Why Suffering God? Why? – Part 1

Why? We all have seasons of our lives in which we face trials and troubles that cause us to ask the question; Why? Why God? Why do all these horrible things in life happen? Why did I lose my baby to miscarriage? Why was I laid off at work? Why did my husband lose his love and devotion to me and run off? Why did my teenager get addicted to heroin? And why, oh why do little children get sick and suffer through debilitating and deadly diseases? The litany of why questions about suffering in this world have no end.

To the mind of the unsaved peoples of the world the answer escapes them. To many of them for God to allow suffering, especially to children, makes Him an ogre and they want nothing to do with a god who allows little children to starve to death everyday. But even to the Christian the question of suffering is a difficult one. In my own church right this very day we are praying for the very young daughter of our youth pastor, who just yesterday had surgery for a brain tumor that has also wrapped itself around her spine and brain stem and the initial prognosis suggests stage 4 cancer. This little girl’s mother and father have been faithful disciples, having sown much seed into the world and have seen a wonderful harvest of fruit from their labors. This seems to make no sense. This leaves us with the proverbial question, “why do bad things happen to good people?”  

The truth is there is an answer to the question “why is there suffering?” But the answer is complex and there is not one simple response because there are different reasons for different sufferings. God does not operate in the same realm man does for God is spirit (See John 4:24).  God, Himself says this in Isaiah 55:8-9, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” God exists in an eternal realm while we live this life out in a temporal one. Things do not look the same when viewed through the lens of eternity as they do when we try and process them in light of this temporary life we spend here on earth. Thus things that make no sense here on earth make complete sense to God in heaven and to His eternal purposes. Solomon, who had been granted the greatest of worldly wisdom directly by God said this, in Ecclesiastes 8:16-17, “When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night), and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, "I know," he cannot discover.” So yes we search. But will we know the complete answer? Solomon says no.

Having attempted to explain the difference between God’s perspective of events and ours in the simplest terms above I hope now to share a few practical reasons suffering exits in this world. I am unqualified to do this. I urge you to read God’s Word, pray as you do and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of the scriptures as you ponder the mystery of suffering. As to my writing here my hope is that you will open your Bible and seek deeper understanding than I can offer as you consider the things I write. I will attempt to stay on a Biblical track for my opinions mean nothing except for when they directly line up with God’s Word. As you read these thoughts please, please understand I am not suggesting that the reasons listed below are the correct reason for your personal suffering. I don’t know why God has allowed the events to occur in your own life. That must be between you and Him. But I do believe that when suffering comes it behooves us to consider the possibilities I share in understanding why things happen as they do. Have an open mind to the Bible and let grace be what drives you forward. Give grace to others in their suffering and allow God’s grace to be upon you as well.

The greatest book of the entire Bible on suffering is the Book of Job. I suggest every Christian devote much time throughout their life studying it. I was saved through it. As we begin a look at suffering I want to begin with a quote from the man Job, who certainly knew suffering. Job asks a question and it is a good place to start in learning how to make your way through life. Job’s wife had just suggested that the response to Job’s suffering should be to “curse God and die.” But even in the midst of tremendous personal loss this is what Job said in Job 2:10,  “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Sometimes the Christian life just demands a simple faith. If we say we trust God for our eternal destination of heaven, then must we not also trust Him for the short days of our life on earth?

As we begin to look at suffering and seek an explanation first we must understand who God is. Knowing the attributes of God is paramount in in living out the life as a Christian. So let us take a quick Biblical snapshot of God.

I think it helps us to get one fact embedded into our minds; understanding God and His ways in this life with this sin-stained and broken mind and heart is just not possible. Let us humbly hear from the Word of God.

Job 37:5

"God thunders with His voice wondrously, Doing great things which we cannot comprehend.”

Romans 11:33-34
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!  “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

Yet in light of these statements God has revealed Himself to us and through Jesus and His work on the cross, we can have a relationship with Him. So even if we don’t understand every thing about Him and His ways we can know Him. So what CAN we know?

Next time we will look at what God has revealed to us about Himself.

