Looking back on their lives many people see darkness of pain and suffering all their days. The days of joy have been few and far between and pain returns with greater force. A feeling, then, develops in them that probably God has sent them into the world to suffer only. What is the reason for our suffering continuously and the way to get out of such a pit into a place of joy seems difficult if not impossible.
The reasons for a loving God letting people suffer – A child desires to go outside and play while his mother, father or teacher restrains him and puts him to study. For the child this is great suffering especially when he hears the joy-filled shouts of his friends outside. However, at some later date one realises the benefits of that time spent in studies, for that takes him to a higher level of joy. In the darkness on the earth, God called out, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light’ (Genesis 1:3-4). This light was separated from the darkness already prevailing over the earth. What God desired to do is visible but what He thought and His purpose in the light and all other actions is unseen and deep and cannot be understood.
At God’s command, the sun and the moon were created, ‘the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night’ (Genesis 1:14-16). The sun reveals all that is visible and brings on heat while the moon helps us to recognise the cool of the night. But night hides what was visible and it takes effort to make what is hidden known. In like manner when we receive something good, we are not able to see what is hidden in that, which gets manifested sometime later. Adam was required to move beyond the boundaries of the Garden, to expand it into the unknown, to subdue that unknown. The earthly knowledge is about the visible and felt but the heavenly is about the spiritual and hidden. God called out ‘light’ to be on the first day and separated it from the darkness. The sun, moon and the stars were created on the fourth day when the original light was still shining. The sun reveals the earthly but not the heavenly, for which the ‘light’ must shine in the soul of an individual.
Job suffered unduly but his testing was used by God to prove to the devil, the God-given strength in man to face any challenges in life and yet remain committed to Him. Those who live by the light only, are not able to understand the hidden. Since mankind decided to walk out of the ‘light’, the spiritual things were discerned only by a few chosen people, on whom God decided to reveal. However, with the coming of the Messiah and salvation through Him, we are restored to that original state with the indwelling Holy Spirit, who ‘teaches us all things’. Apostle Paul has revealed the resultant effect of this on a believer, ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ’ (Ephesians 1:3). What has been given is enough to fulfil our role or mission of life on earth, but this is hidden to a naked eye, discernible only by the spiritual. We keep living in lack while all that is needed is already given by God in the spiritual realm.
God has not held back anything from us, for ‘He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him for us all, how shall He not also freely give us all things?’ (Romans 8:32). The source for us is in Lord Jesus and in His ministry on earth, He revealed all that. He has given us authority ‘over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall in any means hurt you’ (Luke 10:19). Lord Jesus defeated death, crushed the head of the devil and rose again on the third day, breaking the hold of these powers of evil and darkness over us. The Israelites were freed from the slavery of Egypt and were to treat others as equal. But, if anyone, due to financial distress placed himself as a slave, he was set free after six years. A condition was set by Moses for a slave who loved his master and did not want to walk free (Deuteronomy 15:16-17). The ear of that person was pierced with an awl as a mark. There are many people who are so satisfied with what the devil is doing to them, that they do not want to walk free and prefer to continue to remain in his slavery to sin and evil.
God desires to give His best to mankind but He never forces anyone to accept what is on offer. They keep blaming God for being angry or filled with hatred for them, without ever realising that the key to the door of escape is with them. They can set themselves free from darkness whenever they want. God was well aware of the presence of darkness on the earth and instead of destroying it, He separated it from ‘light’. Adam and Eve were cautioned, yet they decided to fall under the lies of the evil. On the other hand, a believer is given the way to enter into the Garden of Eden and live abundantly through faith. Let us look towards the light of Lord Jesus, for God has a wonderful plan of future and hope for all (Jeremiah 29:11). Instead of complaining, learn to be thankful to God and be a blessing for others. Promotion comes to a worker who works diligently and not to the complainers.
Overcoming the distress of separation from God – The fire in a jungle generally destroys much of the vegetation but the ashes act as a fertilizer and the earth becomes more suited to future growth. We need to look beyond what is visible to be able to see new opportunities for growth. Few things are very important to understand for us, in our present situation.
First, God knows what we are going through and at the right time He will create an opening to get us free and into an open space of opportunities. Second, He wants us to learn from our present circumstances to be prepared to move to higher places. Third, we are undergoing a cleansing process through removal of our weaknesses, while facing the trials of today. A goldsmith keeps the silver on the fire, till all impurities are removed and he can see his face in the molten metal. The final purpose of our life here is to prepare us for eternal life with Him in heaven. Our life here is to reveal the face of God as revealed in His Son and various situations we face lead us to that. Fourth, God strengthens us to face the crisis. Apostle Paul’s thorn in the flesh does not specify the cause of his sufferings (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). God answered his prayer with the words, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness’. The Apostle could declare, ‘Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecution, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong’. He was ready to suffer anything to walk in the strength of the Saviour Lord and thus glorify Him before others. He could live in the strength of the Lord and say, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13). His grace not only sustains us but also opens new doors for us.
