WHY DO WE SUFFER
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us… Romans 5:3-5.”
Dear Friends, in this devotion, I am not going to focus on one verse but on one book and this is the book of Job. As I was going to get my phone recharged, the Lord dropped something really important into my spirit. This year I have been reading the Bible through systematically and the book of Job impressed itself upon my heart.
We all suffer and go through things, and sometimes our suffering is caused by our sin, but sometimes it is not. Let’s look at Job’s situation. He was a righteous man. He was fully consecrated to God. Yet, he went through some of the worst suffering recorded in the Bible. Why did this happen?
Sometimes our suffering has nothing to do with us. The devil came to God and accused Job, and we need to realize that he accuses us every minute of every day. Job was a pawn between God and the devil; Job’s three friends’ came and gave him plausible and logical explanations. Sometimes we can give advice which in human terms is right and correct, but in spiritual terms is so way off the mark. I wonder if you are one of Job’s friends who answer him from the flesh and not the spiritual.
We need to look spiritually at all situations to see by the spirit and not the flesh. Let me give you some examples from Scripture. First, we have the man born blind in John Chapter 9. Why was he born blind? So that God’s work through Jesus could be made manifest. His suffering was not the result of some sin, your suffering is because God wants to be glorified; whether in peace or in suffering, God will be glorified.
Second, The Apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh and he wanted this removed. But what did God say and this is his most quoted answer to people who ask why? “My grace is sufficient for you.” Sometimes we can only say that the suffering is not because of us, we have to realize that there is a battle between God and the forces of darkness. Remember the story of Elisha in 2 Kings Chapter 6?
There is a spiritual battle raging all around us. We see a little of what is going on, it is a battle against spiritual wickedness in high places。
We need to realize that like Job sometimes our suffering is not because of our sin, but it is a fight between forces that are spiritual. Going back to Job, God restored to him and gave him twice as much as he had before. He did not give Job an explanation for his suffering and he owes us no explanations although sometimes He does graciously tell us why.
When God is silent about the reasons for suffering, remember He is your loving Father and will never ever do anything to hurt you. Everything He does is for our benefit. If you are bearing fruit, he will prune you, not to hurt you, but so that you bear more fruit. He doesn’t have to explain why he does things to us, our suffering is to benefit us and for His glory. The suffering of this present world is nothing to the glory when we spend eternity living in the light of His glory and presence.
God bless you, Keith