A Theology of Suffering.
Let’s be real on this one, everyone gets a turn. If you haven’t been through a bout of suffering yet – then I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this – it’s on the way.
Sometimes suffering comes to us consequentially and sometimes providentially.
The scripture tells us in Proverbs 13:15 that “the way of the transgressor is hard.” The truth which we’ve all seen play out in our lives is that people cause a lot of their own suffering. Sometimes God uses his hand to prune us or to refine us; even to crush us, but there are a lot of times when God isn’t doing any of these things as directly. Our own hand might be the reason why life has become hard for us. We can pray for things to change but sometimes in these circumstances, change will only come if we change. God has set certain laws into the world that do not move; certain boundaries that don’t easily shift. We can believe that God will protect us from certain diseases, but if we poison ourselves with toxic food and a unbalanced diet; not exercising and being lazy, then even great faith won’t keep out the problems that will enter when they see that the door is pinned open with a door stop of continual habit.
Sometimes we can just be suffering for not adhering to the wisdom by which God has designed the world.
At the same time, sometimes suffering just happens. Sometimes you look after yourself and you still get sick - what then?
There is a farmer in a certain town who is lazy – plants nothing – does nothing – lives in a dream and because of this when harvest time comes he must watch his family go hungry because of his own laziness.
The farmer in the next town is diligent. Plants the crops, tends to the field all season long in preparation and is sure that at Harvest time that he’ll be able to provide for his family. The night before the harvesting begins, a hailstorm comes and ruins all the crops. He must watch his family go hungry too and there is absolutely no difference between the outcome of both farmers. They are worlds away in terms of character and diligence; work ethic and responsibility; yet they are plagued by the same outcome.
One is consequential the other providential.
My thinking on suffering is drawn along this line: Escape it where you can – trust God when you cannot.
Everyone who came to Jesus was healed. Jesus had all power and authority given to him by God the Father and yet He was given over to wicked men to be brutally killed and murdered unjustly. “He was able to save others” they taunted at him – “but not himself.”
Remember his prayer in the garden? Father, if it is possible let the cup pass from me; nevertheless, not what I will but what you will.
This is how I approach suffering; whether it be illness in myself or others I love, or perhaps a difficult turn of events where I find myself facing things I didn’t plan for. We must first take the stance of Faith.
“God I know it’s possible for you to take this suffering from me. I ask you for healing. I ask you for a miracle. I ask you to resurrect this relationship. I know that you’re a good God who heals and I ask you to intervene in my situation. But nevertheless - either way, not what I will but what you will.”
In other words, in the healing/escaping or the suffering what we’re ultimately willing to submit to is His will. We know it’s His will to heal and to restore. We only need to look at Jesus for a moment to verify this as an indisputable fact; that Jesus was always destroying the works of the Devil wherever he went. Yet the truth remains, even the Son of God suffered providentially. You just can’t escape your turn. The Gospel doesn’t remove suffering, but it gives us a foundation of hope to stand on as we’re passing through it.
All of the twelve, apart from John (who was still boiled alive in oil at one point), died brutal deaths. What we can gather from John 21 in the interaction that Jesus had with Peter was that these deaths were all set by God in a manner which he felt would glorify Him (John 21:19). These are difficult truths. Paul the Apostle was at one time nearly made blind because of a sickness (as far as we can tell), and yet he was powerful in the Spirit during his ministry; healing and casting out demons with items of his clothing (Acts 19:12). Before he had even begun his ministry Jesus told Ananias that He would show Paul how much he was to suffer for the name of Christ (Acts 9:16).
You’ve probably heard the saying, “the Kingdom is now but not yet.” This is a very helpful way of understanding both the present and coming nature of the Kingdom of God.
So many believers have become so discouraged today because of suffering. I cannot pretend to understand the pain of a parent who has lost a child, or a family who has lost their home, or of a child who has lost a parent - or both and has been to made face the harsh world alone as an orphan. But I do believe that for many Christians, that this sad reality is true; that they have learnt to hide their discouragement with God in the not yet, leaving out or removing the reality of the preceding now dimension of the Kingdom; leaving out the prayer “Father if it is possible (inside your will) to take away this suffering give me a deliverance from it – let it pass.”
God often does take suffering away for his children who pray in faith and cry out to him. Jesus slipped away so many times from the angry mob during his ministry. They couldn’t touch him because he was protected - yet at the right time he was delivered over. The Psalms are full of celebration of deliverance whilst also carrying the laments of Psalmists who felt as though their very soul was being poured before a God who was yet to respond.
When we feel confused and in despair because of the hidden things, we must turn our eyes back to those things which have been revealed. Jesus has been revealed to us and He in turn shows us the true nature and heart of God. If we are tempted to believe that God is a harsh God who does not care about our suffering; a God who turns down our cries for help like a television which is too loud in the background, as He returns to other things, we must then remember the sweetness of our Jesus, the tenderness of our Saviour; and the gentleness of our Redeemer. We must remember that we have a high priest who knows and is acquainted with our sufferings. We must remember our brother Steven who was given sight to see His Lord standing in his honour, as he was being stoned to death whilst releasing cries for mercy on behalf of his murderers. Our Lord was not absent from Steven in his hour of greatest need. The disciples mourned for him and only we can see in hindsight as to how God used this to take the Gospel to the nations. They were not able to be comforted by the narrative we see as we simply read on.
I believe that we are to take the position of Jesus; escaping suffering where we can and trusting ourselves into God’s hand when we cannot.
If there were a hundred sick in a prayer line, I would pray this way for all of them if they were willing; “Father take this cup away.” I would pray the prayer of faith that scripture tells us will be effective to raise up the one who is sick. Jesus knew the Father could take the cup away. He hasn’t prayed a single prayer in eternity which lies outside of the will of God. But the answer may be the same as what our Lord experienced after He had humbled himself in prayer; what we also see Peter passing on to believers who find themselves suffering under the hand of God as Jesus would for our sake:
“Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” - 1 Peter 4:19
Entrust your soul – your most precious asset to God. Believe him for the escape. Take the position of overcoming faith first. Hebrews lists for us the heroes of overcoming faith before the heroes of enduring faith. But if you don’t receive the escape from the difficulty and the result you want doesn’t come, my encouragement is to lean on God’s grace; to stand committed to him all the same. Say with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “Our God will will deliver us, but even if He doesn’t - we will stand all the same.”
Sometimes suffering comes to us consequentially and sometimes providentially. Let’s avoid it when and where we can, trusting God in the moments when and where we cannot.
