Suffering

Most of us suffer like Job because we do not “see” God in our suffering. But if God is sovereign, He is involved in our suffering in one way or another. He might not be the cause of our suffering, but we cannot suffer unless He allows it. Satan was aware of this, that is why Satan said to God, “Have you not put a hedge around him [Job] and his household and everything he has?” (Job 1:10) To which God replied, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

All of Scripture tells or shows us that it is God that brings or allows suffering in our lives. Two examples that come immediately to mind are Joseph and Paul. Joseph was unfairly treated when he was sold into slavery by his brothers. When Joseph confronted his brothers, he said to them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20). Throughout his life, Joseph maintained his integrity because He “saw” God as sovereign.

In II Corinthians 1:8-9, Paul said, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.” But Paul also saw God’s hand in his suffering because Paul went on to say, “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

In II Corinthians 12:7-8, Paul said, “there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” Then as Paul begged the sovereign LORD to, “…take it away from me” he heard God say to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (vs.9) and Paul understood that his suffering kept him from becoming cocky and conceited (vs.7). This is not a pleasant thought to me because I understand that godliness comes with pain…(II Timothy 3:12, Hebrews 12:10).