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Ron Writes

Something that I’ve often addressed is the frustration of hearing Christians say after every tragedy that God must have a reason for causing it. Not everything that happens is the will of God. Sometimes we suffer because of our own bad decisions. Sometimes it is the decision of others that causes us trouble. Often, it’s the result of living in a sinful, fallen world. There’s the false belief that God’s unrestrained sovereignty causes everything to be God’s will. 

But there is a flip side. While God doesn’t cause all suffering, He is able to use suffering for our good. After the exodus from Egypt and Israel’s refusal to enter the promised land God Made Israel wander in the wilderness for 40 years. It was to punish one generation, but it was also used to prepare another generation. To the next generation Moses said, “You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not” (Deut. 8:2). Note it was to 1. Humble you, 2. Test you, 3. To know what was in your heart. Part of the wilderness wandering was self-discovery. It was to lead them to trust in God. 

Paul was able to say that we “rejoice in our afflictions” (Rom.5:3). He explains that the pressure of affliction brings about perseverance, character, and hope. Through it all God was doing something to bring about growth. James has this same reflection when he says, “consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2). James realizes that God is able to use these trials for His purpose. In Acts 9 Jesus told Ananias that He would show Saul (Paul) how much he must suffer. This wasn’t intended as punishment, or payback for his sins, but as a blessing. He was going to show Paul how God will be with him and cause him to grow and mature.

Our culture is anti-suffering. Its goal is to be happy, happy, happy. There’s nothing positive seen in suffering. It’s not that Christians are pro-suffering. It’s just that we are able to see that the sovereignty of God is able to take anything and use it for our good.