How To Survive When the Waves Are About to Sink the Boat

Friends have you ever felt like the storms of life are about to drown you? Maybe this morning even in the midst of what should be a time of joy, Christmas, the waves of life have knocked you out of the boat and it seems as if you are about to go under. There is a great story in Matthew chapter 14 that reminds us of what to do when we are drowning in the sea of life.

The story begins right after the great miracle of the feeding of the 5000. So often in our lives it is after some wonderful ministry experience that the storms come. But not always, you see there are two types of storms God allows us to be in. There is the storm of correction, which is when God uses a storm to discipline us and there is the storm of perfection, which God uses to grow us. It is important to examine ourselves whenever a storm hits so that we can understand that the storm has purpose.

This story takes place, not because the disciples had disobeyed, but actually because they had obeyed Jesus when He directed them to feed the 5000.

Matthew 14:22-26
“Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.  And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.  But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.”

Imagine the fear they felt. Jesus had left them alone in the boat as He had gone off alone to pray. Then the storm hits. Haven’t we all asked the question, “Where are you God? I’m alone here. I’m scared. The boats about to go under.”

The problem with the disciples and the problem with us is that we think because we cannot see Jesus right there in the boat He has abandoned us. He has not. He was on the mountain praying in this story and right now He is at the right hand of the Father praying for us.  Read the words of Paul from Romans 8:34-35, “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”

No matter what you face right this very minute; Jesus has not abandoned you. He will come. But if you are His child He will come at the right time. But you have to be looking for Him and you have to take your eyes off the storm and put them on Him or you won’t recognize Him.

Matthew 14:25-27
 “And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.  But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Even Paul knew this type of fear. But listen to what he says from 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”

Yes, sometimes we will despair of life itself.

Back to the boat now and watch what Peter does.

Matthew 14:28-29
 “And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.”

Peter did two things. First he cried out to Jesus. Then he got out of the boat. Read that again. He got out of the boat. In the midst of these horrible waves Peter took a step of faith and got out of the boat and went toward Jesus. We have to step out in faith even in the storm.

But the greatest lesson comes now.

Matthew 14:30
“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

Why did Peter sink? Why did all this start to go bad? Jesus gives the answer.

Matthew 14:31
 “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Peter lost his faith. Why? Because he lost his focus. He took his eyes off of Jesus and he sunk. Again see two things here.

One, we must have faith in Jesus and never take our eyes off Him.

Two, even if we mess up Jesus will still put out His hand to save us from the storm.

Friends, I know the waves seem scary. But there is a reason we are in the storm and we must cry out to Jesus in the midst of it. You are not alone. Jesus is coming but He may be asking you to step out of the boat, even into the waves that seem about to drown you. It’s about faith.

Don’t miss the final point of the story.

Matthew 14:32-33
“And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

When the people around us see our faith in Jesus in action they will see the truth that Jesus is the Christ, son of the living God and they will want to have Him come save them too. Every single aspect of our lives is about bringing glory to God.

There is a reason for the storm. Take heart. Cry out to Jesus this morning and then do what He says. Step out in faith but never, ever take your eyes off of Him. Then rest easy even in the storm, because He is always there ready to put out His hand and pull you from the waves. But you have to be looking for Him or you won’t see Him.

Helping Each Other Run the Race Called Life

Heard a great sermon today based on Hebrews 12:1-3, "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Not only did our Pastor ​talk about the things that weigh us down as we serve God through our faith, he spoke about the need to come alongside each others as brothers and sisters in Christ to help us not grow weary and to help each of us run this race.

Looking back at the past several weeks in my own life and looking at the many struggles many of my fellow Christians are currently going through it is impossible not to see how hard this life is. Trying to fight through the temptations of this life which seek to distract us from being who we are supposed to be is a huge spiritual battle. We must watch out for each other and be the hands and feet of Christ. We must live out Galatians 6:2 which says, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

This begins with prayer and no matter where we are this is something we can do for each other. But we must not stop there. We must do everything we can to help each other run this race. Even if it means we pick somebody up and carry them. And we have to stop with the "Well, it’s his own fault, he's getting what he deserves" attitude.

Romans 5:8 says this,”…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

There is no greater love than the love that dies for another. Let us die for each other even though we sin against each other. This is what it means to be Christ-like.