Introduction:
A. There is a scene in a British movie where a young brother and sister had experienced the death of their beloved kitten.
1. The children had prayed fervently that the cat would get well, but unfortunately, it had died.
2. The children couldn’t understand why this had happened, so they went in search of their church minister.
3. They found him in his office enjoying his tea and newspaper.
4. They asked him, “Why did God let our cat die?”
5. Although he was not too happy to be interrupted with the matter of a deceased cat, he laid aside his paper and launched into a long, complex, theological answer to their question.
6. The children stood there and listened intently, and when he finished his explanation, the minister dismissed them and went back to his newspaper.
7. On the way back home, the little boy said to his sister, “Well, I guess the minister doesn’t know either, does he?”
B. On February 15, 1947, an airplane bound for Quito, Ecuador crashed into the 14,000 foot tall jagged Colombian mountain peak called El Tablazo.
1. Everyone on board the airplane died, including a young American named Glenn Chambers who was headed to Ecuador to begin his ministry in missionary broadcasting.
2. Before boarding the plane earlier that day, Chambers had hurriedly scribbled a note to his mother on a piece of paper he had found on the floor of the terminal.
3. The scrap of paper was part of a printed magazine advertisement with the single word, “Why,” sprawled across the center.
4. In the note that he wrote around the word “why” in the middle, he spoke of his lifelong dream of reaching souls through a radio ministry.
5. He wrote that more letters would soon come, and he stuffed the note in an envelope and put it in the mailbox.
6. But there was no more to come. Between the mailing and the delivery of Chamber’s note, El Tablazo snagged his flight and his dreams from the night sky.
7. The envelope arrived later than the news of his death. When his mother received it, the question burned up at her from the page – Why?
C. “Why” is the question that hits first and lingers longest.
1. Why? Why me? Why this? Why now?
2. Why do bad things happen to good people?
3. How can a good God allow so much suffering to occur?
D. We are in a series called “Got Questions? Answering Faith’s Great Questions.”
1. Why I set up this series back in November, I struggled with where to place this sermon in the order of sermons.
a. Even on Monday, as I began preparation, I wondered if I should move this sermon to after Christmas.
b. As usual, my sermon was completed on Thursday before Friday’s tragic event.
2. Today’s question is one of the hardest questions, because it is one of the most personal.
3. Lee Strobel, one of the people we mentioned earlier in our list of famous unbelievers who became believers, commissioned a national survey that asked people what question they wish they could ask God to answer.
a. The number one response was: They would ask God “Why is there suffering in the world?”
E. We are all too familiar with suffering in the world.
1. There are famines, earthquakes, tornados and hurricanes which result in suffering.
2. There is war and slavery and genocide.
3. People lose their jobs.
4. People die from disease and accidents.
5. Families lose everything in fires.
6. Drunk drivers kill entire families.
7. Families are torn apart by abuse or adultery or divorce.
8. Terrorists blow up buildings like on 9 -11.
9. And there are senseless killings like what took place on Friday in Newton, Conn. At the Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 20 children and at least 4 administrators and teachers were murdered.
F. These are very hard realities and the questions that are raised are legitimate, and they are not easy to answer.
1. I want to be very careful that I don’t talk to glibly about this age-old mystery.
2. I wish I could stand in God’s shoes and completely answer this question, but I obviously can’t.
3. As you will see, I think there are many good ways to answer the question, but none of them completely answer the question.
4. In the end, we will have to realize that in this world, we will never fully understand all the mystery surrounding suffering.
G. Today, as we try to answer the question: How could a good God allow suffering, I want us to consider several other questions.
1. We will consider the question of who – Is God All - Powerful and Good?
2. We will consider the question of why – Are there good reasons for suffering?
3. We will consider the question of how – How can we cope with suffering?
I. The Question of Who – Is God All Powerful and Good?
A. As people struggle with the question of why does suffering occur, many people conclude that either God doesn’t care enough to stop suffering, or he isn’t powerful enough to stop it.
