Why Does God Allow Suffering?
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Rev. Scott D. Fobare - Pastor -
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February 5, 2012
It was just before Christmas when I received a letter from a father who was crying out for an answer. His son was injured in an automobile accident. He is a quadriplegic. He is unable to move or take care of himself. He is unable to speak. His father was simply asking how come God wasn't performing a miracle on his son.
Sometimes in the midst of great pain we will ask ourselves the same question. Why is there suffering in the world? Why does God allow suffering to exist? These are very good questions. The only sad thing is, that there isn't a clear cut answer. We cannot answer the question because we simply are not God. God is a mystery - something so deep and complex that it can't be solved. So to think that we can solve the ancient mystery of why suffering exists is beyond our expectation. So what do we do? What do we do about suffering in our lives today?
Since we are not able to answer the "WHY" I think it might be more appropriate to ask the question, "What am I going to do with my suffering?"
There is no doubt that none of us wishes to suffer. There isn't one of us who chooses to suffer in this world. Pain and suffering come to us even though they are unwelcomed. It is a part of life. For some, pain and suffering is more severe than for others. Why? There isn't an answer. The "WHY" of suffering is suited for science and history. The question of suffering in this world tends to open a frustrating search for an answer that unlikely to be found in this life. We know that God does not cause suffering. God permits it. But this too doesn't help provide an answer as to why - why does God permit it? The answer is simply this...the fact is that suffering just is. Once we do understand this, we can have a choice. We can rage against it or we can accept it - because it just is. If we learn to just accept it we can proceed to a life of faith and trust. This means to accept suffering in union with Christ who, even though Son of God, accepted horrific suffering and death.
When we learn to accept suffering in our life, in union with Christ, then good can be accomplished. It might sound a little strange to hear that. Like the suffering of Christ himself, our accepted and offered suffering has the power to accomplish good.
I bring you back to the matter of choice. We can choose rage or acceptance. When we choose rage then we hold on to the prevention of goodness. When we choose acceptance, then we are asking ourselves - "what am I going to do with my suffering?" I can't change what is but I can make a difference with what I have. Suffering can sometimes be a means to doing the good to which we have been called.
Even Jesus teaches us to accept suffering for the greater glory of God. He choose to accept suffering - at the moment of the cross - why? Because it was the Father's will. And in and through that suffering he accomplished a great good - salvation for the world.
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