Suffering

Well, I know you probably weren’t jumping up and down and drawn to today’s article.  I mean who likes the topic of suffering?

When I just hear the word, I think of little children and adults hungry and starving because of not having enough to eat in our own country, as well as numerous others. I think of those who are oppressed in countries under a heartless ruler or dictator. In the last few months, I’ve thought of those in Turkey impacted when that massive earthquake hit.  As of late, my mind goes to individuals and families who suffered the loss of a loved one or their home and all their possessions in a destructive tornado. Even today, I heard details on the news of the horrific shooting at the private Christian school in Nashville, TN.  My heart breaks for the families of the janitor, the administrator, the substitute teacher and especially the parents of each of those 9-year olds.  I heard on the radio that one of the children was the only daughter of the pastor of that church. She left behind a mom, dad and 3 brothers.  My heart aches for each of these, especially the parents.  It’s one of the worst kinds of suffering – the death of a child.  Lately, I think of so many we know that are currently battling chronic disease, cancer and other illnesses.  I think of those in the hospital for months.  I think of those suffering undo financial hardship due to Covid or other circumstances. And the list goes on.

Friend, are you suffering?  Maybe you’re going through one of these trials I mentioned.  Or perhaps it’s an inner struggle only you know about, such as anxiety, depression, debilitating fear or something else.  Are you even one of those that feels constantly defeated or lacks confidence?  All these are forms of suffering. 

I’m thinking of specific family and friends who are truly suffering right now.  Some are going through the worst type experiences I can imagine.  But just because we don’t have a loved one dealing with the side effects of cancer or we haven’t filed for bankruptcy doesn’t mean we are not suffering.  It comes in all forms from the minor to the major.  We shouldn’t make light of it, just because it’s not horrific.  Suffering, on any level whether intense and chronic or mild and short-term, can still hurt and cause us deep emotional and sometimes physical pain. Any type of heartache that steals our joy and just takes the starch out of our step can be considered suffering.

None of us are immune to its painful blows.

When I was younger and still immature in my faith, I definitely remember wanting to obey God, follow His will and love Him wholeheartedly.  Most of the time, I believe my motives were pure.  But also, there was an underlying thought and belief that if I followed God and did what He asked, I would avoid consequences and pain.  Now, I wasn’t a child during this time.  I was a young adult, still growing and maturing in my faith.  I don’t remember when I learned or realized that suffering is part of the human experience.  And even more than that, Christians are definitely not immune. 

In fact, sometimes Christians can encounter more than the average Joe because God uses pain and suffering to grow us.  As the Ultimate Potter, God may choose to allow suffering to mold and shape us into the image of His Son, Jesus. Truly, He alone knows how to sanctify us and make us more like Jesus once we are His child.  During pain and heartache, we are more prone and likely to cry out for God and learn to be dependent on Him. 

Think about it.  When do you cling to God more?  During the easy, wonderful times of life or when you’re struggling?

Why do I think this? 

At my age, it’s easy to look back over my own life and see clearly how true this principle is and how God has used those times of pain and hurt to draw me to Himself and increase our intimacy.  When suffering occurs, I think it causes us to realize what’s really important in life.  It helps us prioritize what truly satisfies and matters.  Crying out to God becomes our first battle cry vs. our last resort. We realize more fully that He is in control, and we are not.  At least in my own life, those periods of suffering yielded a greater dependency on Him, and I pray the end result was stronger spiritual roots.

More than just my experience, we can look at numerous examples in the Bible to prove this point. Let’s consider this list of real people from the Bible (in somewhat random order).

Sarai/Sarah – You may be saying why don’t you list Abraham?  Maybe it’s because I identify with Sarah more.  God spoke to Abraham and told him he was chosen to be the father of a great nation.  And that his descendants would outnumber the stars.  He shared this word with Sarah.  But then, for many years, an heir didn’t come.  Sarah never conceived.  Was God asleep?  Did He forget?  For a woman, especially back in those days, and I think even today, one of the worst kinds of suffering is to long for a child and not be able to get pregnant.  Think how she must have felt with Abraham.  Granted, she should’ve taken God at His Word and waited. Once they took matters into their own hands (as many of us try to do), then she was left to deal with Hagar and Ishmael.  The suffering had to increase!!  And in this case, she and Abraham brought it upon themselves!  Still, I hurt for her.

Noah – God gave him an incredible assignment because of his righteousness and upright life.  He certainly didn’t try to “fit in”, but because of his godly life, he “stood out”.  It took him 100 years to build the ark.  What a monstrous and difficult task!!  During that time, he wasn’t “chewing the fat” with neighbors and people in the community who loved him. He wasn’t enjoying fellowship with the people of his tabernacle or his small group.  I’m sure he endured much ridicule, mocking and overt abuse.  You know he was shunned, laughed at and the butt of jokes. I wonder if even his daughter-in-law’s families didn’t want their girls marrying into the family with the “crazy man building the boat”.  It makes me wonder. Still, he held true to what God called him to do despite his personal suffering.

