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Page 1 of 6 Where is God in my suffering?
When God Seems Absent 1.0
Genesis 37:1-36
by Eric Stillman
May 4th, 2008
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Last month, I preached a series I called Why Believe, in which I tried to answer some of the biggest objections people have to the Christian faith and the God of the Bible. Out of all the objections I discussed, I would say that perhaps the biggest reason skeptics reject God and believers struggle with their faith is the so-called Problem of Evil – how can an all-powerful, loving and good God allow THAT to happen in my life. And I believe most people experience that objection or challenge not in a philosophical way but in a personal way. How do I trust in God when despite my prayers, I can not find a job? How do I know He is good when, even though I’m doing all I can, my marriage is falling apart? How can the God I worship allow my son to die, or my children to walk away from the faith, or this illness to devastate my life? I would bet that for many people, it is the seemingly random and meaningless suffering in their life that causes them to question how a good and powerful God could be overseeing it all. Where is God in all of our suffering? And if God truly is good and powerful and all-loving, how can I gain that kind of unshakeable trust in Him that seems to be needed?
James and Paul both write about rejoicing in our struggles, because of what it produces in us: James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope That is certainly my hope, that we would not just endure suffering but be able to rejoice in it, knowing that if God has allowed it, it is because He has a greater purpose in mind. But how do we get that assurance that would allow us to rejoice in suffering?
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