and that God really does love us.
Now, back to why God allows us to suffer. Clearly He says He allows it to strengthen our faith, produce perseverance in us and build us up our character so that our character is proven and not just wishful thinking. He allows it so that we will grow and mature in our faith so we will then be able to help others grow and mature in their faith.
There is still yet more that our suffering will bring about in us:
2 Peter 1:3-8 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you see it? As we mature, (by persevering through our suffering) we are able more and more to participate in His divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. He then tells us some of the fruit that our maturing will bring us and adds that this fruit will make us effective and productive for the Lord!
I'd like to also show what God has for us who suffer and persevere in it:
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Later the Lord has this to say to us through James:
James 5:7-11 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.
Job 42:12 The Lord blessed the latter part of Jobs life more than the first.
One of the first things that comes to mind when we talk about suffering and why God allows it, is that for some reason it seems to strengthen our faith. Just as this passage says:
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
As this verse says, God allows us to suffer so that our faith in Him will be strengthened and we can be mature in Him. Do you remember the parable Jesus told about the different houses that were built?
Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
The rain and the wind in these verses represents the trials we go through and the things that cause us to suffer. The rock of course Is Jesus. In these passages we can see two types of "Christians". The "Christians in name only" who have built their house on sand, and true believers like us, who have Jesus as the firm foundation of our faith. Let's look at another passage that talks about this:
Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
This passage isn't talking about rejoicing in suffering as in some kind of sadistic way. What it is telling us is that we can look beyond the suffering to what the end result of it will be and rejoice in that. So we're not actually rejoicing in the suffering, but rather in the outcome.
In today's world especially, perseverance and character are in short supply. We live in a world of instant gratification, with computers, microwaves, cell phones, fast food restaurants etc. (I'm not saying these things are bad, only that they don't usually build a persons character) There are not too many people in the world today that can put off instant gratification and deal with something on a long term basis.
God however does not want us to stay as little children, always seeking instant gratification. He wants us to become mature in Him, a process which is often painful. The good news is that He helps us through this process and when we have gone through it, our faith will have been strengthened and we will have developed an even deeper and closer relationship with Him.
Notice the last sentence in that passage:
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us
As we go through these trials and experience suffering, the Holy Spirit which dwells within us, will encourage us and remind us that God won't fail us or let us down, and that God really does love us.
Now, back to why God allows us to suffer. Clearly He says He allows it to strengthen our faith, produce perseverance in us and build us up our character so that our character is proven and not just wishful thinking. He allows it so that we will grow and mature in our faith so we will then be able to help others grow and mature in their faith.
There is still yet more that our suffering will bring about in us:
2 Peter 1:3-8 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you see it? As we mature, (by persevering through our suffering) we are able more and more to participate in His divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. He then tells us some of the fruit that our maturing will bring us and adds that this fruit will make us effective and productive for the Lord!
I'd like to also show what God has for us who suffer and persevere in it:
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Later the Lord has this to say to us through James:
James 5:7-11 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.
Job 42:12 The Lord blessed the latter part of Jobs life more than the first.
There have been so many times on this journey that I have asked the
Lord, "why?" or even "why me?" I'm sure many of you have as well. It's
no fun to suffer and it's natural for us to want to know why it's
happening. I know that for me, when the Lord has indicated to me that
He wanted me to do or say something, I often couldn't understand why He
wanted me to, and was always asking Him that. He finally got it through
my thick head that understanding almost always comes AFTER obedience. I
won't say it always does, because there is bound to be exceptions to
that, but a large part of the time, we won't know the answer to "why"
until after we have obeyed.
Thank you, Cindy! So needed right now.....
ReplyDeleteyou're welcome Sylvia!
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