Theology of Suffering

Lesson 12 Sunday School

Job’s encounter with his friends.

The Old view of suffering gave way to the thought process of: “You get what you deserve.”

you doing wrong, you will get punished

you living righteously, you will be blessed

This is the exact view of Job’s friends in the text. They came with accusations about Job because life was unraveling for him.

Loss of children, loss of land and wealth. . in a short period of time. Sickness overtakes his body.

They used their knowledge of God based off of old traditions to hypothesize that Job is in sin

This is not the case, Job was called righteous by God. This designation given to Abraham for his belief in God and His word.

So the fact that he was assigned this place of righteousness gives us indication that Job’s friends Theology of Suffering was limited.

Yes. . evil doers will be cut off- psalm 37

the wages of sin is still death- people who practice evil will be dealt with and justice will be done. The suffering they receive is their due payment.

Job’s situation opens up the reality that all will suffer, no one is immune to suffering. No one wants to suffer, No one wakes up saying “Lord let me suffer today.”

That is counterintuitive to life as we know it… we want blessing. . we want favor. . . we want anointing. . . we want overflow. . .

BUT....... suffering nope!! No parts of this.

The american church has given us a false sense of life. . . suffering will come:

either you are suffering now, just came out of suffering- if not just keep living

suffering comes in multiple ways: sickness, family, career, relationships, financial, physical

and suffering has multiple purposes

it rains on the just and the unjust. . the sun shines on them both.

so

What Is Theology of suffering? Theology of suffering is the study of what the Bible says about suffering while considering who God is and the current state of humanity. Many different cultures have their own interpretations of why people suffer. For Christians, it is important to have a Biblical view of why God allows suffering and how we are to go through it. As followers of Jesus, we get the opportunity to glorify God through our suffering until we meet Him face to face and live forever with Him.

Theology of Suffering Explained

People often wonder why do good people suffer? If God is a loving God, why would He allow anyone to suffer?

To answer these questions, it is important to have a right understanding of who God is and who we are. Without knowing who God is in His sovereignty, you will be frustrated and angry at the events that are happening in your life and all around the world.

To develop a personal theology of suffering that is biblically-based, look at the character and nature of God. The Bible tells us that God is gracious, merciful, almighty, slow to anger, sovereign, loving, and powerful, and more.

The Bible tells us that there is no darkness in God at all and that He cannot sin.When you understand the heart of God, you will see that it is not in His nature to torture or cause people to suffer.

Instead, we see that He uses suffering to draw us closer to Himself.

Secondly, Genesis 3:16-19 tells us that suffering is a result of the fall. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death.

No one is good because all have sinned. Thus, people do not deserve anything good because all human beings are inherently sinful.

Biblical View Of Suffering

What does the Bible say about how we are to view suffering?

James 5:13 ESVIs anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

God is as sovereign as He is loving. God does not enjoy watching you go through suffering, but He allows suffering into many different people’s lives to test them and to make His name glorified.

This life is the only time we get to glorify God through our suffering. In heaven, there will be no more tears, pain, or sorrow.

Our present suffering can help us look to God for help and make spending eternity with Him forever so much more meaningful.

Here are some Biblical views on suffering. These can be used to help you develop a theology of suffering in your own life.

God Uses Your Suffering For His Glory

Whenever I am going through a difficult time, I find myself running to God for everything. When everything is going well, I wonder where God is. Have you ever felt this way?

As you encounter suffering, think about how it pushes you closer to God. Suffering creates a dependency on the Lord that is not always there when everything is going well.

The Lord can use our suffering to cause us to run to Him for help. He promises He will answer us and be a refuge to us in the storm.

Going through suffering also makes you question what you really believe about God. God wants you to come to Him with your questions, doubts, and pain so that He can show you His purposes and plan.

God can grow you the most through suffering. He uses your sufferings to draw you closer to Him.

But how you chose to go through suffering can either push you to God or draw you away from Him.

Isaiah 48:10-11 ESVBehold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I do it, for how should My name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

God is the only one who should receive all the glory for what happens in your life—including what happens in your suffering.

God can also use your suffering to purify you from sin and conform you more into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, bringing glory to His name.

Suffering Keeps Your Eyes On Eternity

As followers of Jesus, we have this hope that this life does not last forever. We know the end of the story when Jesus shall come back and reign on the new earth for all of eternity.

If you understand who God is, and His purposes in using suffering for your good and His glory, you can keep your eyes fixed on Christ and the hope you have in Him.

Romans 8:18 ESVFor I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Everything you experience now is only temporary. The body you have now is only temporary.

Suffering Forms Character

As followers and representatives of Jesus Christ on earth, we are called to suffer for the sake of Christ. In our calling, we are to rejoice when we meet trials of various kinds, including suffering, so that it may point others to God and give glory to His great name throughout all the earth.

Your suffering is a testimony to what Jesus did on the cross. Since He is the head and the Church is the body, you partake in His sufferings to proclaim outwardly of your love and dedication to Him just as He did for us (Colossians 1:24).

Suffering Produces Endurance

There are different kinds of suffering that you will need to endure in your lifetime. But it is how you go through suffering that can bring glory to the name of Jesus.

Suffering will grow your character and faith when you choose to put your trust in Jesus and let Him take the reigns on the outcome your suffering will produce.