Moses – The monumental task God gave him didn’t happen overnight.  He spent 40 years living in the desert of Midian as God got him ready for his job of going to Pharaoh and leading the Israelite people.  Let’s not forget the guilt he must have endured knowing he had killed a man. Although justified, this sin had to hang over his head.   Scripture doesn’t pull back the curtain and peek into his private life to reveal what he went through.  But it stands to reason that this man of God was convicted and had to deal with his sin of murder.  Don’t you ever beat yourself up for a major sin you’ve committed?   I’m sure he confessed it to God.  Obviously, God forgave him and chose to use him.  I’m just saying, there was much dysfunction in this spiritual giant.  I mean he grew up with an adoptive family that was different in every way from his biological family. God prepared him for this monumental leadership role while he was growing up, but I think God must have patiently waited for Moses’ complete brokenness and surrender.  God chiseled away at his heart and will during those 40 years in the desert.  Suffering had to take place in his life to get him to the point of dependency. Brokenness helped God mold him into a worthy leader.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t long to spend time in the desert. If I’m honest, I want to be used by our Lord, but I also want to bypass the suffering and hard lessons learned in the desert.

Joseph – To be beaten and sold into slavery (and almost killed) by your own siblings seems to be one of the worst examples of suffering.  Oh, I agree that he brought some of this on by his own arrogance and bragging.  But he truly suffered physically and emotionally.  The fact that he was Jacob’s favorite son didn’t do him much good when he was abandoned and left in the desert.  I could recount how he was faithful and stood strong against Pharaoh’s wife’s seductive advances, and then still was unjustly put into prison or how he was forgotten by the baker.  But even after all he had been through (I’m not even relaying the account of his brothers showing up needing food, etc.), he still praises God for His faithfulness.  “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.  He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”  Genesis 50:20 NLT.    What powerful words!!!  Even though we aren’t privy to his conversations with God in the pit in the desert of Egypt or the prison cell, we KNOW that he grew by leaps and bounds speaking to His Maker and crying out.  God taught him much during all of that suffering.  And He learned well.  And recognized how God can use the most painful circumstances and turn them into something useful, productive and even good.

Others come to mind in the Old Testament – David, Job, Ruth and even many prophets.

Currently, I am in a Bible study (Bible Study Fellowship to be specific).  We are reading and studying the book of Jeremiah.  To be totally honest, I’ve read verses in Jeremiah, but I can’t say I really knew his story as a prophet or ever read through this book.  Right now, we’re in the beginning of learning about his call as a prophet and what he went through.  But initially, I’m learning that God chose Jeremiah to be a prophet before He ever placed him in his mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). What a Sovereign God we serve!!  To have your purpose planned out by your Maker before you ever enter the world must have been quite an honor and comfort! But this chosen man of God endured extreme loneliness as God told him not to marry; the people treated him as a social outcast because of his message of gloom/doom and judgement, and no one in Judah listened to his words from the Lord or obeyed. 

In addition, he was beaten; he was put in stocks; God’s people tried to kill him in the temple, and he was put in a cistern of mud where he almost died.  God rescued him.  Now, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  If these scenarios happened to you, wouldn’t you give up?  Wouldn’t you be complaining to God to rescue you or tell Him you were done?  But instead, Jeremiah’s faith grew.  None of these terrible experiences and extreme suffering deterred him.  Rather, he was steadfast and persevered in his calling.  He kept trying to warn God’s people of the judgement coming with Babylon taking them captive.  He kept relaying God’s message – if they would only repent, God would be gracious and merciful.  Not only was he persistent in delivering God’s message, but he had compassion on the people.  He cried and hurt for them. So much so that he was termed “the weeping prophet”.   After all, he was one of them.  His land would be destroyed; he would not be immune to loss, destruction or judgement. But Jeremiah didn’t mourn for himself; he grieved and had major heartache for his fellow countrymen in Judah.  He truly had a partnership with Almighty God and drew strength from Jehovah that allowed him to be a persevering prophet, despite great personal suffering. I was amazed by his faith and determination.  His faith has truly been inspirational!

We can look at Israel and Judah’s history in the Old Testament to underscore this truth that God sometimes uses suffering to get our attention and draw us to Him.  God sent numerous prophets (Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, Micah to name a few) to both of these countries. Each of them with basically the same message.  For Israel and/or Judah to realize HE and HE alone was their One True God. And for them to give up worshiping their idols, repent and turn to Him.  Not only did they fall prey to idolatry, but even their worship of God was “going through the motions”.  They offered tons of sacrifices, but their hearts were cold, calloused and indifferent to Jehovah God.  They had long since forgotten the God who rescued them from bondage in Egypt.

