Why would God allow suffering?

He came into our office limping and in obvious pain. As he collapsed in a chair in my office he began to share his story. Shortly after getting married he had a devastating work injury which had left him disabled. This wasn't what he wanted out of life and it wasn't what his wife had signed on for either. There marriage was in serious jeopardy. His wife wanted him out of the house but he didn' t want to leave his two young boys.

"If there is a God, how can he allow such suffering?" He asked. What would you say?

Sometimes a person doesn't want answers as much as they want someone to listen, to be compassionate, and to demonstrate true concern. Too often we think we have to have answers. The truth is we don't have answers to all the why's in this world. But we do have hope. In the midst of pain there is promise.

Pain's purpose. Pain is never pleasant, but if we did not feel pain how would we learn to avoid a hot stove. Pain serves a purpose. It warns us when something is wrong. It is a siren sounding the alarm to a potentially greater problem. In the case of suffering that something is sin. Our world is fallen, people are fallen and we are fallen. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23.

Pain's path. Physical pain should direct us to a pill or a physician. To ignore the problem will only make it worse. Suffering is the same. Suffering should direct us not to our self but to a Savior. Ignoring the problem of sin will only make it worse. Suffering gets our attention in a way nothing else can. The apostle Paul did not like this lesson any more than we do. He prayed that a physical infirmity would be removed but it was not. Instead the Lord was teaching Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9.

Pain's promise. Sometimes a pill or physician cannot fully provide answers to the problem. Similarly there are not always complete answers to the problems created by sin. But we can find a much better hope in the Great Physician than in any doctor. That hope comes from an understanding that God is sovereign - He knit us together in our mother's womb (Ps. 139:13), knows the number of hairs on our head (Mt. 10:30) and has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Dt. 31:6).

Pain's prescription. Physical pain is so much easier to endure. Go fill a prescription, follow the instructions and you'll be feeling better soon. Spiritual suffering is more difficult. In the midst of many external forces over which we have no control, there is a problem which lies in our own heart. The problem is pride. And pride can be a deadly poison that robs us of peace. Pride is the only poison that must be swallowed to be cured. We should examine ourselves and swallow our pride, humbling ourself before a holy God so he can lift us up (Jas. 4:10). We have to yield our desire to control our circumstances to God.

Pain's power. God does not promise to remove suffering. But the power in pain is the promise of peace. The Holy Spirit will empower us to face any circumstance with hope. We can experience peace in the midst of the unanswerable and unfair circumstances of life. But we can only do this through the empowerment of God, we cannot do it in our own strength. No home remedies can cure the common cold of sin. Only Jesus can heal our diseased heart. Only the Prince of Peace can provide peace in a broken and fallen world.

"But now, this is what the Lord says -- he who created you... he who formed you... 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not weep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God... your Savior; ...Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you... do not be afraid, for I am with you." Isa. 43:1-5.