It seems that no
one is untouched by tragedy and suffering, doesn’t it? Not even those of us who
are Christ Followers can avoid some pain and suffering.
First of all,
let’s be clear on a few things. While God allows bad things to happen, He does
not want it for us. In fact, when God created the Earth, it was very good. Genesis 1:31 reads, “God
saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” This very good condition was the plan for all
of God’s creation.
Then God created
Adam and Eve and God gave us human beings the ability to make choices. We call
it free will. And, sadly, Adam and Eve flunked the test on
decision-making. Because of their decision, sin entered the world and
it’s that sin that affects our choices. Because we can make choices, sometimes
those choices can be good and sometimes they can be bad. But, that’s the
freedom God gave us because He wanted us to love Him freely and not because we
are forced to. However, with that freedom to make bad choices comes suffering.
Sometimes free
will results in evil and painful choices.
Remember, though, that all of the evil and pain in this
world is human evil, not godly evil. God cannot sin so He can’t be evil. So all
this pain and suffering is humanly-caused pain, which is a result of human sin.
It’s not God’s fault when things go wrong.
But, thank God, it’s not over! Even though we are evil by
nature, God still loves and cares for us. Jesus’ death on the cross paid the
full price for each and every one of us. God’s Word promises that He will
create a new heaven and a new earth and there will be “no more mourning or
death or pain” because man’s sin will be gone and God will dwell with mankind. Praise
God for that!
So, what about things that aren’t caused by people? Why do
earthquakes that kill thousands of people happen? Why do some people get
cancer? Why do little children get hurt or killed? Certainly those aren’t
caused by human sin, are they?
Well, in a way, they are. All pain and
suffering can be traced back to the original sin in the Garden of Eden. But, here’s the
plus-side of suffering: it gives us the opportunity to lean on God and grow
closer to Him and it is an opportunity for those around the person suffering to
develop compassion and personal heroism. When things go bad, and we
all will experience pain and suffering, it gives us the chance to come closer
to God and to depend on His grace and mercy. We may never entirely understand our situation or experience but we can put our faith in God to get us through the storm.
One of my favorite
Bible verses is a simple one and one that is easy to remember. It is Proverbs
3:5-6 and it says, “Trust in the Lord, your God, with all your heart and lean not
on your own understanding but in all ways acknowledge Him and He will make your
paths straight.”
We have to trust God’s will despite
what we see as being so sad and so tragic. And know, just know and put your
faith in, the fact that God is good and that He loves you unconditionally.