P.O. Box 53055    
Los Angeles, CA 90053   

EXPECT TO GROW FROM PAIN AND SUFFERING

When a tsunami snuffs out the lives of thousands of innocent children, our reaction is to look upward and ask, "Why?"

When an earthquake reduces entire villages to rubble, we ask, "Why?"

When planes fall from the sky, we ask, "Why?"

When a loved one suffers from cancer, we ask, "Why?"

When our spouse walks out on us, we ask, "Why?"

It's not so much that we expect an answer. Even in the depths of our grief we sense that not everything happens for a reason. Since sin entered, we live in a dangerous world.

I don’t believe that it’s unusual or sinful to ask Why. At the end of Jesus' life, as He hung on the cross and felt the burden of our sins and a separation from His father, He cried out, "My God, My God, why have You rejected Me?" Matthew 27:45 (NCV) Always before, He had addressed God as ‘Father’. Sometimes He even used the word Abba, which means Daddy. There was a tender familiarity. But in His extreme agony, Jesus echoes the cries of hurting people across the centuries, "My God, My God, WHY . . ?

Since pain and suffering are part and parcel of living in this sinful world, it's natural to think that, when someone is passing through a difficult time, it must be because of something they did wrong. Maybe you've thought that about yourself and your problems. "God must be punishing me because I’m a bad person."

This was a common belief in the days of Jesus. One time, Jesus was walking with His disciples and they saw a blind man sitting beside the road. The disciples asked, "Teacher, whose sin caused this man to be blind- His own sin or his parent’s sin?” John 9:36 (NCV)

Jesus answer was: “It was not this man’s sin or his parents’ sin that made him blind. This man was born blind so that God’s power could be shown.” John 9:3 (NCV)

But although the Bible makes it clear that the difficulties and trials we experience are not necessarily the result of our sin or the sin of our parents, we must admit there are times in which we actually bring grief and suffering upon ourselves.

You see, God has instituted certain laws that govern our existence, and He rarely interferes or makes exception when these rules are violated. There is a text that says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 NKJV).

When we experience sickness or other problems, we would do well to look closely at our lives to see if there is something we might be doing that could be contributing to our problem. Are you experiencing ill health because of poor health habits? Are your relationships suffering because of your uncontrolled temper? Are your memory and concentration weakening because of keeping late hours?

The Bible says in I Peter 3:17 (NEB) that "It is better to suffer for well-doing, if such should be the will of God, than for doing wrong." Yes, sometimes we actually do bring trouble on ourselves, and we may need to talk with the Lord about this.

In spite of the fact that we ourselves may sometimes be, at least in part, responsible for our problems, the Lord is gracious and willing to forgive us. Jesus told us in advance that we will suffer while we’re here on this earth, but assured us that He'll not leave us to bear it alone. He has promised to be with us through all our troubles and suffering. Even more, 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) reminds us, “ God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Obviously not all pain is of our making. Whether we’re rich or poor, young or old, titled or ordinary, brilliant or uneducated, sooner or later we’ll all experience trouble and suffering that we can't control. But we always do have the opportunity to choose how we’re going to react. We can curse God and become hard and bitter, or we can bear our pain bravely and grow spiritually.

Perhaps you have wondered about the text found in Hebrews 12:7 in the King James Version which says that those the Lord loves He chastens. Since our understanding of the word chasten is usually that of punishment, I looked up the word in the Greek concordance and discovered that “chasten” in Greek means the whole training and education of a child. I felt better about that. Of course we realize that, in the process of training and educating our children, not only do they need reproof and correction but it is important for them to learn by experience. This being the case we should see God not so much as picking us out for punishment but more often than not simply letting the laws of nature take their course.

Because we’re born into a continuum of human existence, we can expect that whatever we sow, or our parents sow, or the other members of our family sow, or even what happens in the community, we will reap the results. Now this doesn’t rule out the possibility that God may step in and work a miracle now and then, but we must not presumptuously jump off the roof and as we fall pray we will not be hurt.

If you happen to be going through trouble and suffering in your life right now, I would like to make a few suggestions:

First, find someone who can pray for you and with you. I don't know how it is with you, but sometimes when I'm sick or in trouble, it takes real effort to pray. You would think that when we are having serious problems in our lives, this would be the time to get serious and become fervent with the Lord, but it isn't always the case. Sometimes deep, deep trouble just seems to take your spiritual breath away. At these times, the Bible suggests that we call together people who can pray with and for us (James 5:14).

Another suggestion: When you're passing through a period of pain or loss, let your mind turn to the many others in the world who are also suffering, and you will soon realize you’re not alone. When we're well and things are going good for us, we usually don’t spend much time thinking about those around us who are going through trials and hardships. Often we don't even seem to notice until we or someone we love gets into that condition.

A friend of mine was mowing his lawn one summer and somehow rolled the lawn mower back over his foot and cut off one
of his big toes. He said that after the accident, he discovered to his surprise that there were many others who had had the same experience. Suddenly, the world seemed full of toeless people, just like him. They'd really been there all along, he just didn’t realize it until he had the experience himself.

If you're ever tempted to think you're the only one who has this problem or that, try sharing yours with someone, and you’ll be surprised at what you discover. This must be what the Bible means when it says that there is no trial you can experience but that it is common to everyone else (I Corinthians 10:13 NKJV).

Why not ask the Lord to use the pain and suffering you're experiencing to make you more compassionate toward the people who suffer all the time. You probably have noticed that, when you have had the personal experience of losing a loved one, you'll never again just mouth the usual words of comfort to someone else. You'll be able to really feel what they are feeling and to give them sincere words of comfort. I believe this is the reason that Jesus is such a comfort to us--because He Himself experienced grief and suffering.

I’m encouraged by the text in Romans 8:17 NKJV which tells us that we are God’s heirs and Christ’s fellow-heirs, if we share His suffering now in order that we may be glorified together.

As we realize that as Christians we may expect to suffer, then we can begin to experience what the Scripture means when it says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV).

If you’re expecting to move forward in the Christian life only when things are going good, you’ll be disappointed. Yes, Christians can expect to suffer. But even in trial and suffering there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8 verse 35 mentions some experiences that would tend to separate us from the love of God, things such as tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, the sword, even death itself. But verses 37-39 go on to say, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” The Apostle Paul affirms, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NKJV)

Friend, if you’re passing through trials and suffering right now, I invite you to remember the words of Jesus in John 16 verse 33. His words of comfort to us are, “In the world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.” (NCV)