The Paradox Of Pain

So where does that leave the faithful believer in Christ? It leaves us in the same place it always leaves us at the end of our questions. It leaves us in the same place Job was after he suffered things most of us can only imagine.

It leaves us not with answers, but with God’s consistent word to us. Trust Me. Trust Me. I’m God, you’re not. I know best, you don’t. Trust Me.

But can we also admit how hard that can be? It was hard for Job, a man God commended in the heavenlies as a

Job 1:8 a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil

Then, Job had the kind of season in his life where even his lucky rocketship underpants didn’t seem to help. This was followed by the weak comfort of his friends, who looked for reasons why his suffering was Job’s fault. They tried to explain the unexplainable, and did a miserable job.

And God’s answer at the end of it all was basically, Job, you and your friends don’t have a clue. I’m God and you’re not.

This is just the beginning of God’s answer:

Job 38:1-4 (ESV) 1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

Tell me, if you have understanding. Isn’t that the gist of this paradox of pain? Not just for Job, but for us? We don’t have understanding. God took four chapters in the book of Job to say that to him. And in the end, Job realized that he really didn’t understand as much as he may have thought.

Job 42:1-3 (ESV) 1 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

So, we cannot explain the paradox, and though I do believe it’s OK, and even important to wrestle with these things, because they’re matters of faith, it’s also important for us to remember that when we try to explain things, we are often treading into areas we simply cannot understand.

The main question in the book of Job is timely: Why do believers experience troubles and suffering? Through a long debate, Job's supposedly wise friends were unable to answer this question. Job's friends made a serious error for which God rebuked them. They assumed that trouble comes only because people sin. People make the same mistake today when they assert that sickness or lack of material blessing is a sign of unconfessed sin or lack of faith. Though normally (but not always) following God leads to a happier life, and rebelling against God normally (but not always) leads to an unhappy life, God is in control. In our world invaded by sin, calamity and suffering come to good and bad alike. This does not mean that God is indifferent, uncaring, unjust, or powerless to protect us. Bad things happen because we live in a fallen world, where both believers and unbelievers are hit with the tragic consequences of sin. God allows evil for a time although he turns it around for our good (Romans 8:28). We may have no answers as to why God allows evil, but we can be sure he is all-powerful and knows what he is doing. Make God your foundation. You can never be separated from his love. Life Application Study Bible.