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Suffering and Purpose
By Pastor Tom Jameson
 No doubt many of the patients and families (and even the volunteers) served by Grace on Wings have struggled with the question, “Why?” “Why did my wife get so ill?” “Why has my son suffered this horrible accident?” “Why is this happening to us?” Why, indeed.
There is no denying the tragedy, pain and brokenness that they, and all of us, encounter in life. It’s the common lot of suffering, shared by every human being. What makes the question so difficult is the seemingly blind randomness with which horrific suffering encounters us. Why does an innocent child get cancer? Why is a young mother struck with ALS? Why would someone in their prime be reduced to struggle with accomplishing the basic functions of life because of the irresponsible choices and actions of another? It doesn’t seem fair. It doesn’t seem right.
Thank God He doesn’t leave us to resolve this issue in our own wisdom. Scripture speaks deeply about suffering – not only its reality and God’s response, but also about finding purpose in, and through our suffering. This is where we find our greatest comfort, that God cares about and is present with us when we suffer, and perhaps more importantly, works in our suffering the kinds of things that are good and eternally significant.
A case and point of this can be seen in the story of Hezekiah in Isaiah 38. In short, the king was suffering terribly, even to the point of death. God graciously brought healing to Him, and Hezekiah was careful not to miss the lesson. |
As part of his praise to God, we read “Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but in love you have delivered my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back.” (Isa. 38:17) There are two very important points about suffering and purpose that he voices:
1) Suffering is not pointless. He acknowledges that “it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness.” Hezekiah saw his suffering as an opportunity to trust and know God more. His character and heart for God were refined in the furnace of pain and misery. This takes great faith and trust in God’s character and plan, but this is exactly how God seeks to grow us! We don’t pray for suffering, but when it comes we look for where God is active and focus on that (which is precisely what Grace on Wings seeks to manifest!)
2) Suffering is the context in which we know God’s glory. Hezekiah was at his life’s end, and it was only the Lord’s glorious hand that saved him. In this action he sees God’s love and salvation. When we suffer, we are in a prime place to witness the glorious grace of our God. Ultimately, we see and understand this in the forgiveness of our sin. We have a fatal diagnosis which we may not be aware of, and the potential of eternal suffering staring us in the face. But the glory of God is that Christ has come, and given us a hope that goes beyond all suffering – even death itself! This is the good news of the gospel, that we hear only when we are aware of our great need.
In Hebrews 2:10 we read, “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” Jesus suffered for us, in bearing the punishment for our sin, so that our current suffering, however devastating, might be replaced with eternal hope and comfort. When we suffer (and we will), may we see it in the light of what Jesus has endured for our sake, and come to know and love the Lord more deeply as we trust in Him and His purpose. |
