WHY GOD LET US TO SUFFER?

 

PASTOR ALLWIN JOHNSON

I know a Pastor, who is very godly and respected man of God. His wife had a serious disease for a long period of time. Many churches have fasted and prayed, but were answered unfavorably. His wife passed away after a prolonging and painful suffering in her life. No one could soothe the soul of that beloved Pastor who lost his very life partner. His only daughter and son-in-law were the lone consolation in his agony. Before this hurt recovered, he got another big shock in his life. He received a phone call on a Sunday afternoon, saying that his son-in-law had met with an accident risking his life. Soon after that successful Sunday service he received the body of his son-in-law without breath. Can you feel the pain that the pastor experienced? The pastor broke down with unimaginable anguish. Nothing could console his broken heart.

What wrong did the pastor commit to lose his wife and his son-in-law subsequently? Why God let a righteous man to suffer? Why? Why?? Why???

I also know another righteous man who loved God very much. Alas! He lost all his seven sons and three daughters on a single day. Not only that, he also lost his billions of properties with in a day. Finally, the worst thing happened to him. He got sore boils from the top of his head to the sole of his foot. Put yourself in his shoes. How do you feel in this situation? I think he is the most unfortunate man in this world. He asks the same question, "Why God you allowed these to happen in my life?" I am blameless and upright; I fear God and shun evil. Why do you let a righteous suffer? In Job 7:20b, he says, "Why have you made me your target?"

My dear brothers and sisters, may be you could have experienced or seen people experiencing situation like these in their lives. What do you think about it? Why God let His people suffer like the wicked? Is God an unjust king or a merciless master? Please think about it deeply in your mind.

Why?

As I confused myself with so many answers, God spoke to me and said, "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.

Though this is an often quoted verse, we mostly do not see and understand the depth of this verse. Look at this verse, there is a big plan and its execution. There are two parties involved in this process. One is God, who works only good and another is people who are called according to the God’s purpose.

In short, God calls His people with a great purpose and fulfills that purpose with the help of them. God has a blue print for the life of each and every one of us, which He designed in His immense wisdom. David was very clear in this, as he says, "I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me" Psalms 57:2. Even Solomon says "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails" Proverb 19:21. We do think and plan so many things in our life, but be clear; only our God’s purpose will prevail. In Isaiah 46:10, God utters, "I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."

Now, you may think that God is some one who does everything He wants, without considering the well being of His people. Please look back the verse Romans 8:28. "…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." This verse ultimately tells that God fulfills His purpose for the good of His people.

Your present situation may seem like God allows so many miseries in your life. But God knows the past, present and future. He has a long term plan for you. He knows how to prevent you from some intolerable sufferings in the future. That’s why he has allowed you some tolerable pains in the past and present. If he fulfills His plan in your life, at the end of the day, God gains victory and you will be blessed with all goodness.

Look at Job’s life; when he lost all his children, wealth and health, he didn’t know that it is happening because God and Satan are having a crucial battle. We read the conversations between God and Satan in the book of Job and we know that job suffered because God had challenged Satan about Job’s faith. But Job didn’t know why he is suffering. He was a righteous man before God, living wealthy and suddenly everything turned around. That’s why he asks so many questions. The most painful question he asks is "Why then did you bring me out of the womb? I wish I had died before any eye saw me" Job 10:8.

Although Job didn’t know the answer for the question why, a great victory for God is clinging on the hands of Job. The whole battle between God and Satan could be seen in a conversation between Job and his wife. Job’s wife asked a question to Job on behalf of Satan, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9). If Job had done like his wife told, then God would have lost His battle with Satan. Even in the midst of unanswered tragedy, Job strongly held his integrity towards God. Job replied to his wife, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" And God testifies, "In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." Hallelujah!

Since Job held his faith in his life disaster, God won the battle with Satan. My dear brothers and sisters, don’t take sufferings as unfortunate and complain God for that. God has a plan for you. If you stand for God in your sufferings, you are bringing a great victory for God. Whatever happens, even if everything collapses, just close your eyes and say as Job said, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" I know Why God is speaking about this to us.

Are we going to bring victory for our God in our present and future sufferings?

Hold fast your faith

Often we forget the fact that murmuring is provokes the anger of God. Israelites grumbled for each and everything, in their journey towards Cannon. They murmured because they forgot two things: one is, the miracles God performed in the past; and another is, the promises that God has given for their future. They forgot both their past and future, and they grumbled for the hardships at their present. Do you know, how God responded to them? Every time they complained, God punished them dearly. When God has a great plan and purpose to take them to the Promised Land, they said it is better to return to Egypt for the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.

Dear sisters and brothers, please understand, God has a great plan in your life to take you to the heights. Don’t lose it by complaining about your present discomforts. Remember, the Israelites who grumbled were not able to enter the Promised Land. Whenever you suffer, look back your past and remind yourself of the miracles God had done. Whenever you suffer, look ahead your future and motivate yourself to hold to faith on God.

Confess to God as Job says; though he slay (kill) me, yet will I hope in him (Job 13:15). God expects that level of faith in all His children. Confess to God as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego say, even if he does not deliver, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up (Daniel 3:18). God allows you to suffer sometimes to test and build your faith.

Look, our Lord is not sitting pretty, when we are suffering. We have a God who has suffered everything of this world. Paul enunciates this mellifluously, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:14). He understands and feels your suffering in Himself. In the death of Lazarus, when Jesus saw Mary weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. Jesus also wept with Mary (John 11:33). Look, how blessed we are! We have a God who weeps with us in our suffering.

 

The Reward

When God triumphed in the battle with the help of Job, you know how God blessed him. "The LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10). "The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first" (Job 42:12). After a suffering for a little while, Job inherited double fold blessing. All his relatives, including his wife, came and ate with him.

There are plenty of examples before us,

 Ø After hundred years old, Abraham got his promised heir.

Ø After a cruel thirteen years of imprisonment, Joseph became the highest official in Egypt.

Ø After a painful two hundred years of Egyptian slavery, Israelites were delivered by God.

Ø After an exhausting forty years of wilderness, Israelites inherited the Promised Land.

Ø After a great tragedy, Ruth was blessed with the blessing of God.

Ø After a huge disaster, Job gained a double blessing from God.

Ø After an excruciating crucifixion, Jesus was highly exalted and was given a name which is above every name.

My dear sisters and brothers, God has a purpose for your life. Nothing is happening accidentally or unfortunately. If you suffer at present, be sure that you are reserved for a great unimaginable blessing at later. That’s why Paul says, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

I remember a beautiful Tamil song written by Late Dr. Nataraja Muthaliar, which goes like:

I don’t have the authority to ask the question WHY,

So give me a heart that bears everything…

Please join with me in this prayer: God I don’t know why I am suffering but I certainly know that in everything you work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. God I love you, please help me to bear all the sufferings in my life and fulfill the plan you have in my life.