Suffering and the Struggle for Belief

Introduction

School shootings, church shootings, sickness/disease/death of a young and innocent child, wars.

These problems are a reality of the fallen, broken, sinful world that we live in. We wonder why these things happen and who causes them to occur.

The problems of suffering are not new. Just consider Job and look at Job’s suffering -

Consider Job’s longsuffering and endurance he showed. He is an example of patience and endurance that we should follow -

James 5:10–11 NASB95

10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

Even though the problems of pain and suffering is sometimes the catalyst that pushes people away from God and to deny His existence, the book of Job gives us a realistic/comprehensive understanding of God and suffering.

Forsaking God is the Easy Choice

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The devil/slanderer/accuser thought God was protecting Job and that if all the outward blessings were removed, then Job would curse God -

Job 1:9–11 NASB95

9 Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 “But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.”

Satan underestimated Job’s character and confidence in God -

Satan was wrong about Job, but he was also right in one sense—many people would have cursed God and given up!

Forsaking God, cursing God, and turning to unbelief is the easy choice. When the good things are removed and when life becomes difficult, or when there is pain and suffering, people forsake God -

Many abandon faith

Many deny God’s existence

Many give up on life (depression, suicide)

abandon faith, God

give up on life

Is Suffering Punishment from a Cruel God?

We live in a world where people (even Christians) have accepted false conclusions and misconceptions:

misconception #1: blessings are proof of righteous living…

[misconception: blessings are proof of righteous living… “living in sin, shacking up, playing church, telling lies, committing adultery, and you want God’s blessings? IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN. If you want God to bless you, you have to live His ways, not yours.”]

Social media meme/picture: “living in sin, shacking up, playing church, telling lies, committing adultery, and you want God’s blessings? IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN. If you want God to bless you, you have to live His ways, not yours.”

misconception #2: suffering is punishment for wrong doing

These misconceptions and other issues have led certain people to ask:

how could a good and loving God allow such evil, atrocity, and cruelty happen? unbelievers reason: either He is not good nor loving OR he is not all-powerful enough to defeat evil, atrocity, and cruelty

how could a good and loving God allow such evil, atrocity, and cruelty happen? unbelievers reason: either He is not good and loving OR he is not all-powerful enough to defeat evil, atrocity, and cruelty

Job recognized that good things come from God -

Job’s attitude -

However, he does acknowledge adversity will come with the good things.

punishment for wrong doing?

Job does not attribute adversity coming from God.

The reader of the book of Job knows that the evil Job is facing is really coming from Satan -

We should be careful to attribute too much to God; don’t whimsically accuse God of being unloving, unkind, or weak (not powerful).

Belief Must Be Stronger

In the midst of suffering, belief must be stronger:

it would be like going to sail at sea without using lights as a guide

it would be like going on a hike without a compass or map

suffering is not the time to abandon belief in God Almighty; it’s the time we need to rely upon Him the most!

Job wants answers from God on the all important question: why? -

He wants to go before God’s throne - v. 3

, Job does not ask why with a closed-minded conclusion that God does not exist or is somehow evil for allowing this to happen; no, he’s resolved to obey!

Job does not ask why with a closed-minded conclusion that God does not exist or is somehow evil for allowing this to happen; no, he’s resolved to obey and continues to obey even though he does not fully understand! -

Job has not departed from doing the commands of God - v. 12

He treasures God’s words - v. 12

He fears God - vv. 15-17

“Blessed be the name of the LORD” -

“…I know that my Redeemer lives” -

There is skepticism in today’s asking of why. Many have the foregone conclusion that God is the cause and the blame of suffering, that He does not care, or that He does not exist.

But Job proves that suffering is not intended to push us away from belief in God; instead, we should turn to the Rock of our salvation!

Why would Job continue to believe God and resolve to not turn aside from God? Faith is not always rational/logical (not that it is irrational and illogical, but it is not always an exact science). It’s not logical that Job would desire to suffer; it might even be hard for us to find a reason why Job would remain convinced of the goodness of God....it’s why he questions God so much throughout the book

Why would Job continue to believe God and resolve to not turn aside from God?

Faith is not always rational/logical (not that it is irrational and illogical, but it is not always an exact science).

It’s not logical that Job would desire to suffer; it might even be hard for us to find a reason why Job would remain convinced of the goodness of God....it’s why he questions God so much throughout the book

Our experiences of pain and suffering may be hard and difficult but they do not qualify us to know more than God - ;

Job 38:12–18 NASB95

12 “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place, 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it? 14 “It is changed like clay under the seal; And they stand forth like a garment. 15 “From the wicked their light is withheld, And the uplifted arm is broken. 16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea Or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17 “Have the gates of death been revealed to you, Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 18 “Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.

Job 40:3–4 NASB95

3 Then Job answered the Lord and said, 4 “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth.

BUT, by the end of the book, Job comes to realize that pain and suffering will not take away from God’s counsel, wisdom, knowledge, glory, and power -

Job 42:1–6 NASB95

1 Then Job answered the Lord and said, 2 “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” 4 ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; 6 Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”

We confess belief in God who is stronger and better than our sufferings. The goodness He offers is more powerful than our weaknesses and groanings.

Conclusion

Suffering is a time when we are humbled and realize we have a need that is greater than ourselves; we certainly cannot prevent all of the suffering in the world.

That is why the issues of suffering and pain should point us to the direction of belief (not away from it)!

It is in weakness that we are made strong for Christ -

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NASB95

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Faith is not always rational/logical (not that it is irrational and illogical, but it is not always an exact science)