As a pastor, I have comforted, counselled and consoled people who have experienced suffering. Some examples… a family that has lost a loved one; a person undergoing tremendous relationship difficulties; and a person experiencing excruciating pain because of a deadly, searing and critical illness…
Many a time, I would ask God, “Father, what is the purpose of suffering? Being the sovereign God, why do you allow suffering to exist?”
While I do not know all the answers, some perspectives come to mind.
Suffering can draw us closer to God. Being helpless and at the end of our tether, it makes us realise how puny, weak and vulnerable we are and how reliant we are on God’s love, grace and mercy. For example, a believer on palliative care, will rely on God’s strength to help him steadily bear the pain of death in transiting from his earthly life to a heavenly one. When a crisis strikes, the believer can meet its challenges with courage, calmness and confidence by relying on God. In such a circumstance, the sufferer’s faith will mature and grow strong like a deep-rooted oak tree.
And the bible tells us that suffering produces perseverance, character and hope (Romans 5:3-5). Is this true? When we experience suffering, will we have this perspective? When a child suffers from leukaemia, will the parents embrace this teaching? When a person’s entire life savings have been wiped out by an online scam, will he abide by these verses?
Character-building through suffering will only be possible if we allow God to support, care for and guide us. If we do, we will have hope. This is the hope that assures us that God will orchestrate the situation to bring about an outcome for our ultimate good.
And this hope will not disappoint because of God’s love, compassion and care for us. In fact, we have a God who has experienced suffering Himself and can therefore empathise with us in our pain. After all, didn’t His son Jesus suffer intensely to the point of death for our sake? So, when we suffer, it helps to remember that our Saviour Jesus has been there and more.
Therefore, the most important question concerning suffering is not why we suffer but how we should respond to it. Are we willing to receive God’s direction, care and guidance? Are we prepared to trust and rely on Him? Are you…?