A Theology of Suffering

God does not promise that we will not suffer.

Becoming a Christian does not alleviate us from suffering but may lead to more suffering.

Martin Luther said “They gave our Master a crown of thorns. Why do we hope for a crown of roses?”

The good news is that in our suffering we know that God can relate with us.

He sent his Son to live amongst us. To suffer for us, so much that he was sweating blood. So that we can have life in him.

The old testament shows us that this life will not be free of suffering. We see many examples but we also get a glimpse of what God asks of us in our suffering.

Job - suffering does not always have a cause

Job 2:3 “And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.””

Job was blameless but still suffering came for him.

When we suffer we seek the cause. If we cannot point the finger at God.

God does not cause our pain. God did not cause Job’s pain.

“No matter what precautions we take, no matter how well we have put together a good life, no matter how hard we have worked to be healthy, wealthy, comfortable with friends and family, and successful with our career — something will inevitably ruin it.”

Ecclesiastes - suffering points us to God

When things are going good it is easy for us to take it for granted.

We expect good things but when we face hardships it draws orients us toward the Lord.

“Pain, when we respond to it in the power of the Holy Spirit, conforms us to Christ, and the “school of hard knocks” gives us a wisdom that we could never enjoy if we lived a life free of difficulty.”

Ecclesiastes 7:2 “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.”

Suffering reminds us of the fragility of life in a way that celebrations and parties cannot.

We begin to tap into a strength that is not our own.

Habakkuk - the Lord is our strength

Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

Our suffering should not end in despair but in hope. Hope in the God of our salvation.

Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, I will hope in him”

Habakkuk knew he would suffer but had his priorities in place to know that God would be his strength and in that strength he could praise him.

“You don’t really know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”

Closing

Suffering is inescapable.

We will all walk though difficult moments, there is nothing we can do to avoid it.

We must not let these moments lead us to the pit of despair but lead us to the hope of Christ.

And when we feel like we are at the end of our rope, we must remember the Lord is our strength and that he will sustain us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,”

Suffering in light of eternity is fleeting.

Set your eyes on the Lord and he will be your strength.