On Suffering

Suffering, pain, adversity, and hardship. These things are never easy to talk about and understand, let alone to experience. But the subject came up yesterday in our Sunday morning adult Bible study. After my initial attempt at a summary statement, and given a helpful corrective from an astute brother in the class, and after reading John Piper's blog this morning, I offer these brief reflections on suffering...

(Note: these are not polished or refined thoughts at all. In fact, I find new ideas coming to mind even as I write this. Also, if you have a couple more minutes, I recommend Piper's comments on his blog today. Very interesting. You can find it here.)

First, it's probably important to state from the beginning that the Root of all suffering is sin. Now lest you object too quickly and get angry with me, I am not saying that all of your suffering is because of your sin. No. I am simply observing what really should become fairly obvious to anyone who knows and believes the Scriptures. God's creation was initially "very good" and free from pain and suffering. Suffering entered the world only after Adam's sin, and as a direct result of it. Not only is the heart of man corrupt, but the apostle Paul even describes creation itself as being "subjected to futility" and in "slavery to corruption" because of sin (Rom. 8:20-21). But then of course, in the consummation of God's plan of salvation, the new heaven and the new earth will be free from all suffering and sorrow, all sin and shame. So with this first point, I am simply acknowledging that if there were no sin, there would be no suffering; but for now we live in a fallen world, subject to the "futility" and frustration brought about by Adam's sin.

It seems to me that there can be many ways of categorizing suffering. One way is to say that the Source is either providentially allowed or sovereignly directed. By "providentially allowed" I refer to the suffering that is simply the result of our living in this fallen world. Though fallen, the world is nevertheless ordered, in that we all experience what we sometimes refer to as "cause and effect." The cause may be our own sin or foolishness or carelessness, or it may be that of others, but we still have to live with the effect in either case - the natural consequences of those actions. Another effect may be having to live with the pain and suffering brought about by the cause of natural disasters, also providentially allowed. (And remember, these natural disasters themselves can also be thought of as an effect of Adam's sin, the ultimate cause.)

By "sovereignly directed" sources of our suffering, I refer to times when God purposefully and actively directs circumstances that bring hardship into our lives. This quickly surfaces another helpful way of categorizing suffering, according to God's Purpose for it. The Scriptures give us many examples of times when God directed suffering or hardship upon people in order to either judge sin or to test character or to display His glory. (The truth is, I believe we can say that God can accomplish these purposes through both providentially allowed and sovereignly directed means.) God judged Israel for their unbelief with 40 years of wandering in a harsh and very unforgiving wilderness, thereby delaying their entry into the land God had promised them. God judged David for his adultery with the death of the child that was conceived in that illicit affair. God judged Ananias and Sapphira for their deception, jealousy, and pride by their immediate deaths.

(Time prevents me from elaborating as much as I'd like here, but just a couple more examples.) Jesus was directed by the Spirit into the wilderness after His baptism to "test" (probably best to be read, "reveal" or "display") His character. Israel was led by God into a dead end, with Pharaoh in hot pursuit, in order to display His glory. Job's testing was I believe both to refine his character as well as to display God's glory (that He is worthy of worship regardless of His blessings).

Oh, one other purpose comes to mind before I close... I think God desires that in our sufferings, we learn compassion. And when we witness others who are hurting, God desires that we learn and develop His compassion to reach out to them. SO much more to say here, but I'll just suggest that you read and reflect on 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 in regard to this point.

I really must move on with my day, but please, tell me what you think of my reflections here. I'm not foolish enough to think that I've solved the problem of suffering... volumes upon volumes have been written about this subject. Just trying to get some hooks to hang my thoughts on, whether for myself or for others that I seek to serve in ministry. So while of necessity this had to be brief, and somewhat off the cuff, I'd love to hear whether you feel this is helpful.