This week on the blog we have been discussing whether or not God sends suffering to an individual simply because that person has a sinful past and/or is in a current struggle. Bottom line – God does not wait anxiously for an opportunity to punish you or cause you to go through suffering as a response to your personal sin. Although sometimes there are direct consequences of sin (like getting a ticket for drunk driving for instance), all the suffering in your life is not directly connected. You can read the first two blog posts here and here.
As we wrote yesterday, no doubt about it, God certainly allows suffering in a person’s life. Sometimes great suffering. Both God the Father (in the Book of Job) and God the Son (in the Gospels) specifically say the Triune God does not cause suffering because of past or present sin. In other words, God does not operate off of a merit system where your actions earn you either reward or punishment.
Since this is true, there are three questions that need to be answered to help you respond correctly then to suffering. Yesterday, we considered, what does the Bible teach about God’s character? Today, we will answer the next question, what does the Bible teach about the purpose of suffering? On tomorrow’s blog we will consider the third question, how should you respond in the midst of suffering?
What Does the Bible Teach about the Purpose of Suffering?
Why does God bring suffering? If He is not just angry with us and seeking to get revenge or a pound of flesh, then what is God doing when He sends suffering?
His Primary God Is to Make You Like Christ.
We turn again to the Apostle Paul for an explanation of suffering. Yesterday, we highlighted Romans 8 as well in terms of both how much Christ loves us and how the Spirit works for us. Today, we consider the portion of that chapter that connects the work of the Spirit with the love of Christ. Paul writes:
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:26-31)
In the passage above, notice how the Spirit prays or intercedes for us in the midst of tough circumstances. He prays “according to the will of God.” In other words, He knows what God is doing and wants in a particular situation and prays toward that end. He intercedes for us.
At the end of the selected passage, this is the beginning of the portion of Scripture that describes God and Christ’s love for us. What incredible words, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
If God is for us and is doing something in the midst of our suffering, we wonder what God is doing and what is the intended end of suffering?
What is the intended end of our suffering?
Paul answers this question for us. He tells us that our suffering, as part of ‘all things,’ works together for our good. What is the good? He continues, “to be conformed to the image of His Son.” The intended end of our suffering is conformity to the image of Christ, or, simply stated, Christlikeness.
Consider an orchestra for a moment. In an orchestra there are many different instruments and various lines of music for each one. Under the hand of a great conductor, all the various parts work together to create a beautiful masterpiece. If you were to listen to any single instrument, the song would not sound right, nor would the instrument be in balanced with the whole. But, if instead, you listen to all of them as a whole, it is gorgeous and fulfills the conductor’s purpose.
This is similar to suffering. God uses all things together to help us become like Christ – that’s the intended end. Suffering is one of those instruments. If you focus only on suffering, then it is out of balance and you miss the larger, greater role that suffering plays in the total piece. You must add all the other pieces of the orchestra of Christlikeness into view to see how it all works together.
Therefore, in the midst of your suffering, just take to heart that God is using today’s suffering as part of the overall orchestration of life to help you become like Christ. This is the intended end of suffering: to become like Christ.
God Provides You Wisdom in the Midst of the Pressure-Filled Circumstances
As you go through these tough circumstances, in the process of becoming more Christlike, God provides you wisdom. Consider what the Book of James tells us:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:2-5)
James says that we can consider our various trials as joy. Why? Because we recognize what God is doing in the midst of the suffering.
Again, what is God doing? He is helping us become like Christ.
How does James say the same thing? He mentions a process, not just the end of the process. He describes how when your faith is tested, it produces patience or perseverance. Perseverance is what I refer to many times as your spiritual muscles. This trial produces perseverance which, in turn, helps you become perfect (mature) and complete. James refers to ‘perfect’ and ‘complete’ where Paul referred to Christlike. These are similar in nature. James even says that you lack nothing. This means that you have all your characterological pieces becoming more like Christ in the process.
Consider this example of what this process looks like. While making a cake, you assemble all the ingredients. You put them together as the recipe demands. One piece after another until you have all the pieces. Then you mix it. At that point, do you have a cake? No. You only have a cake after it goes into the oven and undergoes the heat. The end goal requires a certain amount of heat in order for all the pieces to work together to produce the final product. Too little heat – an incomplete process. Too much heat – a horrible product.
God brings circumstances (various pressures or trials) into our lives which produces heat. He knows the recipe in order for us to become like His Son, Jesus Christ. As we go through the process, we get all our pieces. We develop the character that God desires.
Pray for Wisdom as You Go Through the Trial
As you go through the pressure, James tells us to pray for wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to apply the Scriptures to life’s circumstances. While going through touch pressures, you need that ability. Therefore, James says to ask God for that ability.
What does God do? God provides you wisdom and as much of it as you need. Along the way, part of God’s wisdom includes knowing when to talk to others too. You may need additional voices of trusted friends in the church who can help you along the way.
In Sum: God Is Growing You Through Suffering.
In your suffering, God works for your beneficial end and His glory. As you go through your suffering, God quietly works to conform you to the image of His Son.
How often? Does this include every trial or pressure? Does this include every situation? Absolutely.
Your response is key. Tomorrow we will answer the question, “How should you respond in the midst of suffering?”
KevinCarson.com | Walking together through life as friends in Christ sharing wisdom along the journey
