The world is broke.
Its a statement that we can all agree on. Whether you be Christian, Agnostic, Atheist or some other religion we all agree on this. No one looks at the world and says, “This is perfect, nothing else can be done.” We can’t say this because we all know that there are wars, murders, rapes, suffering, pain and death everywhere. Along with the laundry list of other horrible things that are out there everyone knows that this isn’t how its should be. Let me assure and affirm that there are some really good days out there, but your day is very likely someone else’s bad day.
So what does this all mean? Why does the Bible say that God won’t give us more than we can bear if our troubles seem to crush us at times? ( 1 Corinthians 10:13, Isaiah 26:3, Romans 8:31)
I think is a simple answer. Its an answer that truly shows us our hearts and ask us if we really trust that God is good. So here it goes.
As I stated above the world is broke. We live in a world full of sin and because of this sin we have hurt, suffering, pain and death (Genesis 3). We see this suffering and pain all around us. We see it in people that we don’t even know and at times can brush it off. However when suffering and pain happen to us or someone we love we are unable to separate ourselves from it and have to address it. So whats the answer? Sin. Now understand that I don’t mean any one sin you or someone else committed that has somehow brought the wrath of God on you. Here I am speaking of sin in a general way. We are all effected by it because the world is not yet perfect. This is why Paul rights Romans 8:18-25 that even creation groans because it knows that this world isn’t perfect. That it is not as it should be.
We now know the answer to why there is death and pain, it is simply sin. But what could be the benefit of it all? Why would God allow for it? Here the Bible also points us to an answer that we may not at first like or understand. It points to His glory.
Throughout the Bible we see that all things are for His glory (Philippians 2:12) and that He also works all things for our good (Romans 8:28). But how can suffering and death be for our good and His glory?
The one thing that sin always does is either push us away from God or pushes us closer to Him. When suffering, hurt, death or other results of a sin filled world show themselves we are left to either run away from God or run to Him. We have no other options. This is why in times of trouble and hurt we are most likely to really see our hearts.
When we have so much to lose we are laid most bear.
So a good question to ask yourself is this: “When pain and suffering show themselves where do I run? Do I run toward God and trust that He is good or do I run away from Him wondering why?”
This are not simple questions, but they are ones that need to be addressed. Below are the results of each
1) Running away from Him – When the results of the fall show themselves and we begin to run away from God it shows itself in a variety of ways. We will stop praying, reading His word and speaking of Him as a loving Father. We will instead start to speak and act in ways that show that our trust doesn’t rely on Him. Our words will begin to show that we rely more on ourselves than we do on His word. In the end it simple comes down the the fact that we don’t really trust Him. The best thing to do at this point is to repent. To call out to God and like let Him know we do love Him but we need help in our unbelief (Mark 9:24). This simple means that we do have faith in God and know he is good, but acknowledge our spiritual weakness. We then appeal to the Holy Spirit to create a heart within us that believes more firmly. We will always have questions, but those questions will go unresolved or wrongly answered unless turned over to God.
2) Running toward Him – When the results of the fall show themselves and we begin to run toward God it shows that we trust that He is good. This doesn’t not mean that we fully understand why it is happening but we do know and trust that our heavenly father is good. That He will teach us something through this experience and at the same time sharing with us in our hurt. When we do this not only is God faithful to give us much grace but to also show others His glory through our suffering. When suffering is handled with trust and love it begins to catch others attention and God is all the more glorified in something that Satan intended for evil.
There is not doubt that you will experience hurt, pain and death. These will come regardless of what you do. However how you respond will make an enormous difference. There are times that God is attempting to draw you closer, to make you more like Himself and to bring glory to His name.
The only question that you have to ask yourself is do you trust Him?
If my words do not bring you any comfort and only more questions let me then point you to the Word Of God. Psalm 18 is long but speaks of Gods glory. It shows that even those that trust in God experience great pain and suffering yet they still rely and trust in Him. Whether the day be good or bad their trust is fully on Him to deliver them. This leads those that trust in God to praise Him in sorrow and in victory. Read the whole things here.
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
(Psalm 18:1-3 ESV)
Pastor Mike Moore 