Information Related to "Can We Explain All Suffering?"
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Can
We Explain All Suffering?
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Perhaps
the suffering most difficult to understand is that which seems to come out of
nowhere and for no discernible reason. We must realize that individual tragedies
may occur over which we have no control and that are impossible for us to foresee.
In such instances the Scriptures encourage us to pray, asking God to remove
or relieve the problem or help us deal with the difficulty and learn from it.
Our Creator in His wisdom doesn't always give us the answer we want. Rarely
does He reveal the specific reason for the decision He makes. Yet He always
has a good reason.
For example, God delivered the apostle Paul from many trials, but in at least
one He declined to intervene in spite of Paul's fervent prayers (2Corinthians 12:7-10). On this occasion the response to Paul was, "My grace is sufficient
for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
In this instance, strengthening an aspect of Paul's spiritual perspective or
character was ultimately more important than his personal comfort.
This example should help us understand that God's perspective is different from
ours (Isaiah 55:8-9; 2Peter 3:8). He sometimes places the character lessons
we should learn in difficult circumstances above our physical and mental comfort.
At such times we may think God doesn't hear our prayers, but He does. It's just
that we often don't want to accept that His answer is no or not yet-or, as in
the case of the apostle Paul: "I have something better in mind for you."
We need to be aware of God's promise never to test us beyond our ability to
endure (1Corinthians 10:13). Paul set a wonderful example. He simply trusted
God's wisdom and determined to continue doing the work He had called him to
do.
If we are ever burdened with suffering that God does not reverse-especially
if it is caused by circumstances beyond our control-we should follow this sound
biblical advice from Peter: "Therefore, let those suffering in accordance
with God's will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to
do good" (1Peter 4:19, NRSV).
Notice the particular area of suffering Peter had in mind: "If you are
reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory,
which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. But let none of you suffer as
a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. Yet if any of
you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because
you bear this name" (verses 14-16, NRSV).
If each individual's suffering could be traced directly to his own transgression
of a specific law, it would be easier to understand and accept as a just consequence.
But it is rarely that simple.
In giving us freedom to choose, God has given us room to accept or reject His
guidance, to choose rebellion or submission, to make foolish decisions or wise
ones. In doing so He has given each of us an undetermined future.
We are free to drive carelessly or after drinking too much, free to dump toxins
into our environment, free to eat unwisely. Each of us has that freedom, as
do our neighbors and everyone else around us. All of our actions-and theirs-bring
consequences. Sometimes we suffer for our own decisions; sometimes our neighbor
does-or vice versa. Freedom to choose is a wonderful gift, but it is a responsibility
we have seldom handled well, as evidenced by our sorrowful, suffering world.
This gives us some understanding of why the innocent, including little children,
at times suffer as a result of the poor choices of others. It is during these
times that we most need the comforting help from a loving God and support of
family and friends.
None of us is immune to the consequences of actions-ours or others'. The person
who develops a disease that is not traceable to his specific personal behavior
and the infant born with a congenital birth defect both suffer, though not necessarily
because of anything they did.
Those who are injured or killed in accidents or natural disasters are often
innocent victims, too. Not all suffering is the result of personal disobedience
or irresponsible behavior by the one who suffers. Even in the Ten Commandments
God reminds us that the consequences of wrong actions can affect one's descendants
for several generations (Exodus 20:5).
Often the specific cause of instances of suffering simply cannot be precisely
explained-at least not in this lifetime. Sometimes the best we can do is to
accept it as explainable only
by what the Bible calls "time and chance" (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Although
God does not cause accidents, neither does He micromanage the lives of every
human being to prevent them. Paul tells us that in this life we see through
"a glass darkly" (1Corinthians 13:12, KJV). We will never fully understand
some things during this life, but we will in the world to come.
We should realize that even suffering that is a result of time and chance is
not causeless. If it cannot be connected to a specific behavior, it is often
nevertheless a consequence of one or more behavioral patterns followed by the
human race since creation.
Adam chose, by sinning, to turn away from God. The rest of mankind has taken
the same path. "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world,
and death through sin, ... death spread to all men, because all sinned"
(Romans 5:12).
One of the consequences of humanity's decision to live contrary to God's instruction
is a world subject to the capriciousness and vagaries of "time and chance"
and the actions of others. This pattern will prevail until Christ returns to
establish God's Kingdom on earth. The entire world will then be filled with
the knowledge of God and His righteous laws (Isaiah 11:9). All of humanity finally
will thrive in a world that is just and fair.
© 2001 United Church of God, an International Association
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