Biblical Answer

Why Did God Allow You to Get Stuck in This Cycle of Chronic Pain?

When we're stuck in a cycle of chronic pain, it's natural to wonder why God allowed it to happen. Our initial assumption might be that God wants to heal us, and if He were a good God, He would. However, a faulty theology of suffering can lead us down a path of confusion and frustration. This faulty theology assumes that God's desire is to prevent physical pain and that He takes no delight in it. While this is true in general, God's sovereignty and wisdom are not limited to our understanding of His desires.

A Different Perspective: God's Sovereignty and Wisdom

From a biblical perspective, God's sovereignty and wisdom are not limited to our understanding of His desires. He has a plan that involves allowing us to experience pain and suffering, even when it seems unjust or unfair. This doesn't mean that God delights in our pain, but rather that He sees the bigger picture and knows that our pain can be a means of spiritual growth and maturity. As Jesus suffered on the cross, He knew that His suffering was not in vain, but rather that it would bring about our salvation. In the same way, our pain can be a means of bringing us closer to God and deepening our trust in Him.

The Purpose of Pain: Trust and Obedience

The purpose of pain is not to punish us or to demonstrate God's power, but rather to teach us to trust and obey Him, even when we feel powerless. Sin is a much more serious problem than suffering, and God's desire is to redeem us from sin, not just to alleviate our physical pain. As we endure suffering, we are called to follow in Jesus' steps and to trust in His goodness, even when we don't understand why we're going through it. This is not to say that God is uncaring or unloving, but rather that He is sovereign and wise, and that our pain can be a means of spiritual growth and maturity. As the psalmist said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why must this suffering go on so long?" But even in the midst of suffering, the psalmist remembers God's goodness and faithfulness in the past, and trusts that He will bring it to an end. (Psalm 22:1) Similarly, we can trust that God will bring our suffering to an end, and that He will use it to make us stronger and more like Christ. (1 Peter 2:21)