Suffering is without a doubt the Achilles Heel?In the theology of many Christians, it is always a point of doubt, discord, even rejection, there is often a lot of confusion on this subject.
For example, there are Christians who believe that because Christ suffered in his place and was “more than victorious,” they should not suffer. For them, all suffering is a bad job and one of their causes can be “lack of faith. “
- I remember when my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (about ten years ago).
- I was advised to think so.
- I lived in conflict and with great guilt.
- Because I tried so hard to have this kind of “faith” healer.
- He fasted and prayed constantly.
- But he never healed.
There are other Christians who even understand that suffering in this life is normal, but they continue to wonder “why. “They see no purpose in it.
There are also specialists in suffering, those who recklessly judge the situation as a whole and then find the specific causes: “Is it divine retribution”; ?is the devil ?; “Is it because your parents were like that or grilled?”They are like the disciples of John 9. 2: “Master, who sinned: this man or his fathers, that he may have been born blind. “See that for the disciples, was there a specific cause for the suffering of the blind?a specific sin. But Jesus responds surprisingly: “Neither he nor his parents have sinned?(V. 3). That is why we have learned that it is not our role to put ourselves in God’s place as omniscient in the causes of human suffering.
But what does the Bible tell us about it?I would like to mention a few points:
Paul describes the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 and summarizes it as the story of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Did Christ die for our sins? (1C 15. 3), that is, Christ suffered!In this sense, the gospel is the story of our Savior’s suffering.
At least twice the author of the Hebrews tells us that Christ can help us and sympathize with us for having suffered and been ‘tested’. Here’s an example:
“For considering what he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he can help those who are also tempted. Heb 2. 18. (The other example: Heb 4:15).
CSLewis brilliantly described it in the book “The Wizard’s Nephew”. The digory child receives a mission from Lion Aslam (which in Lewis’s works is a representation of Jesus), but does not want to carry it out, because his mother is sick and He wants to take care of her. In internal conflict, he looks at Aslam and is surprised, when great tears shine in the Lion’s Eyes. They were such large and bright tears, compared to Those of Dígory, that for a moment he felt that the Lion was suffering more for his mother than himself.
? My son, my son, I know. The pain is great, only you and I on this earth know that. Are we compassionate to each other?” The Lion said.
For Lewis, Leo suffers and sympathies with Digory’s suffering. Think about it for a moment. Our God, Jesus Christ, suffered like us, knows exactly how we feel, fully understands our pain. What a comfort when we turn to the Lord in our worst hours. Our situation is no stranger to you and you are not indifferent to what we have experienced.
Contrary to what some teach that there is no more suffering in the Christian life, the Bible teaches that because Christ suffered without sin, he is our example of how to live in the midst of suffering. Look what Peter says:
“For this you have been called, for Christ has also suffered in your place, setting an example, to follow in his footsteps” (1P 2. 21).
Seeing that the Bible ignores the idea that Christians are free from suffering, but assumes this reality by offering us direction
Is it said of Christ that, because of the suffering of death, he was crowned with glory and honor, so that, by the grace of God, he might like death for all?(Heb 2. 9). Christ suffered for a purpose, had to prove our death and be crowned for it.
In the same way the Bible offers us what?Regarding our suffering
“In fact, have we had the death penalty on ourselves, not for trusting in ourselves, but for the God who resurrects the dead?(2 Co 1. 9).
Are we clay vessels so that we can see that the excellence of power comes from God, not from us?(2Co 4. 7).
“Do we carry in our bodies the death of Jesus, that his life may also manifest in our bodies?”(2Co 4. 10).
“Neither he sinned, nor his parents, but did it come to the case that the works of God manifested themselves in him?(Jo 9. 3).
The point here is important: we are suffering on purpose. We are not dealing with chance, we are not under the final action of the devil, but of our sovereign God who uses these adversity to carry out his plans!Having this awareness that God is doing something in our pain changes the way we experience suffering.
Let us be sure that because of Christ’s suffering, God has solved the problem of our suffering. There will come a day when evil will no longer exist and we will be free from the consequences of our sin and the interference of the devil.
If on the one hand we have the sufferings of the present time?(Rom. 8. 18), on the other hand, we hope that “creation will be liberated from the bondage of corruption” (Rom. 8. 21).
Therefore, we conclude that the Bible teaches us that until the end of our existence in this life we will suffer; more than that, he tells us that there is God’s grace and mercy in Christ for all our days, good or bad. so that we may study the specific causes of human suffering, but to rest and rejoice in the goals already revealed in the scriptures.
1) See in point 4 some divine goals for our suffering. Have you experienced it in a practical way in your life?Would you like to share it with the group?
2) Have you ever thought that you can turn to Christ in your pain because he knows exactly what we are feeling and offers us grace at all times?
3) Take time in prayer, give your anxiety to God, rest and rejoice in divine promises.