Why does God allow suffering to exist in our world?
This question used to scare me a lot. I felt like my theological knowledge, and past hardships were not enough to validate my thoughts and opinions on the subject. And maybe they still aren’t, but the topic has been on my mind too much not to write about it.
I’ve noticed one facet of suffering that transcends every mode with which you may experience it. Every time I’ve suffered physically, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally, I can’t stop obsessing about how to escape the discomfort.
When I hit the halfway point of a cross-country race, and every muscle in my body screams in agony, I fantasize about crossing the finish line and flopping in the grass. When faced with an assignment challenging my intellect and pushing me outside my comfort zone, I wish to return to elementary school when homework isn’t so draining. When God pricks my conscience and asks me to reevaluate the state of my heart, I try to bury my conviction and distract myself as best as possible.
I believe God allowed suffering into our world to snap us out of our selfishness.
Our stress and weariness put us in the perfect position to experience transformation. Suffering produces fruit for our faith by creating room for God to become our focus again. When we look to the cross amid our tension and distress, we can transcend our circumstances just as Christ did.
Suffering has always been used to develop God’s people. When we suffer, we come face-to-face with our true selves. The self has all its flaws that we sometimes hate and try to hide. Suffering compels us to confront dormant places of darkness in our souls that we’ve ignored for too long. Our misery is a powerful tool that God can use to strip back the scar tissue of sin surrounding our hearts and heal us the right way.
We may never know why we deal with hardships, but there is so much peace available to those who recognize the opportunities that come through suffering. Everything that causes us to suffer is also capable of cultivating our faith and pushing us to become better image-bearers of Christ.
So next time you suffer from temptation, remember that God does not look down on you for having weaknesses.
Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” reminding us that God will always receive us with open arms. He desires to help us live unafraid through the work of his Son on the cross and to believe Romans 8:28, which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
I know firsthand how hard it is not to be bitter when we suffer and question God’s goodness.
Yet, when we choose to see God’s hand in every situation and acknowledge the opportunity for growth that can come through suffering, we make our heavenly Father smile. When you face trials, don’t try to escape the discomfort. Wrestle with it, and allow it to draw you closer to your God.
