“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
Believers in God know that He is a loving God and that He is merciful. We can hang onto that in the midst of our suffering. We should not ask why there is suffering as if we are questioning His love or authority.
Who are we to question our Creator?
When Job had lost everything, and his friends had come to discuss the situation, God asked Job, “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” He then proceeded to ask Job where Job was when He created everything.
Job did not understand why there was so much suffering, but he learned to trust that God would someday explain it all. He went through extreme tragedy, and found at the end that the God he had faith in was a loving and merciful God. He discovered that his own wisdom was limited and that he could not grasp the ways of God. God would have to reveal to him what he didn’t understand.
We should look at human suffering with compassion and sensitivity, being eager to help those in need; but we should also look for hope in the midst of the suffering.
We can find peace and contentment even in adversity, knowing God is in control and will not give us more than we can handle. We can rely on our fellowship with the Lord to give us strength, and know that He will be there with us through whatever may happen.
We can also rest in the assurance that the suffering that we live with now, will be nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)
God is the only One that knows why certain things happen the way they do; but He has told us that Christians will endure affliction and has told us that there is purpose to the suffering.
© Drusilla Mott and https://drusillamott.wordpress.com, 2012
On Faith and Writing 
Good thoughts. God’s richness and love is extended to us even in suffering. As I read the post I was reminded of how God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so he would refuse to release Israel…all for God to further reveal His power of deliverance before His people.
Ro 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
And just last night the Pastor read the following which asks if the blind son’s affliction was due to the sins of a parent, and God answered, ‘Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. ‘
Surely, if there is no suffering, no affliction, no heartache…we would not know God’s compassion, healing, nor restoration.
Again, good thoughts. Thanks.
Carolyn
LikeLike
Thank you Carolyn, for your thoughts and verses.
LikeLike
It appears that there are many more walking wounded Christians today, stumbling through life with tear-stained faces, bleeding hearts, and doubt-filled spirits. Oh, that God may awaken us from our stupor and open our ears to His promises. Return to your beginnings, Christians, and commune with Him in secret. Let His “Shalom” heal your spirit and calm your fears. In His holy name, amen!
LikeLike
Amen, Jeanne. Thank you.
LikeLike
Thanks Drusilla. This truth is so hard to see sometimes!
LikeLike
Thank you Pastor J.
LikeLike
Dru, i have to believe that there is a reason for suffering. Mostly because it’s the human condition … as much as i hate Big Suffering. ;-). Maybe i’m becoming more of a believer. I am a believer in a High Power, for certain. I suppose that is God for me. I think there’s a part of me that is reluctant to join a church because there are kind and open people (often). What would my tribe-minded self think of all these people perhaps wanting to reach out and be friends? I’m at a strange crossroads. I’m blessed to have Don, and his children, my boss, a lot of tangibles. People are still quite scary for me. This is the work i’ll continue to do in therapy. 🙂 Yippee. Thanks for posting this. I feel less miserable already. xoxo melis
LikeLike
Dear Melis, I am glad you feel less miserable. You are still in my prayers. Have a wonderful day.
LikeLike
Thanks a lot for the encouragement Drusilla. Adversity builds character and suffering builds patience. Romans 5:3 states “. . . we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance.
God bless you.
LikeLike
Thank you Noel.
LikeLike