Of all the challenges facing Christianity in modern times, perhaps the most difficult to explain is the problem of suffering. How can a loving God allow suffering to continue in the world he created? For those who have lived through enormous suffering themselves, this is much more than a philosophical problem, but a deeply rooted personal and emotional one. How does the Bible address this question? Does the Bible give us some examples of suffering and some pointers on how to deal with it?
The Bible is surprisingly realistic about the problem of enduring suffering. First, the Bible devotes an entire book to solving this problem. This book is about a man named Job. It begins with a scene in heaven that provides the reader with the background of Job’s suffering. Job suffers because God wrestled with Satan. As far as we know, Job or any of his friends never knew this. Therefore, it is not surprising that everyone tries to explain Job’s suffering from the perspective of their ignorance, until finally Job rwrestlesests in nothing but loyalty to God and the hope of his redemption. Neither Job nor his friends at that time understood the reasons for his suffering. In fact, when Job is finally confronted by the Lord, Job remains silent. Job’s quiet response does nothing to lessen the intense pain and loss he so patiently endured. Rather, it underscores the importance of trusting in God’s purposes in the midst of suffering, even when we do not understand its meaning. Suffering, like all other human experiences, is governed by God’s sovereign wisdom. Ultimately, we learn that although we may never know the specific reason for our suffering, we must trust in our sovereign God. That is the real answer to suffering.
Another example of suffering in the Bible is the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers. In Egypt he was accused of false accusations and thrown into prison. As a result of Joseph’s suffering and perseverance, Joseph, by God’s grace and power, is later promoted to the governorship of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. In a time of famine, he found himself in the position of caring for the nations of the world, including his own family and brothers who sold him into slavery! The message of this story is summed up in Joseph’s address to his brothers in Genesis 50:19–21: “Do not be afraid! Am I here instead of God? You planned evil against me, but God turned it for good, so that it became what it is today, to save the lives of many people. Don’t worry now! I will feed you and your children. So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”
Romans 8:28 contains some comforting words for those who endure hardship and suffering: “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who have been called according to his purpose.” God, in His providence, arranges every event in our lives—even suffering, temptation, and sin—for our benefit both temporally and eternally.
The psalmist David suffered much in his time and this is reflected in many of his poems collected in the book of Psalms. In the 22nd Psalm, we hear David’s anxiety: “My God, my God! why did you leave me You are far from my salvation, far from my cry, my God, I call in the day — you do not answer. I call at night — I can’t calm down. You, the Holy One, are enthroned over the praises of Israel. Our fathers hoped in you, they hoped, and you delivered them. They cried out to you and were saved. They hoped in you, and were not ashamed. I am like a worm, not like a man; I am a laughing stock to people, even my own people have rejected me. All who see me mock me, sneer, shake their heads: He trusted in the Lord, he should save him. Let him tear him out, because he is fond of him.”
For David, it remains a mystery why God does not intervene and end his suffering and pain. He sees that God is enthroned as the Holy One, on the praises of Israel. God lives in heaven, where all is good, where there is no crying, no fear, no hunger, no hatred. What does God know about all that people endure? David further complains that “The dogs surrounded me, a band of evil-doers seized me, they pierced my hands and feet. I can count all the bones. They are watching, their eyes are on me. They divide my garment, they cast lots for my clothing.”
Did God ever answer David? Yes, many centuries later, David received his answer. About one millennium later, a descendant of David named Jesus was killed on a hill called Calvary. Jesus endured the suffering and shame of his ancestor on the cross. Christ’s hands and feet were pierced. Christ’s robe was divided among his enemies. They looked at Christ and mocked him. In fact, Christ spoke the words with which David begins this psalm: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” So he identified with David’s suffering.
Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom dwells the fullness of God, lived on earth as a man and endured hunger, thirst, temptation, shame, persecution, nakedness, sorrow, betrayal, mockery, injustice and death. Therefore, he is in a position to fulfill the desire of Job: “There is no one who judges between us, who lays his hand on us both. Let him remove his rod from me, and let not his fear terrify me, then I will speak and not be afraid of him, for it is not so with me” (Job 9:33).
Christian theism is actually the only worldview that can consistently understand the problem of evil and suffering. Christians serve a God who lived on this earth and endured trauma, temptation, death, torture, hunger, thirst, persecution and even execution. The cross of Christ can be considered the ultimate manifestation of God’s justice. When asked how much God cares about the problem of evil and suffering, the Christian God can point to the cross and say, “Like this.” Christ experienced rejection from God and said: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”. He experienced the same suffering as many people today who feel isolated from God’s favor and love.
