While Suffering’s Here
If God is so good, why doesn’t He get rid of awful suffering?
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and that’s a question I am often asked. And I bet you have probably wondered the same, especially as you look around our broken world, or you check our news app, or glance at the headlines. I met a woman at a conference recently whose sister had committed suicide. The note she left simply read, “I just can’t take all the suffering anymore.” That was it; that’s all there was. This woman told me that her sister felt overwhelmed by all the pain of life. Now, none of us would ever go to her extreme, but in a small way we can understand her sorrow and sadness. And so we ask, “Oh, man, if God is so good, why doesn’t He just close the curtain right now, just do away once and for all with pain and suffering in the world?!” Now, that’s one of those statements that is more of an emotional appeal than an actual question. But if, if we were to respond to such a tough question, if indeed God were to get rid of suffering right now, He would have to get rid of sinners. Why? Well, suffering is just one of the consequences of our rebellion against God back in the Garden of Eden, right? Suffering, along with thorns, thistles, death and pain in child birth is just part of what it means to live in a broken world, a world scarred by sin. You want to get rid of suffering? Then get rid of sin. But wait! That means getting rid of sinners and God does not want to obliterate sinners; He wants to save them. Yes, God promises that one day He will end all suffering and sin, and, yes, it may feel like He’s taking a long, long time to do it, but as 2 Peter Chapter 3 verse 9 says, (now get this) “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Got that?
When Christ died, God established His kingdom and opened the way for sinners to be rescued. God was wise, very wise, in not finishing the kingdom when Christ was on earth. If He had closed the curtain on suffering, right there at the cross, doing away with all pain and heartache, what in the world would have become of us? For the last 2000 years or so, God has been so rich in mercy toward us! He is delaying closing the curtain on sin and suffering so that more people — millions more over the last 2,000 years — might come to know Jesus.
And I promise you (especially if you suffer) — the Bible promises you — just five minutes in heaven is going to be worth all the pain. Until then, our sufferings drive us to reach out to unbelieving friends and neighbors with the good news that God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever should believe on Him should not perish but have eternal life. Oh, friend, the cost of suffering may be great, but don’t you agree that people’s souls are worth it?! It’s the only way I think about my own suffering. Sure, I would love to go to Heaven and put behind me the wheelchair and all the pain that goes with it, but if I can stay on earth a little while longer; if God would be so merciful as to delay in closing the curtain on my life, then I can be used of Him to share the good news with so many more people, giving them a chance to come into the fold of God’s family. I don’t think you want anyone to perish either. I believe you want your friends and co-workers to come to repentance. So, join me in believing that their eternal state is worth the suffering that you are facing right now. Share the love of Christ today and be a part of bringing others to salvation in Jesus. Oh, and by the way, if you have a prayer request let me know on our radio page and our Joni and Friends staff will lift up your need before the Lord. God bless you today and thanks for listening to Joni and Friends.
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