Why Does God allow Suffering?

Introduction

We continue this morning in our Sermon Series entitled, “The Great Questions.”

“If God is so good, why does He allow bad things to happen to good people?”

This question will surface in hospital rooms, during funerals, after disasters, and in the quiet moments of our deepest heartbreak.

Everyone in this room has either experienced suffering, are going through suffering or will go through suffering in the future. Suffering is not “if” in Scripture but “when”.

The Psalms are full of people just like you and me that ask “why Lord?”

King David writes:

Psalm 13:1–3 NKJV

1 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death;

A Psalm of Asaph

Psalm 73:1–4 NKJV

1 Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm.

Now I want to share an interesting thought to you this morning that I learned as recently as yesterday.

Would you assume that in every Psalm or lament written in the Bible that at some point within that particular psalm there would be a message of hope? Something that revealed a light of hope?

In every psalm written to the exclusion of two Psalms and I’m referring to Psalms of lament the Psalmist before the end of the psalm hope is offered up. Both of the psalmist, King David and Asaph were both open and honest but found hope that was pinned in the Psalm.

Psalm 13:5 “5 But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.”

Psalm 73:26 “26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

The two Psalms that reveal no hope from beginning to end are Psalm 88 & Psalms 39. For whatever reason, these two psalmists were without hope.

This reveals something important about God. God is real because God deals with real people that are so emotionally hurt and downtrodden that He can accept those mindsets and love and minister to those in that camp as well. Amen?

Psalm 88:1–2 “1 O Lord, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You. 2 Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry.”

Psalm 88:18 “18 Loved one and friend You have put far from me, And my acquaintances into darkness.”

Even though God is empathetic of those that do not believe He exists and finds no hope in Him, we can not exclude God just because suffering exists.

Dearly beloved, evil and suffering requires a moral standard. To call something “bad” we must have a standard of “good.” Without God, moral categories would be arbitrary.

I shared last week that the great C. S. Lewis wrote as an atheist turned theologian:

“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust?”

Oh listen to me this morning my dear brothers and sisters, removing God doesn’t remove our sufferings. If you believe there is no god, your suffering means that things are just as they are . That would mean you would have no purpose, no hope, no redemption from this world.

Let’s not be misleading here, as Christians we do not deny the reality of suffering. The topic of suffering would not be dealt with so extensively through the Bible if we as Christ followers thought it is inexistent. What the word of God declares is that suffering has meaning and has an end in sight.

Tim Keller said these words that wrote the series, “Left Behind”, “If you have a God big enough to be mad at for allowing suffering, you have a God big enough to have reasons for His actions that we do not understand.”

Oh listen to me dearly beloved, our faith in God and His Son Jesus doesn’t answer for us all the “whys,”, but He gives the Who-a God who entered our suffering in His Son, Jesus the Christ.” Amen.

Let’s transition to see what God’s Words teaches us in how the Lord works through our suffering.

Romans 8:18-28

Romans 8:18–28 NKJV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 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.

Prayer

Message

Let’s face it-those times we suffer put us to the test. Life has its way of humbling us and causing us to cry out with questions and lack understanding.

Suffering times are spiritual times. Now I am not making a plea for God to cause us more suffering simply to deepen our relationship with Him, but suffering times are spiritual times, times than deepen our faith. It’s in those moments we realize we need something or someone greater than ourselves.

Charles Spurgeon – "Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil and let us see what we are made of."

A.W. Tozer – "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply."

Corrie ten Boom – "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer."

In the book of Roman’s leading up to our text this morning, Paul carries us up the hope highway scaling a theological mountain and peaks here in chapter 8.

Chapter 5-because of Christ we have peace with God and we stand in His grace.

Chapter 6-We have died to sin and we are alive to God in Christ.

Chapter 7-Paul’s honest about the ongoing battle with sin and the flesh.

Chapter 8-we get to the pinnacle with “therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The Bible goes on to say that God frees us from the law of sin and death, and empowers us to live as God’s children, secure as being adopted into His family.