1. Obviously, some even conclude that God does not exist.
2. Their reasoning goes like this:
a. If God is all powerful and if he is perfect in goodness and love, then he would not allow people to suffer.
b. Since people do suffer, then God is either not good and loving or not all powerful, or both.
c. If either of these were true, God would not truly be God.
d. That’s why for most people it is just simpler to say that a good, loving and all powerful God does not exist.
3. What people fail to realize is that tucked away in their reasoning is a pride and presumption that puts enormous faith in their own cognitive faculties.
a. When they say, “If a good and powerful God exists, he would not allow pointless suffering, and so because pointless suffering exists, therefore God doesn’t exist,” they are saying that if suffering appears pointless to them, then it must be pointless.
b. Just because you or I can’t see or imagine a good reason why God might allow something to happen, doesn’t mean there can’t be a good reason.
B. In order for us to understand suffering, we must first understand several things about God himself and about this world He created.
C. First, we need to understand the exact nature of God’s power.
1. Most people assume that there is nothing beyond the ability of God, because He is all powerful.
2. But that is not necessarily the case, because some things are not subject to God’s power.
3. For instance, even God cannot make a square triangle.
4. We need to remember that when God first created the world and man, everything was good and perfect.
5. And when God created humans with free will, He put some things beyond His power.
a. God has given each of us the right and power to choose to do good or evil.
b. If we choose to do evil, then someone may suffer.
c. Just like God cannot make a square triangle, God cannot take away our freedom to choose, even if it means my freedom to choose might lead to your suffering.
d. Adam and Eve sinned which changed everything about God’s perfect world and brought suffering.
e. But God knew this would happen ahead of time so He also had in place a plan to redeem mankind.
D. Another key factor in the question of suffering is the nature of the world.
1. What did God have in mind when he designed the world?
a. What does God intend for our environment to accomplish?
b. What would the world have to be in order for it to accomplish God’s purpose?
2. From Scripture we learn that the world is designed to be a place where humans live for a while during which time they decide whether or not they want to have a relationship with God.
3. So what characteristics would this world need to have in order for it to fulfill God’s overall purpose?
a. First, for humans to be truly free to choose or to not choose God, there must be a certain distance between God and humankind.
1. So, God created a world with enough distance between Himself and us so that His presence is not overwhelming.
2. There is evidence of His presence that we can examine as we make our decision, but the evidence still allows us the liberty to believe or not to believe.
b. Second, this world must be a logical, law-abiding place.
1. The world must operate in such a way that we can observe order and become dependent on it.
2. Because the world is governed by order and law, certain liabilities exist.
3. The same gravity that holds everything in place and makes life possible, can also destroy life and bring suffering if we fall off the roof.
4. The same water that sustains life can also destroy it if an individual cannot swim or gets caught in a flash-flood.
5. It would be foolish to expect God to suspend the law of gravity or to change the quality of water for an instant so that suffering could be avoided.
c. Third, the world must be highly significant, but temporary.
1. Life in this world must be appealing enough that we are in no hurry to leave it, but temporary enough that we realize there must be more.
2. Our life on earth is designed to be a time in which we can develop our fullest potential and to choose to have a relationship with God.
3. Suffering is seen as a terrible evil, when the physical life is understood to be the most important aspect of our existence.
4. But in reality, our time here on earth is only but a moment compared to our overall existence.
5. When we realize that our physical life is designed to be temporary, we can see that the degeneration of the body in old age, which often produces suffering, is a predesigned effort on God’s part to remind us that the time is short and that a decision to believe in Him is imperative.
d. Finally, it is also necessary that if there is to be suffering in this world, then it must be random.
1. What I mean by random is that it is possible for anyone at any time to be struck by suffering.
2. If only bad people or unbelieving people suffered, then people would be good or would believe just to avoid suffering.
3. But because God wants us to love Him and obey Him out of our free will, suffering has to be random.
E. So, in summary, when we consider the limitations that even an all-powerful God has, that He cannot take away our freedom of choice, and when we consider the nature of the world as it is designed to fulfill God’s purpose, see that suffering will be a part of our existence.
