Do You Care That I’m in Pain? [Part 3]

<< PART 2 – Drawing near to God in suffering

Part 3 – Developing trust in God in suffering
“For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy” (James 5:10-11).

Yes, I hear you say indignantly, “Hang on. Job is an isolated case. He was special. He was practically the godliest guy around when he lived.”

True as that may be, but you’ve just added another point. Job was special because he feared God and stayed away from evil. He was blameless, a man of integrity. And when everything in life was taken away, even the great Job lamented his existence (oddly and shamefully reminiscent of my own life):

“‘Why, then, did you deliver me from my mother’s womb?
Why didn’t you let me die at birth?
It would be as though I had never existed,
going directly from the womb to the grave.
Job 10:18-19

Yes, you’re nodding your head in recognition. We all go through some form of suffering and most of the time, we end up wallowing in self-pity.

“Why would God do it to me? I’m not a bad person. I don’t deserve this. Life sucks.”

Even through Job’s suffering, God was present. In the ending chapter of Job, he responded to God’s reproof and said:

“I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.

You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

I take back everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”
Job 42:2-6

Job realized his mistakes in questioning God and lamenting to the point where all his effort was focused on the wrong things. Job came to a conclusion that his attitude towards God was not right and he was determined to repent and submit once again to God.

We all face personal suffering but we should not rule out God’s presence and ordination over such events. There is an essential need to remember that God is our Creator and all of life is in His control. When He allows for things to happen, He has a plan. None of His efforts will go to waste.

But for ourselves, we may be caught in the crossfire and become people who doubt God. Like Job, we need to realize this as quickly as possible and repent. If there are others who are suffering, we ought to provide them biblical guidance for God’s Word is fit for every situation (2 Timothy 3:16).

In conclusion, suffering and trials will always happen to Christians because this is a means to help us mature (James 1:2-4). If everything continues fine and dandy, we probably aren’t going to change anything about anything.

Remember, God is never absent from adversity. He may seem silent to our desperate calls but we should all the more remain in His steadfast love.

“[Those] who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31a). “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).

By Natasha Pavez, 18, Australia

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