Biblical Answer

Understanding the Mystery of Suffering

Suffering is a universal human experience that has puzzled people for centuries. Many have asked the question, "Why did God let me suffer so much?" The answer to this question lies in understanding the nature of God and His purposes. As we delve into the mystery of suffering, we must first acknowledge that our finite human minds cannot fully comprehend the reasons behind God's actions. The Bible teaches us that God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). This means that we cannot assume that God's reasons for allowing suffering are the same as ours.

The Purpose of Suffering

The Bible also teaches us that God is a God of love, and He allows suffering for a purpose. Jesus, the Son of God, underwent incomprehensible suffering for us, and why? 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 unjust, it is not because He is cruel or capricious. Rather, it is because He wants to teach us to trust Him and to know Him more deeply. As the psalmist says, "God, I don't know what you are doing, but you do, and that is enough." Sometimes, God allows suffering to give us knowledge so that we would know and trust Him.

Trust in the Sovereignty of God

When we suffer, it is easy to ask, "Why didn't God stop this from happening?" or "Why must I suffer so much?" However, we must remember that God is sovereign over all creation. 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 loves us and wants us to have eternal life. As Jesus said, "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin" (John 15:22). God's sovereignty is not a constraint on our freedom, but rather, it is a demonstration of His love and power. When we trust in the sovereignty of God, we can find peace and comfort in the midst of suffering, even when we don't understand why it is happening.