Why Do We Suffer?

By Jeff Hansen

Why do we suffer? This is a question that’s been asked many times by many people. However the suffering manifests itself, it’s unpleasant for us as human beings to endure, and quite often it’s downright painful. Why does God allow these unpleasant things to happen?

While reading through my old hymnal years ago, I came across a hymn referencing a verse from the third chapter of Lamentations. The reference from this relatively obscure and seldom-read book of the Bible seemed out of place, so I decided to read the chapter.

Lamentations 3 teaches a lot about suffering. The first twenty verses describe how it feels to suffer, and many individuals can relate to its graphic description. The tone completely changes with the next verse: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end” (ESV).

This is Gospel and echoes John 3:16. Those first twenty verses are also a foreshadowing of Christ’s suffering and dying on the cross for our salvation! Additional words of comfort follow: “For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though He cause grief, He will have compassion according to the abundance of His steadfast love; for He does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men” (Lamentations 3:31–33 ESV).

Lamentations 3 teaches us that although we may suffer at times, the Lord will grant us faith, give us endurance, and help us get through those difficult times. Job even tells us that “He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity” (Job 36:15 ESV). 1 Corinthians also assures us that “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV). God has everything under control, no matter the circumstances, which is very comforting.

The hymn I was alluding to earlier was “Go To Dark Gethsemane.” At the close of the second stanza, it states, “Shun not suff’ring, shame, or loss; learn of Him to bear the cross” ( Lutheran Worship, 110:2). Christ experienced a great deal of suffering, even death, in order to carry out the one great plan of salvation for us. God has plans for all of us as well. That’s why He created us. Although we may never know exactly what those plans may be, we must endure any hardships that come our way. Adversity puts our lives in a different light and changes us. Martin Luther once stated, “Affliction is the best book in my library,” meaning that the grim reality of suffering can often be the best teacher. It’s healthy to search for something positive to come from our sufferings.

Suffering can make us thankful for what we already have, as God’s will for us in Christ Jesus is to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5). Suffering can also humble us by showing that we are not in complete control of everything. Multiple verses in Proverbs declare, “Humility comes before honor.” We read that God will exalt the humble in many places in the Bible. Martin Luther even points out that, “God creates out of nothing. Therefore, until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him.” This statement reminds us of Job, especially of his eventual redemption.

Suffering can aid us in witnessing to others and in comforting those who suffer from afflictions similar to what we’ve endured. This is illustrated by the words, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our a ffliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we s hare abundantly in comfort too” (2 Corinthians 1:3–5 ESV).

God uses suffering to refine our faith as we find that other things aren’t trustworthy like we thought. The first chapters of 1 Peter and James remind us, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV), and, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing...Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:2–4, 12 ESV; see also Romans 5:1- 5, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6-11).

Our Heavenly Father often does His work through those who suffer. He strengthens and shapes us in our faith to be more useful to Him through our afflictions. By bearing our crosses, we become better servants to the Lord. Christ bore the biggest cross of all, and He helps us to bear ours. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We also know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

In this world, we will have trouble. But take heart. Christ has overcome the world.

Jeff Hansen is a three-time cancer survivor and is also the webservant and chairman of the board of evangelism for Trinit y Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Billings, Montana. A talented musician, he provides musical visitation to patients at a local Billings hospital. You can email him at dulcimerist@gmail.com.