Experiencing joy and peace can easily be seen as the ‘norm’ for the Christian. Yet so often, we find that life hurts.
One of the hardest things about suffering is when we do not know why it has happened. Often God does not explain why. He wants us to trust him in our trouble.
Phil Crowter, author of several books in the Pray/Prepare/Preach series came face to face with the reality of terminal cancer. In his book Preaching Job, he points out that the Bible gives us many good reasons for the troubles we face in life. God uses trouble in our lives to produce good things. Here’s Phil’s list of useful points to consider when life is hurting:
1. Suffering is part of the sinful world that we live in
From when Adam sinned, the whole world has been in trouble. Everyone knows illness, pain, disappointment and death. In Romans 8, Paul tells us that the whole of creation “groans” because sin made everything go wrong. But we look forward to a day when all the trouble of this world will be gone. We look forward to heaven where there will be no more pain.
2. Suffering is sometimes our own responsibility
Perhaps we made a bad decision that brought us trouble. Sometimes there should be no ducking our responsibility! But we can learn lessons from our mistakes. We can ask God to help us through the trouble we make for ourselves. And be confident of his forgiveness if we repent.
3. Suffering may be God’s correction
Hebrews 12 says that God is a loving Father to his children. He is not cruel and angry. He does not like to hurt us (Lamentations 3:31-33). If we trust in Jesus, suffering is not God’s punishment. If we go away from God, he may use suffering to bring us back. Sometimes we will only listen when life hurts us. God sends us trouble because he loves us and wants us to turn to him again.
4. Suffering helps us grow in our faith
We often do not grow very well when life is easy. Trouble is like good soil to help plants grow. Trouble teaches us to trust God. Trouble helps make us ‘‘mature” and complete not lacking anything. James tells us to be glad when trouble comes because it makes our faith grow! We should not complain. We can trust that trouble is God’s good gift to us. James 1:2-4, 12, Job 23:10
5. Suffering can bring us closer to our suffering Saviour
Paul wanted to share more in his Saviour’s suffering. Paul knew that as he suffers he would know Jesus better. Philippians 3:10
6. Suffering can be persecution
We suffer persecution because we are like Jesus and tell other people about Jesus. Jesus tells us to be glad when people hurt us because of him. It encourages us that we have become like Jesus. People hate us because they hate Jesus. We belong to Jesus. Matthew 5:10-12
7. Suffering can teach other people many things
The way we suffer can help other people. It can help them to keep going in their own trouble. It can make them think about the way they live. One big reason for Job’s suffering was to help millions of believers who read his book!
8. Suffering can help us to comfort other people
Job’s friends could not help to comfort Job—they did not understand suffering. But when God has comforted us in our suffering, we can help other people. We will be gentle and kind. They know that we understand their pain. We can tell them how good God has been to us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Think how good all these reasons are! We find it hard to suffer now. But when we remember the good things that suffering brings, we can praise and trust God.