1. Suffering’s presence does not nullify God’s love or power.
2. It is actually a necessary ingredient for us to live and in order to fully develop.
3. And if we respond appropriately to our environment, which includes suffering, we will be drawn to God.
4. So now that we have considered the question of God and understand that God can still be a loving and all-powerful God even though there is suffering, let’s examine some of the reasons for suffering.
II. The Question of Why – Are there good reasons for suffering?
A. First of all, we must understand that pain is necessary for our survival.
1. We like to think that the world would be a better place if there was no pain, but we must realize that God has given us the ability to experience pain for our own survival.
a. What would happen to us if we didn’t feel the pain of a burn?
1. Imagine if you could grab a log out of the fire and hold on to it without it hurting.
2. What would the fire do to your hand? It could burn it beyond saving.
3. But because we can feel the pain of the heat, we pull our hand back and limit the burn.
b. What would happen if it didn’t hurt to stare at the sun? We would go blind.
c. If we couldn’t feel the pain of a serious cut, then we might bleed to death.
d. Pain in our head, or chest, or appendix warns us that something might be wrong.
2. Even though pain hurts and causes suffering, it is necessary for our survival.
B. A second reason for suffering is sin.
1. The original sin of Adam and Eve, and the ongoing sin of every living person causes suffering.
2. Galatians 6:7 reads: Do not be deceived. God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. One who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction.
3. The truth of the matter is that sin leads to suffering.
4. The reason that God has called many things in this world sinful, is because the outcome of doing those things is suffering and destruction, not only eternally, but presently.
a. Why is out of control anger sinful? Because it causes suffering and destroys people.
b. Why is drunkenness sinful? Because it causes suffering and destroys people.
c. How about adultery and promiscuity? The same reason.
5. A lot of the suffering in this world (some estimate as much as 95%) can be traced back to the results of our own sin, yet when people reap what they sow, they often still want to blame God.
C. A third reason for suffering is discipline.
1. The Bible says: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” (Prov. 3:11-12; Heb. 12:5-6)
2. In the same way that we as parents discipline our children so that they might learn what is right and wrong and grow up to be healthy adults, God does the same for us.
3. Sometimes God disciplines us to get our attention and to get us back on the right track.
D. A fourth reason for suffering is to test us, purify us, and strengthen us.
1. 1 Peter 1:6-7 reads: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
2. The old workout saying is true: “No pain, no gain.”
3. Talk show host, Sally Jessy Raphael, who lost her daughter just three weeks after her son nearly died in a car accident said, “You learn more from 10 days of agony than from 10 years of content” (Selling Magazine, June 1995, p. 62).
4. You’ve seen the instructions on certain items: “Shake well before using”, and sometimes that’s what God has to do with us.
5. Suffering can make us so much better by purifying, expanding and deepening our faith.
E. A fifth reason for suffering is for the glory and purpose of God.
1. When I think of this reason for suffering, I think of the man born blind in John 9.
a. The disciples asked Jesus who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind.
b. Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (Jn. 9:3)
2. I also think of the death of Lazarus.
a. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, he said: “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (Jn. 11:4)
b. If you know the story, then you know how Jesus was glorified by raising Lazarus from the dead.
3. I also think of Joseph who suffered terribly at the hands of his brothers and was unjustly imprisoned for many years.
a. In the end, Joseph had this assessment of his sufferings: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Gen. 50:20)
F. As I said earlier, we may never fully understand the mystery of our suffering, but these are some of the reasons the Bible reveals for suffering.
III. The Question of How – how can we cope with suffering?
A. Sometimes in life, we will know the reason why we suffer.
1. Sometimes we will know it immediately.
2. Sometimes we will not know and understand the reason until years later.
3. Other times, we may never understand the reason this side of heaven.
4. But in the midst of our suffering, whether we know the reasons or not, how do we make it through? How do we stand up under it?