Aren’t we the same?  God rescues us from a situation we’ve prayed about.  Sometimes we even forget to pause and thank Him.  We go on our merry way.  We have plenty of time for taking vacations, watching TV, playing games on our devices, past times such as gardening, hunting or fishing, but do we set aside consistent daily time with the Lord and make HIM a priority?  Asking for a friend.

 And of course, how would our topic of suffering be complete without thinking of Jesus Himself?  Jesus is the epitome of unjust suffering.  God Himself who lowered himself to earth in flesh and bones.  He should’ve been treated like royalty!  He should’ve been worshiped, adored and served.  But instead, he was mocked, threatened, ridiculed, spat at, attacked, accused of wrong doing, arrested, flogged, whipped, beaten, arrested, accused of blaspheming His Father, his brow pierced with thorns, his wrists and feet gouged with long nails.  It’s almost too much to take in.  But yet, we know, His suffering was ordained and part of God’s plan from the beginning of time.  His suffering served an ultimate purpose that Only God Himself could carry out.  The redeeming of mankind brought unspeakable suffering on the Lord Jesus.  But He endured.  He knew the final outcome.  He became the willing lamb of God, who didn’t open His mouth or try to defend Himself.  I Peter 2:23 says it best, When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

How about you?  Are you entrusting yourself to Your Father during the suffering He has allowed?

Suffering is common to each of us while we are on this earth.

Some are dealing with physical pain from chronic diseases or many I know are watching loved ones slowly ebb away or having to witness the effects from cancer or other horrific illnesses as they attack the body.

Others are suffering because of choices a loved one made, whether it be a man or woman who’s walked away from the Lord, his/her family and all the pain and heartache that brings.

Your suffering may not be as intense, but it’s still suffering.  It’s still a major pain or blow to your heart and emotional well-being.

But, what’s my point?  I guess if we know and realize that suffering is something we all go through, then let me ask a question.

Are you wasting your suffering?

What I mean by that is are you continually asking God WHY this is happening?  Are you so fixated on questioning Him and His faithfulness – or doubting His character that you haven’t asked the most important questions?

Are you constantly asking God to remove whatever the heartache is (nothing wrong with that as He tells us to ask – to seek – to knock)?  Furthermore, are you spending so much time asking Him “Why?” that you haven’t paused to inquire, “What do you want me to learn?”  or “Show me what you’re trying to teach me through this.”

As you pray and ask Him to relieve the suffering, do you hold on to resentment, unforgiveness, bitterness and the like?  Do you even get ticked or angry with God because He doesn’t answer like you saw fit or in your time table?

You’re not the Lone Ranger.  I’ve been there, friend. 

All I know is God allows suffering for reasons that we don’t always see or know at the time.  He doesn’t always reveal the WHY behind the suffering.  That’s where faith comes in.

I can honestly say that some of the suffering I’ve been through in the last 4 years of my life has drawn me closer to Our Heavenly Father than I’ve ever been in my life.  There’s an intimacy/closeness/oneness that I’ve experienced because HE became the ANCHOR I clung to during some of the most heart-wrenching times.  He was that Strong Tower that was a constant.  It never shook or collapsed.  It stood strong when I was weak

My husband was there, steady and a great support. I knew he was helping in practical ways and praying for me. I had special friends who were prayer warriors and lifted me during these times of hurt, exhaustion and suffering.  Wonderful folks at my church ministered to me and were lifting me in prayer as well. 

But bottom line.  At the end of the day, God Himself was the ONE I longed for.  He was my only true refuge and strength that knew what I needed and was there in the middle of the night when no one else understood.

Sometimes it’s still a mystery WHY God allows us to go through suffering. 

Whatever the case, here are a few reminders that I believe are Biblical regarding suffering.  Let me know if you disagree or if you have more.  I pray these encourage you.

• There is a purpose in the suffering – Only Jehovah God could bring good out of painful, intense hurt and suffering, but He can and does.

“What you intended for evil, God used for good…” Genesis 50:20

“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father, We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand”. Isaiah 64:8

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28

• It won’t last forever and our hope far outweighs any suffering

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18

• God uses our suffering to grow, refine and mold His children into the image of Jesus.

 “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope.”  Romans 5:3-4 and “But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.  To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”  I Peter 2:19-20

• Sometimes He allows us to suffer so we can eventually minister to others who will be going through similar circumstances…and to always bring Him glory.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”  I Corinthians 1:3-4

• He is our true comforter and Father that longs for us to look to Him and draw close.  He will not abandon us during our suffering. 

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creations, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8: 35-28

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”  Isaiah 43:1-3

Sometimes it’s still a mystery WHY God allows us to go through suffering.  It’s not always a result of sin.  Bible verse.

Whatever the case, here are a few reminders that I believe are Biblical regarding suffering.  Let me know if you disagree or if you have more.  I pray these encourage you

• He is the only true comforter
• There is a purpose in the suffering – Only Jehovah God could bring good out of painful, intense hurt and suffering, but He can and does.

 It won’t last forever

• God uses our suffering to grow, refine and mold His children into the image of Jesus