After we have seen destruction by the fire, the same fire that protects us from cold, prepares food, some see that as an enemy but others see it as a friend. My niece’s house caught fire and during reconstruction, they had to live in a rented place. During repairs they could add a room in the attic that they always wanted for her husband for his office. Troubles bring us down, cause us to doubt ourselves and our faith is shaken and conflicts with friends and loved ones erupt. We are required to wait for the rainfall of new beginnings or new openings and grab those. Often people are so absorbed in their present troubles that they fail to see the way to move forward in the renewed strength from God.
God wants us to use the eyes of faith to see below the surface of what is visible and explore the unseen and learn our lessons. When we see the beatings, stoning, shipwrecks and other troubles that Apostle Paul faced in his ministry, it amazes us to see his attitude. He could confidently claim, ‘we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose’ (Romans 8:28). Our faith is not an accident but a plan of God acting in our lives and it is a journey towards a well-defined, pre-decided destination. We can choose to look at the events of our lives as positive and growth producing, even when they are fraught with pain. Believing in the Saviour is a decision that we make and then diligently work at it to live in faith while facing difficult circumstances.
Faith is not a passive state but one filled with action, for we follow the ways of what and whom we have faith in. When we fellowship with others who have faced similar situations or are undergoing such pain, we are strengthened while helping others to be strong in the Lord. Apostle Paul gives us the final clue to overcome difficult circumstances. We are advised, ‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might’ (Ephesians 6:10). We have the ‘Spirit of power, love and self-control’ in us to help us be strong.
Targeting great heights from the pit – During the Second World War,Elie Wiesel was taken to the Concentration Camp as a young teenager and survived Auschwitz. He was 15 years old when he was sent into Auschwitz, the most terrible place, and his mother and younger sister were killed in front of him. At the end of war, he was rescued and it was after a gap of ten years that he could share the horrors of that time. His book, ‘The Trial of God’ provides some details of life there. As per him, we must learn to live everyday as if it is the last day of life and do all that we can to be of help to someone. A word of encouragement, a prayer, sharing experiences and resources make a major difference to others.
When we start looking out towards others to help out, God fills us with strength that we never knew we had and we perform beyond our own imagination. We see the steps that lead us to the heights. First, spiritual growth – our low state reveals our true nature, where we may be weak within but maintain a façade of being strong. Apostle Peter walked on water but looking around at the storm went under to cry out and be rescued by the Lord (Matthew 14:28-31). We understand the truth of the Scripture promises only when we are drowning. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is revealed in the pit and not on the heights and we grow love, peace, joy and get transformed in our helplessness. Our faith is fully matured only in adversity. Psalm 35 and many others David starts with complaints and prayer but ends up praising God for the expected triumph in the Lord.
Second, God strengthens us to look and move upward. Moses experienced the best in Pharaoh’s palace, in wilderness while caring for Jethro’s sheep and then performing great miraculous deeds in Egypt and thereafter. He blessed the Israelites, saying, ‘as your days, so shall your strength be’, for God will equip you to face anything (Deuteronomy 33:25). The Israelites were filled with fear on seeing the giants in the Promised Land but later moved in faith and walls of Jericho fell inwards when they shouted to praise God (Joshua 6:20).
Third, our state of great turmoil is not about God punishing us but to develop trust in God’s plan for us. Job suffered extreme losses, death of his sons and daughters, loss of all property and his three friends also accusing him of some hidden sin. He could still claim, ‘He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold’ (Job 23:10).
Fourth, the key to glorifying God in the pit as on the heights is truthfully acknowledging doubts and God’s goodness. Doubts are natural reactions during long periods of pain. Prophet Habakkuk prayed, ‘O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear?’ (Habakkuk 1:2). Though in the end he could decide to praise and thank God despite the adversities that he faced.
Five, remember what He has done in the past and then be reassured of His faithfulness in the future too. We must never forget the sufferings that the Saviour underwent to redeem us. Carry out regular heart examination with trusted friends who can help maintain eternal perspective. We must continually remember God’s promises in His word and preach to ourselves. David proclaimed to himself the truth about God and His help in Psalm 23. He could claim protection, provision, comfort and eternal rest in and with the Lord. Fellow believers can help us in this when our own grip is getting weak.
What is decreed by God for us cannot be snatched from us, though it may get delayed due to our own failure to be prepared. From the Burning Bush, God told Moses, ‘I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrow’ (Exodus 3:7). They were in Egypt for four hundred years, where was God earlier? God is always present but intervenes only when we cry out to Him and seek His help. Lord Jesus walked on water to rescue and help the disciples facing the severe storm (Mark 6:48). But it is written, ‘and would have passed them by’. Why would He go to them and then pass them by? God is ready to reach out but only when we cry out to Him for His help. We must remember that when our ways of reaching God are not working, we must find others to get close to Him.
The twelve disciples had less educated fishermen and also a tax-collector but the work of Lord Jesus applied to all of them raising them to great heights far above their own merit. This could happen for they all heard the call of the Saviour Lord to ‘follow Me’. In our desperation to escape from the present situation, we also invent many excuses. Many others will try and show us many other ways to heaven and salvation, but we must continue to walk in obedience to serve the Lord. Our God. One day as per His time-table, He will surely lift us up to His scheduled destination for us!
