The Big Questions--Pt 2

Here's the thing. If you came here looking for answers, you can just stop reading now, and go on about your life. I don't really have many answers, and the ones I have are probably not what you want to hear. Hell, right now they really aren't what I want to hear either.
But like I've said before: this isn't about me.

Gene wanted to know: Do I think suffering is a necessary part of everyone's life?

(**Before, embarking on this adventure, please understand that this is a post written from the view point of a believer The protective covering of God's hand is not given to those who are not his children. The Bible calls non-believers children of wrath. Even the "best" non-believer is subject to the whim of satan and the world without permission from God, though truth be told, as they are already in the enemy camp they probably merit little attention from the great accuser.**)

"But you must not eat of the the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it, you will die."
Gen. 2:17

Now, I am good with words. I can twist and turn and wriggle and make things go just about any way I want, but not here. God is pretty straight forward.
Rule #1: DO NOT eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Consequence #1: You will die.

I could make up a lot of luuuuv-ly words and reasonings as to why there is suffering in the world, and why some people seem to suffer randomly and/or needlessly, or why those who seem to deserve the most suffering seem to simply prosper, but here's the harsh fact:

We earned it.

He is the Rock. His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and perfect is He. Deut. 32:4

I said earlier that I believe that man was created to live in perfect communion with God. Adam and Eve walked naked in the garden with Jehovah God and they were not ashamed. That's some serious communing, and if it were up to God, that's where we would all be still. And we would be walking not only with God but with Adam and Eve and Moses and Jacob and all the rest because no one would ever die. But love is not love unless we freely choose it. Worship is simply robotic sycopahancy without choice. We were created with the ability to choose, and choose we did.
We broke Rule #1. We suffer consequence #1.

The wages of sin is death. Ro. 6:23

It would be nice, wouldn't it, if we could all die peacefully in our sleep? Just draw a last breath and sigh our spirit into heaven? Or what about the 600 year life spans we read about in the Bible? Why couldn't we get a little of that action? Unfortunately, we live in a world that is falling apart physically, spiritually, socially.

If you are looking for things to get better, don't. At least, not this side of Christ's return. This world has been so corrupt for so long that the consequences of sin are just about everywhere we look. These consequences are the answer to much of the suffering in the world. We choose to sin and often that sin has very real consequences. STDS, addictions, greed, gross obesity, lust, abortion, people claim to suffer from all these things, and I am sure that they do, but this is not random chance, folks. We act; there are consequences for those actions. While the suffering is real, let's not act as though you were the random victim of an angry God, ok? And let's not be fooled into thinking that seeking forgiveness necessarily means an end to suffering. Some people indeed receive release from that bonds of suffering, but for some the message is "My grace is sufficient. In your weakness is my strength." I'll not begin to debate why some are released and others not, because that is of God's design, and like the rest of humanity, it's information to which I have no special priviledge.

But what about "random" suffering?

You'll remember in my previous big questions post, I stated that I believe in a God of design. This belief means that there is no such thing as "random" suffering.

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the time set for man and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that man would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. Acts 17:26-27

All suffering can be traced back to the fall from grace and state of perfected living in the garden, which does, indeed, seem a distant sin for us to be afflicted with the judgement, and perhaps were we sinless creatures today, that would be a valid argument. On a more personal level (because I believe God is a personal God), I know that nothing that happens goes unfiltered through God's divine plan. The Lord is never surprised. Satan never "gets one by on him."

My assuarance of this is based on the first 5 chapters of Job. Satan, himself, admits to "roaming the earth and going back and forth in it." He looks constantly for believers to accuse, to afflict, to test, but he cannot act without God's permission. God is not unaware of our suffering, and it does not best please Him to watch us suffer, but once again I hearken to the fact that it is not about us.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" Declares the Lord Is. 55:8

So you see, I understand that fact of suffering. Of suffering, we are assured, and in fact should expect no less. Our God is not a distant God who watches us without care, but rather chose to put on human flesh and experience suffering first hand. For as we can comfort others in our own suffering, He also comforts us(1st Cor 1:3-11).

