Sovereignty in Suffering

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. (1 Corinth 4:7-12)

I've been thinking a great deal about suffering and what it means to us as Christians. We have had a difficult few years, and we have also seen the suffering of those around us. Where is God in our suffering? Does God allow pain or does God cause pain? My thoughts are God does both, allow and cause pain. In the life of Christ, He allowed the pain. In other situations, you read of God hardening someone's heart and then they suffer. Sometimes our pains are a direct result of our own poor choices. My pastor suggested I read the book, "Disappointment with God" by Phillip Yancey. I am enjoying it so far. It speaks of how we as Christians often perceive God in false way.

Do we believe if we are all good little girls and boys, God will grant our wishes? Maybe. Although it is not what the Bible teaches, it is what some teach us as we grow in our Christian faith. Possibly they teach us this, because you do reap what you have sown. However, what about when the rain falls on us in faithfulness? We have numerous examples in the Bible and in life, where someone serves God faithfully only to be beaten, distressed, persecuted, or even killed.

Why do we as Christians believe we can live in our suburban, middle class America, and somehow make it without suffering? For me, 9/11 was the first time I did not feel completely safe in our country. We have this false sense of safety and control in our lives. I believe these horrific events help to remind us of how very little control we have and how safety is always temporary. No one is immune to pain or suffering, although some seem to escape with less than others. C.S. Lewis said, "Pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Would we look for God in our lives if we did not endure difficulties?

In high school, when I was dealing with several painful things a wise friend sent me this image. He said when you have a perfect piece of pottery, if you place a light down inside it, you cannot see the light. If you have a broken piece of pottery, and shine the light down inside it, the light shines through the broken places. Just like in our own lives, if we are perfect His light cannot shine through us. It is only in our broken places where His light shines clearly.

So where is God in the suffering? I have thought so much about how God turned His face away when Christ suffered the ultimate sacrifice. He turned His face away because He knew there was a greater good on the other side of it. I will choose to believe in our suffering, though He may turn His head, He is right beside us and sees the greater good on the other side of our present sufferings.


"My God, I have never thanked you for my thorn! I have thanked you a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorn. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear, teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed to you by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow." George Matheson