We have views on suffering; so does God
Posted by The Skyliner on February 10th, 2010Christine Parks
Staff Writer
Many forms of suffering cause people to question God. They should know that it is okay to ask God questions. He commands His creation to seek Him in His word. Isaiah 45:19 says, “I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right”. When difficult and painful questions arise, seek God. Do not try to deal with the suffering and confusion by walking away from Him.
When questioning God about suffering, be respectful by remembering that He is God. Decide to learn to know who He really is. Knowing who God is will help those who turn to Him cope with life’s suffering because they can count on the One who will never change. God is love and everything He does is backed by His love. Psalm 145:8-9 says, “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all he has made”.
Even in God’s anger and through people’s suffering, He still loves. In Isaiah 1:25 God says, “‘I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities. I will restore your judges as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” Although God’s hand was turned against His people, His anger was produced by His love and desire to see them purified and whole. Their suffering brought about their purification and was necessary for who they were to become.
Suffering is difficult to understand from a human perspective. Isaiah 55:6,8,9 says, “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near…‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD’”. Believers, however, have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 1-2). Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthians correcting their thinking. He said in 1 Corinthians 1:25, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength”.
What is the foolishness and weakness of God? Jesus Christ, “the Savior of all people” (1 Timothy 4:10). People who do not accept the gospel view it as foolishness, yet Christ is wiser and stronger than human wisdom and strength. The ways of God are not going to be like the ways of the world; therefore people need the mind of Christ to have His perspective on suffering. We suffer, but we suffer not alone. Christ is our forerunner and He suffered greatly for our cause.
Humans will always be tempted to doubt who God is, especially during difficulties, so cling to His characteristics that will not change and keep in mind that He is always in control. Also remember that “because [Christ] Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18).
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 3