Biblical Answer

Understanding Suffering from a Biblical Perspective

The question of why God allows suffering is a complex and deeply personal issue that has puzzled many people throughout history. From a biblical perspective, suffering is not a punishment from God, but rather an opportunity for growth and transformation. Jesus Himself underwent incomprehensible suffering for us, and He did so because He loves us so much. This suffering was not pointless, but rather a demonstration of God's love and willingness to sacrifice for humanity. When we undergo suffering, we have the opportunity to turn to God and trust Him with the mysteries of suffering. This trust is the key to finding meaning and purpose in the midst of pain.

A Faulty Theology of Suffering

Many people struggle with a faulty theology of suffering, assuming that God's primary desire is to heal and deliver us from pain. This perspective is based on a misunderstanding of God's character and purposes. God is not a divine genie who grants our every wish, but rather a loving Father who has a plan for our lives that often involves suffering. When we experience suffering, we must not assume that God is making us jump through unnecessary hoops, but rather that He is working out His purposes in us. As Jesus Himself said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" (Mark 8:34). This means that we must be willing to suffer with Christ, just as He suffered for us.

Trusting God in the Midst of Suffering

When we face suffering, it is easy to become discouraged and question God's goodness and sovereignty. However, we must remember that God's reasons for permitting suffering are not always apparent to us. What may seem pointless and unnecessary to us may be seen as justly permitted by God within His wider framework. Rather than presuming to judge God, we must trust Him with the mysteries of suffering. As the psalmist wrote, "My God, why have you forsaken me? Why must this suffering go on so long? Oh God, my God, will you ever bring it to an end?" (Psalm 22:1). Jesus' own words on the cross, "It is finished" (John 19:30), demonstrate that even in the midst of great suffering, God is working out His purposes and bringing redemption to humanity. By trusting God in the midst of suffering, we can find meaning and purpose, even in the darkest of times.