While the fact of suffering and the existance of suffering are not things I struggle with, the reality of it is something that I sometimes cry out about daily. And I stand in good company, David, Job, Paul, Christ Himself in the garden cried out for suffering to be removed from them. Begged, pleaded, wept for their cup to be taken. Please don't take my understanding of the fact for calm acceptance of all things. I don't like to hurt, and I don't like to see others hurting. I want answers. I want to see the plan and know the reasons, and that is something I struggle with on a daily basis.

In Christ alone my hope is found.

Be strong and Courageous. Do not be terrified......for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Deut. 31:6
Yea, though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:4
And surely I am with you always, Even unto the end of the age. Matt. 28:20

Comments

[Jenster]

I'm a breast cancer survivor as well. Only at 2+ years, but I'm looking forward to 10 years, 20 years, a whole lotta years!

I never questioned why and I never got angry at God. Instead I trusted in Him and leaned on Him and cried out to Him. As I'm sure you know, I had some pretty rough days and my good attitude had its limits. But even in the depth of my despair God gave me peace and joy.

Oy! I'm rambling on just to say that I love what you wrote. Your heart is so transparent and I agree with you 100%. And my common belief is what got me (and my husband and my kids) through the worst time of our lives (to date, anyway).

[Christie]

OK This is my first time reading your blog and I found this section and now I am energized. This has been a passion of mine for awhile. (Pain as passion?.. No I am not one of those...) So often people run from pain, when it is pain that brings us growth. It has been when I have been in utter despair, that I have known that the hand of God was on me. Not at the exact moment of pain, but when I have asked God for the healing because I knew I couldn't. When I havelooked pain in the face and said God I can't do this by myself but I am tired of the pain dogging me, Can you walk me through this. And then there is freedom. So I have decided instead of running from pain, embracing it (not looking for it)."For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long (though it seems quite the opposite). Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!" 2 Cor. 4:17. Pain brings transformation. And as followers of God, transforming is what we are called to do. So why not embrace pain?

[Acuvue 2 color opaques contact lense]

Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things, and small people talk about wine. Fran Lebowitz (1950 - )

[Gene]

First and foremost Dana, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to respond to my questions with such eloquence and thoughtfulness. Even though you and I have been through very different experiences, we are both survivors with a deep faith in God. After my accident, my own personal relationship with God increased tenfold, and I found myself asking the same questions of myself that I asked you over and over again. When I found your blog, I couldn’t resist asking you those questions. Your answers and convictions are similar to my own, but your knowledge of the scriptures and the way you breathe life into the words is far superior to anything I could ever do.

You quote Isaiah, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" I’ve often struggled with my faith over the past three years, wanting to know why this happened to me! I’m not satisfied that I’m somehow ‘meant’ to suffer for Adam and Eve’s original sin. Wasn’t Christ’s suffering and death payment for that sin? Or did that only unlock the door to the Kingdom of Heaven for us? Is this life still just a test to see if we are worthy of that Kingdom? My thoughts on heaven go back to that quote from Isaiah--- that once we die; we finally get to understand all of these things…

But know that your words reassure and comfort me as I struggle along my path of recovery, as I’m certain they do for all the ‘sistahs’ you minister to. You have a gift, dear lady. And that gift is ministry and care giving through the word of God. I knew it as soon as I read your blog for the first time. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll stick around for a few more pearls of wisdom from your keyboard…

BTW, happy eighth ‘cancerversary’…hope you have many, many more!

[naomi]

We worship a God who is not unmoved by our suffering, unlike the gods of this world our God is a God filled with compassion for all of His creation and is moved to intervene on our behalf. ~hugs dana~

[Nattie-dahling]

I've been wrestling with some of these same issues. In our wed night bible study my pastor has been discussing why God doesn't answer prayers (or answer them the way we want them). And a lot of it comes down to "my grace is sufficient for you." Amen. It doesn't mean I have to like suffering, but I can rest in that fact alone. Good post.

[Stacey]

Heartfelt, true, and I think a great answer. (((hugs))))

[Heather]

Wow... awesome answer Dana. Very well researched.