5. I would like to briefly answer that question by giving three ways we can cope suffering.
B. First, I would like to say we can cope with suffering through acceptance.
1. Rather than fight against the suffering, the best thing we can do is accept it and accept the fact that it is a part of our world and our lives.
2. Jesus said: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33).
3. I like the attitude of acceptance that Job had as he faced the suffering he faced when he lost everything: his children, his wealth, and his health.
a. He said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:20)
b. Later his wife said to him: “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9)
c. Job replied: “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10)
4. Though God was allowing Job to suffer, Job accepted it and trusted and hoped in God.
a. The rest of the book of Job is about Job’s struggle with the “why” of his suffering, especially in the face of his friends’ accusations that he was suffering for his sin.
5. We can waste a lot of time and energy resisting the acceptance of our suffering, but not accepting it does not help in any way.
C. Second, we can cope with suffering through appreciation.
1. This is one of the hardest things to do, but God can help us look in the face of suffering and say, “Thank you, Lord.”
2. James wrote: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).
a. This is such a radical and counter intuitive idea – normally we are happy and joyful when we are not facing difficulties and suffering.
b. But God encourages us to think the opposite.
3. Paul struggled with his thorn in the flesh and pleaded with God to remove it.
a. But then God taught him that God’s power is made perfect in weakness.
b. What was Paul’s response? He wrote: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor. 12:9-10).
4. You’ve probably all heard about the famed Pebble Beach in California.
a. Tourists from all over the world visit there to gather the beautiful, round, polished stones from that beach.
b. How do those stones become so beautiful and sought after? It comes from the ceaseless and pitiless waves that toss and grind those stones together and hurl them against the rugged cliffs.
c. Interestingly, just around the corner from Pebble Beach is a quiet cove that is sheltered from the waves.
1. There is an abundance of stones there as well, but these stones are unsought and unwanted.
2. These stones have escaped the turmoil and beating of the waves, and so they are rough, angular and devoid of beauty.
5. With God’s help we can look at our suffering with appreciation as great opportunities for drawing closer to God, and for being molded into the likeness of Jesus.
D. Finally, we can cope with suffering by anchoring ourselves in God.
1. Psalm 46:1 says: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
2. I like what the Hebrew writer said about why we can approach God in our troubles: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb. 4:14-16)
3. We can anchor ourselves in God because we know the He understands our weaknesses.
a. God’s ultimate answer to suffering isn’t an explanation: it’s the incarnation.
b. God isn’t some distant, detached, and disinterested deity; He entered into our world and into our pain.
c. God came to earth and deliberately faced suffering and death for us on our behalf.
d. Because of that, we know that God cares, understands, and has the power to help us.
4. We can anchor ourselves in God knowing two things; first, that God promises to turn our suffering into something good, and second, that the rewards of heaven will far outweigh our earthly suffering.
a. Paul wrote: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8:28)
b. And Paul wrote: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Cor. 4:16-17)
c. I’m not suggesting that we minimize pain and suffering, but it does help to take a long-term perspective of suffering.
E. Just after the climax in the final film of the The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sam discovers that his friend Gandalf was not dead (as he had thought), but was alive.
1. Sam cries, “I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself! Is everything sad going to come untrue?”
2. The answer of Christianity to that question is “Yes!”
3. Everything sad is going to come untrue and it will somehow be greater for having once been painful and lost.
a. For all wrongs will be made right in heaven.
4. C.S. Lewis wrote: They say of some temporal suffering, “No future bliss can make up for it,” not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into glory.
5. This is the ultimate defeat of evil and suffering.
6. It will not only be ended but so radically vanquished that what has happened will only serve to make our future life and joy infinitely greater.
7. This is the hope we have in God.
8. Our God is a good and all-powerful God, even though He allows suffering.
Resources:
Skeptics Answered, by D. James Kennedy, Multnomah Books, 1997
Questions People Ask Ministers Most, by Harold Hazelip, Baker Book House, 1986
The Reason for God, by Timothy Keller, Penguin, 2009
Why Does God Allow Suffering? Sermon by Lee Strobel, SermonCentral.com
Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? Sermon by David Owens
