Why Do We Suffer? Is There Hope? Pt. 2

Some people seem to skim through life unscathed by pain or difficulty; their lives full of joy, unencumbered with doctor visits, court dates, painful bodies, or emotional anguish. Others appear to have a dark cloud over them which never allows a moment free from trouble. Why? Why do some suffer more than others?

We may think some don't struggle, but we can only see the exposed part of a person's life; the things they reveal. Yet we know everyone suffers in some way at some time. Many sit silently in depression, or hide their troubles behind closed doors, or perhaps mentally wall off their pain because they cannot bear to have it come to light. Others are very open and transparent with their struggles. 

Whether outward and open for all to see, or hidden and entombed in shrouds of silence, we all suffer, and no matter how it comes to us, we always want a reason for the pain. Is there a reason? 

First, the actions of the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, cause all of us to experience the effects of a fallen world. We cannot escape pain because our world is not perfect; we are not perfect. One day this will be changed, thank God, but until then, we suffer. 

Secondly, choices. Those we make, and those others make, can lead to suffering. Poor lifestyle habits lead to illness and disease. Drunk driving leads to lifelong disabilities or death for the driver or the victims they hit. So many things can happen to us, and because of us. As a result, we encounter pain. 

Third, suffering comes to us because Satan blatantly seeks to destroy us. I Peter 5:8 says, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (NIV) He hates us. The enemy of our souls will do anything he can to turn us from God and secure a place in hell for us for all eternity. God defends and protects us from many attacks launched by Satan, and we are taught to fight and defend ourselves using God's word, but sometimes there is another plan.

God allows us to endure suffering. One case in point is the story of Job.

Job was the victim of suffering so great that most of us cannot fathom the depth of pain he must have experienced. He lost everything. Family, vast possessions, health. EVERYTHING. Then to top it off, his "friends" came alongside and told him he must have done something wrong. They assumed God was punishing him. Instead of encouraging and helping their miserable friend, they essentially kicked the guy while he was down. 

So why did Job go through such horrific suffering and pain? Because Satan asked to "have at him." Job feared God, was blameless and upright, and shunned evil. Satan believed Job would curse God and reject Him if all his worldly wealth was taken away. He believed God's blessings were the only reason he remained loyal. In other words, he believed Job only liked God because he had a good life with lots of "stuff." So, God allowed Satan to remove everything Job had--possessions, family, and health--to within a breath of his very life. God allowed it. After a period of suffering, Job cried out and questioned God as to the reason for his misery. God succinctly responded by asking a few questions of His own, which put Job in his place. In the midst of his worst agony, he repented and humbled himself before the God he trusted and feared. He acknowledged the fact that he was the created, not the Creator.  In the end, God honored Job for his faithfulness and his heart, and all his fortunes and family were restored, twice as much as he had before. 

When we experience loss and suffering, it's easy to question "why." We wonder why we don't regain our things as Job did. "How come he got things back, but I didn't? Or we start to believe the devil's lies.

"God must not love me as much as He loves others."

"He 'has it out' for me." 

"He's picking on me."

"I'm not worthy to have His blessings."

"I must have done something wrong." 

We become Job's friends to ourselves. I thought many of those things after the death of my two children, and I did wrestle with God as to why He allowed my pain. I did wonder why Job got his stuff back, and I didn't. 

Ah, the perils of comparison! But God's plan for each person's life is unique and individual. What He has for one is not what He has for another. I cannot demand God give me what He has given someone else. The root behind it is jealousy, envy, and discontent. Sin. I cannot covet what my neighbor has, even when it doesn't seem fair. Even when I remain faithful to God, but my neighbor isn't, I cannot compare. I have to run to God and ask for His mercy. To help me see things through His eyes. To trust Him more than before. To surrender to His ways.

Satan will stop at nothing to destroy us and cause us suffering. He can injure us, take our things, cause poor health, lead us to question God's goodness and love for us, and God allows it.

So if our God is good and loving and has the perfect plan for our lives, the question remains: Why do we suffer? Why does He allow it? Is there a "good" reason for it? Can we find hope in the midst of it all? 

Next week: Why Do We Suffer? There IS a Purpose. 

(originally posted 7/29/20)