Today we wrap up our conversation regarding 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 (for instance, getting a ticket for drunk driving), all the suffering in your life is not directly connected. You can read the first three blog posts here, here, and here.
As we wrote earlier, 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. Initially, we considered, what does the Bible teach about God’s character? Yesterday, we answered the next question, what does the Bible teach about the purpose of suffering? Today, we will consider the third question, how should you respond in the midst of suffering?
How Should You Respond in the Midst of Suffering?
To this point in this series, we have learned about God’s character and the purpose of suffering. A careful consideration of God’s character and His purpose for our suffering provides you the framework from which you can respond in the midst of your suffering.
Although the Bible says so many things related to this topic, we will focus together on just one chapter in the Bible – James 5.
Trust God with Those Who Cause Your Suffering (James 5:1-6)
Pastor James writes to a group of people who suffer greatly. They moved out of Jerusalem under intense persecution and found nothing but hard times as they journeyed westward. Before James explains how he wants his congregation to respond to suffering, he gives a quick word related to God’s role. God sees. God knows. God hears. God will respond on behalf of those He loves.
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you. (James 5:1-6)
Those who persecute these followers of God – children of God! – have no where to run. They have enjoyed their momentary pleasure. God, however, also watched, listened, and now will judge them. Therefore, they can prepare their hearts to respond in a godly way to suffering since God will handle the persecutors (cf. Rom 12:14-21).
Patience in the Midst of Suffering (James 5:7-12)
Patience. Sounds difficult. However, patience helps keep you headed the right direction in suffering. Everything in you will want to bolt and run or just do something to get this thing finished (fight or flight responses generally). In these moments, our Pastor James calls on us to be patient. Notice how he does:
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment. (James 5:7-12)
Establish Your Heart (vv. 7-8)
James provides us several levels of advice concerning patience. First he points our eyes off our circumstances toward the coming of the Lord. For the Christian, the return of Christ brings hope and encouragement. Upon His return, all wrongs will be righted and all suffering for the Christian will cease.
He illustrates it with the farmer and his crops. Once the farmer plants the seed, he must wait for months until harvest. He cultivates, watches, and possibly waters along the way; however, the primary thing he must do is wait.
As the farmer, in the midst of suffering, we must be patient. Let me suggest two implications. First, there is a set time for the Lord to return – just as there is a time of harvest. Second, we must establish our hearts recognizing there is that set time. We must be busy cultivating and responding to the immediate needs in suffering, all the while recognizing this is just a season. Just as the farmer cannot force harvest to come any sooner, we also must settle in and be patient since we cannot force God’s plan.
Watch What You Say (v. 9)
In the meantime, in the process of suffering, we watch what we say. He refers specifically to grumbling. Why? Pastor James understands that while in suffering it is so easy to grumble. Where you would normally extent grace, forbearance, and perseverance with a person or problem, when in the midst of suffering, sometimes that extra tolerance escapes us. Therefore, we watch what we say (cf. James 3:1-12).
Be Careful What You Want (vv. 10-12)
Once again, Pastor James draws our attention away from our own suffering. This time he calls us to remember those holy people in the Old Testament. He encourages us to see the end of their stories. They went through great suffering as us, yet it was not without purpose. He uses Job as his primary example.
So why be careful what you want? In your suffering, desire God’s intended end. As with those prophets of old, our hearts desire. In the midst of our suffering, we want something. The goal is to want what God wants. What does God want? Not for us to rush through the suffering doing whatever it is to get out from underneath the load, but instead, God desires for us to endure. To learn, grow, and build the pieces of character that are missing on our way to Christlikeness (cf. James 1:2-12).
Therefore in the midst of suffering, we must keep our eyes on eternity, on God’s intended purpose for us, and remember God has a plan. In the process then, I will desire what God wants in the midst of and through the suffering.
In Prayer with Faith and Trust (vv. 13-14)
James continues:
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:13-14)
He specifically calls on us to pray. Are you suffering? Then pray.
Are you sick (which is suffering)? Then call for the elders and pray.
Talk to God. You do not suffer alone. He is with you in the midst of your suffering. Catch this… He is with you. God invites you to pray with Him. He wants to hear from you. He knows you are suffering. He recognizes the hurt. He offers compassion and mercy. He lovingly works out His plan which provides you the opportunity to fulfill your purpose in life of becoming like Christ. So pray to Him. Ask the elders to pray with you.
In Confession and Sought-after Accountability (vv. 15-18)
While we pray, James calls on us to do more than just merely talk to God. He challenges us to consider our own hearts. Are there places where we have sinned? Is there unconfessed sin? Are we potentially blind to our sin? He writes:
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (James 5:15-18)
As children of God, we approach God in prayer and seek forgiveness of sin. We search diligently. We consider our motives, our attitudes, our words, and our actions. Where we find those areas of sin, God will forgive us.
In the process we should expect better health as well. Why? Because we have humbly come before God and dealt with any and all sin issues. When we do, life is easier. Our circumstances are better – even when the circumstances does not change. The reason for this is unconfessed sin. It drains you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. However, when all is confessed and your relationship with God is good, you get the relief from that pressure.
Furthermore, call in reinforcements. Talk to other friends who also walk with Christ and who can provide you wisdom. Confess to each other. Help each other. Encourage each other. Comfort each other. In the midst of fellow believers, there is incredible passion, faith, and hope. Prayer is powerful.
In Joy for the Potential Long-Term Benefits (vv. 19-20)
As you go through your suffering, invite others to experience your suffering alongside of you, and work carefully with your elders, you can expect incredible potential long-term benefits. As James just wrote, the effectual prayer of righteous people avails much. Plus, in the process, you do not know all the possible ways your response to your suffering may help others. James ends this chapter and his book with these words:
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
Who knows what eventual good will come out of your suffering? Really, only God. However, you can persevere with joy knowing that God may even use your suffering in incredible ways.
In Sum:
My friends who are in suffering, have hope in God. Trust His character. Obey Him instead of seeking to do it on your own. Invite others into the process to help you change into the image of Christ. And, be patient with the process. God will handle those who have caused you to suffer. Let him do it. Do not let bitterness and malice rule your life. Instead, trust God’s sovereign hand in your situation and His watchful eye over you. Embrace both His love and His plan. Remember God’s purpose for you and for your suffering as you seek to patiently live for God’s glory in the midst of your suffering.
KevinCarson.com | Walking together through life as friends in Christ sharing wisdom along the journey