So, in context, the suffering Paul described that we read about are to those that were already believers at the church at Rome. Paul recognized that these believers were already justified, already adopted into the family, and already had the indwelling Holy Spirit with them.

The Consideration of Suffering VV. 18-23

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory which shall be revealed to us”.

A. Suffering is Sure

The Bible does not dispel the reality of suffering for the Christian or Non-Christian.

Suffering-93 X

Affliction-157 x

Tribulation-30 x

Trouble-231 x

Persecution-59 x

Paul did not sugar coat the reality of suffering, God’s word speaks clearly to the reality of suffering.

Groan-stenazo-murmur, grieve, sigh

If there were anyone that considered the subject of suffering I would imagine a top contender would be Paul.

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 “23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.”

When Paul wrote these words, he’s not writing as an armchair theologian. Paul lived suffering.

Ananias was instructed to share these words with Paul when he called him to the ministry:

Acts 9:15–16 “15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.””

Listen to a great testimony of Paul when He considered suffering:

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 NKJV

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Whether Paul experienced a physical ailment, personal spiritual attack or an ongoing spiritual adversary we just don’t know. What we do know is that it was not random, the Word states “it was given to me.” God allowed it. Three times he asked the Lord to remove it....and God’s answer, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul learned that God’s plan was not to remove the thorn, but to reveal Himself and strengthen him through it. That is the heartbeat of this text we study this morning.

God doesn’t promise a life without suffering, but the fact suffering will happen to bring a greater purpose to surface. Suffering becomes the springboard for His grace and a time to testify to His sustaining power in our lives. Amen?

B. Suffering Is not Segregated-all suffer

Suffering touches all of creation.

Romans 8:22 “22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”

Wednesday night on the portico after church Ron and Amy shared that they had a fish kill at there pond and they showed me photographs of many large fish that were dead that had floated to the surface and the odor was horrendous. At some point in the evening we would have seen those fish gasping at the top surface to get oxygen in through their gills to survive.

Was anything maliciously done to those fish? I dare say not. Could the pond have had a roll over from the extreme heat of the week prior to weather changing to the low 70’s just a a day later? The fish couldn’t handle the quick transition? Highly likely. Did the fish do anything wrong? Did nature do anything wrong? Did any farmer or chemical do anything wrong? Less than doubtful. Creation itself groans in sufferings and the abuses of this fallen world.

Oh dear beloved listen closely:

John 16:33 “33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.””

Matthew 5:45 “45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Oh listen to me dear brother or sister-you will never be able to answer all the whys of this life, we have to know the Who to carry us through.

Oh dearly beloved, when we stop and consider our sufferings can our Savior understand our infirmities?

John 19:1–3 “1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. 3 Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.”

Matthew 26:39 “39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.””

Suffering, does Jesus know about suffering? He suffered and died to save us. We will not know all the whys, but we can know the Who that can save us.

C. Suffering Has a Shut Off Spicket

You want to hear good news, suffering has a shut off spicket. Suffering is temporal. Amen. As we read verse 18, suffering has an expiration date:

Romans 8:18 “18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Ill. Do any of you see the short feeds that come across your Facebook or Youtube? There is this YouTube short where this man that is older with a big gut is sitting in his driveway in a folding chair sunbathing and he is asleep with dark glasses over his eyes. One of his grown kids I imagine play a prank on him and takes a magnifying glass and draws the sun through the magnifying glass and begins to burn a spot on his stomach until he all of a sudden jumps from the pain. It was hilarious.

Oh listen dear brother and sister, there is nothing funny to any of us right now about suffering. You have either experienced suffering, are in suffering at this moment or will experience suffering. One day as we are in heaven or if we are called back home in the rapture-in the face of eternity-we will find our suffering so minute against the backdrop of being for eternity with Jesus. Amen. ... where there are no more tears, no more crying, no more pain.

2. The Cause Accomplished in Suffering VV. 24-27

“For we were saved in this hope...the Spirit helps us in our weakness.”

A. Hope is Rooted in the future, not the Here and Now

Paul is talking about the very nature of hope here.

If we can feel it, touch it, or check it off our list-its not hope anymore-it’s reality.

