I friend of mine wrote this reflection on suffering just after we started the original Confident Christianity blog together in 2006. I have updated the post with my added response to the reflection (2020).

Horatio Gates Spafford, in 1873 penned the lyrics to It is well with my soul. He wrote theses lyrics after losing his four daughters in an Atlantic Voyage, which came on the heels of losing his fortune in the Chicago fire. He is among the many that journey through the valley of suffering.

All people at some point in life are affected by suffering. It may be one of the most difficult aspects challenging the Christian faith. It can occur in many different forms, such as losing a loved one, battling a sickness, experiencing devastation from nature, losing a job and the list continues. So, where is God in all of this suffering?

“It needs to be said at once that the Bible supplies no thorough solution to the problem of evil, whether ‘natural’ evil or ‘moral’ that is, whether in the form of suffering or of sin. Its purpose is more practical than philosophical.
Consequently, although there are references to sin and suffering on virtually every page, its concern is not to explain their origin but to help us to overcome them.”[1]

Also note that evil was not originally created for this world and it is only temporary. There will be a new heaven and a new earth in which there will be no more pain (Rev. 21:1-4). However, there can be purpose in suffering and pain in the here and now.

Here are a few views to consider.

One of the purposes of suffering and pain is to “Bring Glory and Honor to God”[2]. In the book of John it is written:
As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:1-3).

Secondly, suffering “Reminds Us of the Fragility of Life”[3].
“Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

A Third purpose reveals the heart of a person and “Demonstrates a Person’s Character”[4]. Look at what God allowed in the life of Job.
“The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:8). Job ended up losing his wealth and family, but ultimately realized that God truly was his refuge and one he could trust. In the end, he regained his wealth and was blessed with another family. Eventually, Job stated “I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5).

At this point the idea must be considered that the ultimate goal in suffering is not a quick recovery, but instead a victory glorifying God. Jesus, himself is not untouched from suffering, but instead suffered for many. ‘For who could believe in God, if it were not for the cross. In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?”[5] It is through the cross that people are able to run the race with endurance and find victory through suffering.

In closing, James put it this way “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”
(James 1:2-4).

Deanna

Books you can review on suffering:
The book of Job
Philip Yancy, Where is God when it hurts?
C.S. Lewis, Problem of Pain

My response
I would agree with Deanna that there is no thorough solution to moral and natural evil supplied in the Biblical text in some sense; such as in ending all evil here and now. However, I would caveat that there is a thorough solution to the overall problem of evil as found in the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the death of Jesus, we see God Incarnate taking on the devastating consequence of human evil. The resurrection of Jesus shows us that God has effectually put down or “defeated” this consequence of our evil, by reversing its major effect: death. Whereas there was once only the consequence of death, there is now and forever the redemption of life. God has redeemed his good creation through giving it life once again.

At least one of the reasons Deanna offered for why suffering exists at all relates to what is known as a “soul-building theodicy.” Humankind suffers to bring forth virtuous character qualities that may not be achieved without the testing of their character. However, I ascribe to a Plantingian Free Will Defense that there is no possible world that God could logically actualize in which humankind has true freedom and yet never commits any evil.

Some references for my response
– Alvin Plantinga, God Freedom and Evil
– Clay Jones, Why Does God Allow Evil?

[1] Stott, John R. W., The Cross of Christ, Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press, 1986.
[2] Smith M.D., Robert D., The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference, Stanley NC, Timeless Texts 2000.
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Stott, John R. W., The Cross of Christ, Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press, 1986.