The Truths That We Need

Suffering is one of the things in this world that causes people to ask big “God questions.” That’s because suffering challenges our understanding of the way things are supposed to be.  In the same way that physical pain is an indicator that something is not right and often pushes us to find answers, when we experience emotional pain, something inside us recognizes that this isn’t the way life is supposed to work, and we cry out for answers to some of the deepest questions we’ll ever have.  Why does God allow suffering?  If he’s truly all-powerful, why doesn’t he step in and stop it?  If he’s good, wouldn’t he want to stop it? 

As we walk with someone who is troubled by their own suffering or the suffering in the world, it’s important that we are alert to the ways we may be able to speak life and truth and help another person understand God and His story accurately and in a way that brings hope and comfort. 

Since all of life is wrapped up into God’s story, we understand the answers to these big questions only in the context of that story.  God created everything perfectly good, revealing his heart and his intention for people.  He also created people for the purpose of a love relationship with him.  But love is a choice—you can’t make someone love.  So, God created us as moral creatures with the ability to choose.  When people chose rebellion rather than love, evil came into the world and has continued to exit and persist.   The suffering that results from this evil is not God’s design nor his choosing.

While all of that is true, and it might answer the theological “why” question of suffering, it probably doesn’t answer the “why me” question amid suffering.  It may give only small comfort to the parents of a little child diagnosed with cancer, or to the teen living in an abusive home, or to the person who has experienced the atrocities of war.  People in pain need to know, why is God allowing this suffering?  Does he really see and care?

Suffering truly is a battleground for the soul. 

It cuts right to the heart of what we believe about God.  Satan would have us believe that God does not see, that he is indifferent or callous, or that he is far off in times of trouble.  Our enemy wants us to rely strictly on our feelings, and to interpret God’s love or lack of it based on our shifting circumstances.  We need a firmer foundation than that when our world turns upside down.  Scripture shares the truth about God, truth that we must understand with our minds and embrace with our hearts.  It tells us:

God sees you and cares about your pain.

He listens to your doubts and fears, can handle your anger and questions, and understands your wordless tears.  He grieves with you and walks through even the deepest valley with you.  He is closer than a brother.

Check out Psalm 10:14, Isaiah 40:12-31, Matthew 10:29-31 to read these Scripture truths.

God helps you and holds you at all times.

He promises to provide for all your needs.  He upholds and strengthens you.  He guides you with wisdom and comforts you with his love. 

Check out Isaiah 30:18, Isaiah 41:13, and Isaiah 54:10 to read these Scripture truths.

There is value in suffering.

God helps us know him more deeply when we are suffering.  He comforts us so that we can comfort others.  He refines and strengthens and matures us through suffering. He unites us to Jesus, who also suffered greatly, through the intimacy of suffering with Him.   He prepares us for eternal glory through suffering. 

Check out Romans 5: 3-5 and 2 Corinthians 1: 3-11 to read these Scripture truths.

Evil is temporary God will not allow evil and suffering to go on forever.

The Bible reveals the end of God’s story, when all things will be made new and there will be no more suffering.  While we may not understand the thoughts and plans of the Almighty God, we can be assured through his promises that he is always working to redeem and restore this broken and hurting world, and that he will eventually bring a final end to pain, grief, and sin.

Check out Psalm 20, Isaiah 25: 7-9, Revelation 21: 1-7, and 1 Peter 5: 6-11 to read these Scripture truths.

Scripture reveals so many meaningful truths about God. We must build the foundation of our lives on these truths. For we will find that there is a Rock strong enough to support and uphold us when our foundations are shaken through suffering. 

And when we walk with another person who is experiencing trouble or questioning why there is so much pain in the world, we can share meaningfully about our own experiences of suffering and who God has been to us in times of trouble.  When asked, “Why would God allow this?” it’s ok to say we don’t know, but also to share what we do know to be true—that God does see, he does care, he is working.  We can offer not just platitudes or simple answers, but real hope and solid truth.  That’s how we shine his light in the midst of suffering.

Action Step

If you are given an opportunity, step into the suffering of someone else this week. Describe to your group how it went. If you didn’t have an opportunity to this week, be mindful of opportunities God may place in your path in the next few weeks. Also, reflect on how you might respond if someone were to ask you “why?”

Daily Scripture

Read each day’s Scripture passage and journal your responses.

Acts 18 | Acts 19 | Acts 20 | Acts 21 | Acts 22

What to do when you meet
with your group:

Begin with a short prayer.

Ask God to open your eyes to his perspective on things. Take turns each week.

Questions.

Begin by discussing how you are loving others.

What opportunities has God given you to love other people through serving, speaking truth in love, or pointing them towards Christ since we last met? How did you respond?

Talk about what God has been stirring in you through your time in the Word.

Share about one of your quiet times in the Bible.

Practice mutual confession.

Questions about section 2.

What are some big “God questions” that you’ve had or that you’ve heard others bring up in their experiences?

What has helped you when wrestling with those questions?

End your time by praying for each other.

Pray for each other’s struggles and pains. Pray for other people you know who are experiencing trauma and pain right now. Pray for them to allow God to shepherd them. Pray for an opportunity to be present with them in their pain.