The Christian and Suffering, [Part 1] Very few of us who are saved are ready to admit it, at least not openly, but if the truth be known, we often blame God or, at the least, question God’s wisdom when sadness and suffering come into our lives. Since the fall of humanity and the entrance of sin, the story of this world has been a drama written in tears. These tears are the unspoken words of a universal language. Anywhere you may look—no matter the society, culture, or politics--- that language is known and understood. A child enters life with a cry and then exits with a groan. For most of us, between seasons of contentment, there are times of failure, disappointment, betrayal, loss, injury, sickness, sorrow, or suffering of every conceivable sort. Job said it well when he remarked that “man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” [Job 14:1]. The “trouble” of which Job speaks is more than physical loss, pain and suffering. It is not limited to cancer or heart disease or other life threatening ailments. It is more than “accidents” or wounds or death occurring in war and conflict. Human “trouble” may, also, indicate a “wounded spirit” or a “broken heart.” Furthermore, the book of Proverbs speaks of uttered words that are like the “piercings of a sword” [Prov. 12:18]. These kinds of suffering do not originate in God’s will. They come from man’s cruelty, barbarism and self-centeredness. This suffering is not rooted in physical disease or injury. It is agony born of things such as marital betrayal and infidelity by a spouse, or the dissipation of life by substance abuse. It is parental suffering due to the rebellion against any restraint by an out-of-control teenager. The suffering may arise in the unbearable mental abuse of constant criticism, relentless negativity or a hateful spirit. Admitting this, what blame may be leveled at God? What purpose is there in asking God, “WHY?” We already know the answer. So how are we to respond when the bottom falls out of our life? [to be continued] WEN—11/6/13
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:49:34 +0000
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