Ways To Give

Suffering and Adversity

Written by Jim Green

“Be not mistaken: our cause is never more in doubt than when a human looking out upon a world from which every trace of the Enemy [Christ] has been banished, asks ‘Why have I been forsaken?’ and yet still obeys.” – CS Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Our difficult world

We live in a world plagued by sickness, war, heartbreak and suffering of every kind. At times it is difficult to reconcile this pain to the nature of our loving, merciful God. How many of us have heard, or asked, the question: “Why, Lord?”

Yet in a broken world, suffering does not have to mean defeat. We face adversity because of sin, but we are saved by Christ’s sacrifice. There is bad news and good news, and a choice to be made.

The bad news

The bad news is that suffering belongs to this world and us with it.

1. We are no longer innocent. We all have the tendency to go our own way, to do our own thing and to be motivated by pride and prejudice.  As the heirs of Adam and Eve, we have inherited a sinful nature that results in spiritual and physical death. We are no longer ignorant of evil but, rather, have become acquainted with it.   As Adam and Eve became aware of their nakedness, we have become aware of our separation and guilt before God and one another. We either feel guilty before God, ourselves or others, or all three.  As Henry Cloud points out in thoughts from Genesis: we don’t live up to our own expectations, let alone those of God or others (Genesis 3:2).
2. We are all separated from God. The Bible tells us that we are all sinners and have all sinned. The results: separation from God and loss of fellowship with Him and others. We were created to know and love God and one another, but we now experience alienation, guilt, isolation and loneliness from God and those around us (Genesis 2:16; 3:7-2; 3:17-4).
3. We live in a sinful universe and must deal every day with the results and effects of sin. a)  People sin against God and mankind. Therefore we experience anger, hatred, violence, abandonment, abuse, neglect, mistreatment, alienation, prejudice, racism, wars and pollution.b)  Our world is no longer what it was intended to be, and all of creation is marred because of sin (e.g. thorns, thistles, germs, bacteria, viruses, cancers, genetic aberrations, plague, drought, flood, infestations, earthquakes and storms).c)   We as individuals are affected emotionally, physically and spiritually by sin in the universe. We are not able to understand life and function as God intended us to. We are weak and limited in our capacities. We are broken needy people, frustrated by our inability to do what we know we should do or want to do. We have a fatal disease; we will all die one day.

The good news

Suffering may belong to this world and us with it while we live here, but the good news is that we do not belong to this world forever. Jesus saves us in at least three ways by His grace through faith:

1. By His death on the cross we have been saved from the penalty of sin – past
2. By His resurrection we can and are being saved daily from the power of sin – present
3. By His ascension we will be saved from the presence of sin – future

God’s will for us

We are not to be conformed to this world but are called to present ourselves as “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1-2). When we allow Christ to transform us, we will “be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

God’s will is not for our comfort, convenience, safety, security, health, personal rights, prestige, position, authority and power.  But because the will of God is for us to be conformed to the image of His Son, all things work together for our good.

We suffer adversity:

• In order to be glorified with Him (Romans 8:16-19)
• In order that the life of Jesus may be manifested (shown) in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:7-11)
• To cease from sin (from lust to the will of God) (I Peter 4:1-2)
• For our blessing (I Peter 4:12-19)
• To perfect us, confirm us, strengthen us and establish us (I Peter 5:8-10)
• To produce eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
• To help us to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)
• To produce perseverance, proven character, hope and love of God in our hearts (by the Holy Spirit) (Romans 5:3-5)
• To keep His Word and learn His statutes (Psalm 119:67, 71)
• As a testimony and encouragement to other Christians and to be able to experience God’s comfort and so comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4)
• In order not to trust in ourselves, but in God (2 Corinthians 1:8, 9)
• To be a living demonstration of God’s power, to keep us from exalting ourselves; to show it isn’t our strength (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
• To prepare us to reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:9-12)
• To produce endurance (James 1:3, 2 Timothy 4:5)

The choice is ours

The real issue is not what happens to us, but how we respond:

1. Negative response - a response of unbelief characterized by:
   a)  Blaming someone else (Galatians 5:15; Romans 12:14, 17-19, 21)
   b)  Indulging in self-pity (I Peter 4:12; Hebrews 12:3-13)
   c)   Fostering unforgiveness – bitterness, resentment, hostility, withdrawal (Hebrews 12:15; Matthew 6:14-15, Mark 11:24-25
   d)   Fighting against suffering – attacking others, self-justification (James 3:13-18; Matthew 5:44; 2 Timothy 2:24, 25)
2. Positive response – a response of faith
   a)  Affirming that God loves us (Romans 8:1, 31-39)
   b)  Remembering that Jesus understands (Isaiah 53:1-12; Hebrews 4:15, 5:1-9, 12:2-4)
   c)  Affirming that God can use all things for good (Romans 8:28)
   d)  Specifically giving thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
   e)  As a step of faith, considering it joy (James 1:2-4)
   f)   Exulting in tribulation (Romans 5:3)

We cannot escape suffering, but we can choose to respond in faith. Christ is our hope, our salvation, our comfort and our refuge.

Supplemental verses:

• Philippians 3:20-21, 4:6-7
• 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
• Romans 8:17-39
• 1 Peter 4:1-3, 4:7-19, 5:7-11
• John 8:44
• James 4:7
• Hebrews 11:39

Have you been suffering?

Would you like God the Father, through His Holy Spirit to comfort you? If so, why don’t you say this prayer by faith, and the Holy Spirit will fill you as He promises.

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your word that You would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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