Following my last post on the question of hope, a friend on Facebook asked me how would she convince someone to trust in God when all they feel is pain? And how can such a person have hope when they don’t even have the basic necessities?
Good questions, and here are my thoughts…
If for example, you chose not to believe that God existed, would it help you to accept your pain and suffering? Does getting rid of your belief in God make acceptance of evil and your suffering any easier? Or, if you do believe in His existence, then why wouldn’t you trust Him? Why wouldn’t you have hope?
If you feel that He does not exist, then what is the reason for your pain? Right now it would appear that you blame God, so in His absence, who deserves the blame? Or is the issue more being upset that He is allowing your pain? Have you considered that maybe there is a reason or purpose for your pain? For example, Jesus Christ, who was without sin, suffered, but it was not without purpose. He suffered so that sinners would have hope of salvation.
Moreover, God never promised that we would not have to endure pain and suffering. In fact, His Word in 1 Peter 4 vs 12-13 tells us:
“Dear friends do not be surprised at the painful trials you are suffering, as though something strange was happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
We also see in John 16 versus 33:
“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”
So suffering is ought to be expected, and it is no reason or basis not to trust in God.
And as unfortunate as suffering is, it has sometimes proved to effect something positive. For example, a lady on a radio programme testified that prior to 911 she did not believe in God, yet after 911 when her boyfriend died, she cursed God for allowing it to happen, and it was in that moment she recognized that if she was blaming God, then she must believe that He exists.
In a recent radio interview a fellow author commented on how kind some very poor people were on an island that he and his wife had visited. The radio commentator in response, mentioned how extremely kind people were after the passing of Hurricane Ivan, and he concluded that sometimes we need devastating events to remind us to be kind. How funny is that? I’d also like to share with you an online article that highlights how suffering sometime provides an opportunity for heroism and compassion in others. The article also mentions that scientists have said volcanoes and earthquakes actually contribute to the existence of life on earth (See http://www.broadcaster.org.uk/section2/transcript/suffering.html).
And what about people who have great wealth and security but still choose not to trust God? If they do not trust God despite their wealth and security, then how can a suffering man justify not trusting in God due to his pain?
It really is up to the individual. Look at good old Job. God allowed the Devil to kill Job’s kids, take away his livelihood and make him diseased, and while Job’s friends and his wife encouraged him to give up his integrity, curse God and die, he still trusted God. And you know what happened next? God multiplied all that Job had. Job never stopped trusting in God despite his pain and suffering.
Why not have hope also that the pain will one day end? Jesus’ Christ’s resurrection happened, despite his suffering. So why can’t we trust and have hope that our own suffering and pain will end?
Also, how much are we willing to give back to God, if anything? It’s always easy to blame God, but hard to acknowledge His greatness. For example, we can’t trust Him because all we feel is pain, but yet He woke us up this morning, and every morning. Who was it that put that breath in your body? For those who have children, who provided that blessing of having another human being of your own to care for? If you’re struggling to pay your rent or mortgage, who allowed you to have that roof over your head in the first place? Sometimes people get angry at God when loved ones die, but God never promised us immortality, and for those who trust Him there is hope beyond the grave. And at least the person who dies would escape or no longer endure life’s pain and suffering. For the loved ones who are left to grieve, if you trust in God you are assured of his comfort in your time of pain. God’s words in Mathew 11:28 tells us:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Do note the words “come to me”. Firstly you can call on God in prayer, but more importantly I think that call to go to Him also means to repent and believe in Him. Believe not just in His existence, but in His power to save you.
Maybe you imagine a world with no evil whatsoever, just all good, everything perfect, and everyone perfect. And you wonder why God did not allow such a world. I do not know the answer to that, but the reality is that good and evil co-exists, and exists for ALL people, whether you believe in God or not.
So trusting in Him is your choice, and maybe this is the heart of the matter. Perhaps God wanted a world where people could choose for themselves, and not one where he treated people as robots, controlling their every action and thoughts. Pain and suffering is never easy, but it is not a good reason for not trusting in God, and for not having hope.
whatifsometimeslifehappen 