Hope defined: It the confident expectation that something promised is coming, even when it’s not in sight.

Hope is not easy for us when we live in a “now” society. We want instant shipping, instant downloads, instant coffee, and instant answers. But life just does not work that way.

The hope we find in the Lord is not microwaved-its more like the old percolator coffee pot. The Lord’s brew doesn’t work on your time line “but its good to the last drop.” Amen.

Paul is stating that this hope is part of our salvation-not hope in salvation, but hope that flows from salvation. Oh dearly beloved, because we belong to Jesus, we know there is something better in the works. We look forward to His perfect plan and His Kingdom come.

Let’s make it personal this morning. Let’s assume you might be one that is in the pits of suffering. Your present is not the complete picture. Your present is not the last chapter. And that’s good news because some of your presents are not very pleasant.

You want to know what hope says? Hope says this is not all there is. Hope says: “One day, God will make all things new.” Oh and dearly beloved, Paul states due to that “we eagerly wait it with perseverance.”

In closing, This is part 1 of a two part message due to the depth of verse 28.

Place yourself on your front porch of your home as you await someone you trust that is in route that you know confidently will pick you up.

There have been many text and pictures passed back and forth these last two days as my grandkids are going back to school. I can so vividly see this scene because I have picked up my grandkids many days to drive them to school.

My two grandsons, Henry and Hammie ride the bus now to school. They love school. They absolutely love school and they think they own Tallassee Elementary. They get out early and wait for the bus driver with expectancy.

The bus driver rounded the corner on Indian Lane on Thursday and they can see him coming two hundred to three hundred yards away. As you know the bus driver has the little side window-and throws out the stop sign and will call the students to advance toward the bus. Hey Henry, Hey Hambone, good to see you, come on in. Lacey’s glowing because the bus driver remembered her boys names, Hammie and Henry get on with such liberation because they are now veterans and run the bus practically.

Oh listen to me dearly beloved, I want to ask you a question. Do you have the same assurance knowing that one day we all will have a bus coming for us. Do you have the hope that the Jesus bus is coming for you?

B. Help is Available Now (v. 26)

Romans 8:26 “26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

You might say Brother Luke, I will admit, in recent days I have lost my hope. I do not even know where to begin. I’m like the psalmist in Psalm 88 & 39, I can’t find any hope right now. My hope is vanished, but I need help beyond myself.

Did you listen to what verse 26 states: when we do not even know how to pray or what to pray the Spirit intercedes for you.

Let me share another assurance for you. When you do not know how to pray or what to pray as it relates to your situation, I am going to ask you to come to the altar right now and kneel on this prayer bench or on this altar and I will call our prayer warriors to surround you in prayer. You might ask, Brother Luke, how do you know this will work-I’m at my wits end.

Ill. I heard a very heartfelt story yesterday. A senior adult family walked down at one of our local Baptist churches last Sunday. A young man named Collin that serves with the Baptist Children’s Home spoke in the AM Service last Sunday at the particular church I am referencing. He discussed the mission of the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes and shared that the Children’s home needs families to care for foster children-6,000 foster children in the State of Alabama. Al. Baptist Children’s home immediate goal is to care for 1,000. They presently care for 600. This woman who is 80 years of age raised her grandchildren to this point. Their son made some poor life choices and is out of the picture. The mother left out and abandoned her children years ago. They raised a 17, 18 year old and the youngest is now 12. She was sobbing bitterly and asked me “do you think a family would take my grandson?” For you see this husband and wife did not believe they had the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual abilities to maintain the energy required to raise a 12 year old entering teenage years already showing some defiance and all that goes with that journey.

Why do I mention that story? People are praying for that matter when this God-fearing faithful couple that has sacrificed these latter years in raising their grandkids are so wearied they did not have answers, God’s people are praying.

“Where two or three are gathered, I am in your midst.”

Allow God’s people to pray for you even if you do not want to share what they are praying for.

C. His Presence is Our Comfort

Romans 8:27 “27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Come down and let the Spirit know your mind and pray over you and for you.

Let’s pray.