The Question: Why did God let me suffer so much?
**The Misconception of Suffering**
The question of why God allows suffering is a complex and often debated topic. Many people, including ourselves, may have a faulty theology of suffering. This theology is based on the idea that God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our life, so He would naturally want to heal us. This is a human-centered view of God's intentions, rather than a biblical one. In reality, God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). We must not assume that God's reasons for allowing suffering are limited to our own understanding of what is good or just.
**The Purpose of Suffering**
The Bible teaches us that God is sovereign over all creation, and He allows suffering for a purpose. This purpose may not be immediately apparent to us, but it is often to bring us closer to Him. Suffering can be a catalyst for spiritual growth, deepening our relationship with God and increasing our dependence on Him. Jesus Himself underwent incomprehensible suffering for us, and He did this because He loves us so much. How can we reject Him who gave up everything for us? When God asks us to undergo suffering that seems unmerited, pointless, or unnecessary, we must trust that He knows what He is doing, even if we don't understand the reasons. As the psalmist wrote, "God, I don't know what you are doing, but you do, and that is enough" (Psalm 131:2).
**The Sovereignty of God**
We must not assume that God is making us jump through unnecessary hoops or that He is on a divine ego trip. He is the One Who suffered for us, and He does not ask us to believe because He is on a divine ego trip, but because He wants to save us from our sins and give us eternal life. When we suffer, we must remember that God is working all things together for our good, even when it doesn't feel like it (Romans 8:28). We must trust in God's sovereignty and His goodness, even when we don't understand the reasons for our suffering. As Jesus said, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42). We must be willing to submit to God's will, even when it involves suffering, and trust that He is working all things for our good.