When you and I experience a crisis, the last thing we want to hear is that it was all for nothing. As Christians, we rightfully seek comfort in Bible verses like Romans 8:28-39 which emphasize God’s sovereign control over our circumstances. The problem is that we tend to misplace our comfort by trying to understand the reason for our suffering rather than simply resting in God’s sovereign goodness in the midst of it. The well meaning Christian often concludes, “Now I know why God allowed me to go through that trial…”
The fact is, God never promises to unfold his sovereign plan for our suffering, whether here on earth or even in glory. We misplace our comfort in a rational treatment of our sufferings in at least four ways. First, we selfishly believe that our sufferings are all about us – not realizing that God may appoint us to suffer for the benefit of someone else. Second, we arrogantly believe that we can partner with God in his eternal perspective - rightfully handling all the data, so to speak. Third, we falsely believe that God will give us a final briefing in glory which dispels all of our earth bound questions. Finally, we naively assume that our suffering has meaning when it results in some tangible benefit to us - we never seem to pursue an understanding of God's plan when it results in death or further misery.
A biblical example of these faulty assumptions is found in the Book of Job. Here God appoints Job to suffer as proof of his glory to Satan, all the while keeping Job in the dark about the reason for his suffering. We read in Job 23:1-4, that Job indicts God for allowing him to suffer when he is such a righteous man. In response, God returns the indictment by saying,
Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me! Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding… (Job 38:1-4)
Then, after God’s longest defense of his own glory in Scripture, Job humbly replies,
I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:1-6)
Thus God reserves the right to appoint us to suffer and even be indignant with us when we presume to know his plan. So where is the comfort in the midst of crisis? It’s in knowing that our God has a plan for his glory and our good; and that these two are never in conflict. We must therefore reject the demand to rationalize our suffering and rest in God's sovereign goodness toward those who believe.
Always in Pursuit,
Pastor Hirsch