Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 10/20/2011

Question
My question is if God loves us so much, why does he allow the suffering and persecution of Christians?

Answer
Dear Amanda,

This is a perplexing question, and many people become confused by the apparent contradiction it presents. We suffer anxiety when we see suffering in other people, and pain when we suffer ourselves. And we see on the news the persecution that is the lot of many, and we may suffer from it ourselves. And sometimes we wonder, “Where is God?”

God never intended that any of us should have to suffer and die. He created this world as a perfect place in which we could joyfully live forever. But sin entered and spoiled God’s plan. With sin came pain, and suffering, and death. We look at it as natural for people to suffer and die. And in this sinful world, this is the natural result.

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” (Rom 5:12)

Suffering and death have become part of our life experience. Everyone—including you and me—will die, unless Jesus comes first. Death is inevitable. It’s just a matter of when it will happen. Some can see it coming, while others die suddenly, when they least expect it. It doesn’t matter. It will come to us all. This may not be comforting to you just now. I’m sorry. But I’m trying to keep these things in perspective.

But how do we deal with this? The best way to deal with sorrow, injury to ourselves or our friends, or the death of someone near to us, is to go to the Bible. God made us and knows all about our plight. He knows first hand (through Jesus—our God and Savior) the pain and sorrow of our lives, for He passed through them too. (consider the grief He suffered over the death of Lazarus and the joy He experienced at his resurrection—John 11)

God does love us. The important thing that you are not aware of, is that God suffers right along with His people.

And it’s not only His faithful people, but every person on this earth. You see, every human being is a child of God, in the generic sense, and He loves each and every one of them—even terrible criminals. He just doesn’t like the things they do. If you’re a parent you know what I’m talking about. You love your children dearly, but sometimes you don’t like what they’re doing.

God intends us to live good, happy lives. But this is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is only possible when we look to the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sins on the Cross of Calvary. When we look at the terrible hold sin has upon our lives, then we will be willing to let the Holy Spirit work on our hearts and give us the power to live good lives.

How does God work to teach us how to live good lives? Like a parent trains a child by encouragement and, when necessary, punishment to help the child know what behavior is not acceptable, God also encourages us by the wonderful promises of the Bible. And He must also, at times, allow trials to afflict us in order to train us to depend upon Him. It is through pain and suffering that we learn to depend upon God and to trust in Him. We have no way of knowing it, but the suffering through which we see God’s people suffering may be God’s way to bring them closer to Him.

David said, after he was made fully aware how great his sin was with Bathsheba and her husband:

Psa 51:2  Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa 51:3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. . . .
Psa 51:7  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psa 51:9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Talk about pain and suffering! Though this was caused by the realization of the enormity of sin; though it was a spiritually inflicted result of sin, yet it was no less painful than the physical pain and suffering through which we sometimes pass.

I have known pain. Just over a year ago I had back surgery. During recovery I experienced pain that was almost unbearable, and drove me to despair. The only thing that kept me through it all was the understanding that Christ suffered more, and that He would sustain me through it all. I knew that He loved me and was with me, and knowing that made the suffering bearable.

Jesus gives great promises that we should claim to sustain us through these trials. And we can share them with others who experience pain and suffering. Then we’ll come out closer to Him than ever before:

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Isa 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isa 26:4  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Isa 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

1 Cor 10:13  There hath no temptation [suffering] taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Pet 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Cling to Jesus when you have times of pain and suffering. God is not punishing you; He may have allowed this to come upon you to help you come closer to Him, but He will sustain you through it all. Paul suffered with what he called a “thorn in my flesh.” He asked God three times to take it from him, but God finally said:

2 Cor 12:9  . . . My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

May God’s strength be made perfect in your weakness.

You can find great comfort in reading the Bible. Reading the Bible is so important to the Christian. It would be very difficult to maintain a saving relationship with God without it. And learning about God and His requirements for us would be nearly impossible without some connection with God’s Holy Word.

Actually, if we watch for Him, we’ll find Jesus Christ in almost every passage of the Old and New Testaments. Sometimes He’s known as the Creator (cf. John 1:1-4, 10, 14); sometimes He’s known as “the Angel of the LORD” (Ex. 3:1-14; cf. John 8:56-58); sometimes He’s known as the “servant” (Isa. 52:13-53:12); and sometimes as the Messiah. Often He’s behind the scenes, working through those who live according to His will.

If you have difficulty understanding the Bible, there are many aids available to help you do this, (see list below). But above all, read your Bible for yourself, and pray that God will help you understand it.

Feel free to come back with other questions.

Stay close to Jesus.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
PettyPress@gmail.com
www.PettyPress.com (43 Bible Study Guides; 20 Books; more)

Sources of Bible study aids and answers for your questions:
Mail order Bible lessons: Amazing Facts Bible Lessons, PO Box 1058, Roseville, CA 95678
Telephone questions answered: 3ABN 1-800-752-3226 (pastoral dept., ext. 1)
On-line: Bibleinfo.com; Itiswritten.com (Bible studies/Discover Bible Guides)
Television networks: HOPE Channel (Direct TV #368); 3ABN (Dish Network #9710)