Why do things have to be this way? Why does God allow my suffering? Why does God take away the things that I love? These are questions that inevitably run through the minds of a suffering Christian, or non-christian for that matter. If you're like me, maybe you have all the head knowledge and know the "Christian answer" for suffering. "All things work together for your good!" "God can use your pain for his glory!" "Nothing is unfair for us, what's unfair is that Jesus died the death that you deserve!" Yes, these statements are all true, but hearing them repeatedly doesn't solve all of my problems. They definitely don't make me hurt any less, and I'm guessing the same is true for most others. Recently, a preacher gave an answer for suffering that completely differed from all of the common cliches. The preacher said (and I am paraphrasing) that often, especially during suffering, we like to make God much smaller than he is. We like to bring him down to our level of comprehension, and hold him accountable to our limited level of knowledge. Another person in Scripture did this as well: Job.
In the first few chapters of Job, we see that God allowed Satan to put Job through trials to test his loyalty to Him. Satan took away almost everything that Job had, and even attacked his health. Job was a righteous man, and had no idea why any of this was happening to him. His three friends continually questioned him and rebuked him, assuming that he had been sinful since these horrible things were happening to him. But Job knew that he was innocent. So, he questioned God. He grieved. He even wished he were never born. He doubted, like you and me. All of the hard questions that we ask, Job asked to God.
But how did God respond? He didn't answer Job's questions, and didn't tell him His purpose for the suffering he went through. Instead, God gave questions right back to Job. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements- surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4-7). More questions like these from God continue. God didn't give him the answers to his questions, but gave him something better. He revealed his character to Job, and reminded him how great and how big of a God he really is. God's abilities surpass ours by far. Our God is a God who can create galaxies and life with just one word! He sustains the whole world. What are humans compared to this? I myself can't even do a push-up, so why do I think that I am stronger and more capable to sustain my life than the Lord is?
After the Lord spoke these truths to Job, he repented and immediately changed his perspective on the situation he was going through. "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 uttered what I didn't understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes (Job 42:2-6).
Once Job saw how big his God was, his problems seemed much smaller. He realized that he was trying to understand purposes that were too large for his comprehension. If God is as infinitely big and powerful as he says he is, of course our small human brains aren't going to be able to comprehend it. God is not human, nor is he limited to humans logic or understanding. We will never be able to fully grasp His character and His intentions. So, we ultimately must just trust what we do know: that he is good, and that he has our best interests in mind.
In the end, God did restore everything that Job had lost, and even doubled it! However, this might not be the case in our suffering. God might not restore, he might not fix the situation, and he might not ever give answers. But, it is okay because we have a God that is greater and wiser. We have a God who is capable of handling everything that we can not handle. This God is on our side! In times of suffering and doubt, it is important to see things in perspective, for how they really are. It is important to remember our place in this world. We weren't created to be happy, but to worship our creator and to be fulfilled by the joy that comes with that. If you are in a place of suffering and doubt, I would encourage you to take a step back from your current situation and to look at the bigger picture; to humbly look to God in amazement of how big his is. This doesn't mean your problems will go away, and that you will magically be cured. But hopefully, you will walk away with peace knowing (and believing) that God is much bigger than what you're facing, and that he is capable!
