One of the most common topics of discussion between myself and others, both Christians and non-Christians centers on the topic of God’s sovereignty and suffering/evil.  Usually the conversation goes something like this:

Me:  Yes, one of the greatest sources of my joy as a Christian flows from truly believing that God is in control of all things
Them:  You mean to tell me that God was in control of the slave trade to America? God was in control of the Holocaust?  God was in control of 9/11?
Me:  Of course
Them:  If God is in control of that, then God is most certainly NOT good, and I want nothing to do with that “God”
Me:  Obviously those are horrible, horrible events in history.  What I want you to consider, however, is that if God is not in control of those things, what hope would the families of those affected by those awful events have?  If God is not sovereign over bringing about difficulties, pain, and suffering, then God is not sovereign over bringing about resolution, healing, and peace.  What good would prayer be to a God who does not have the ability to answer it?

Depending on how that conversation went, I would likely want to walk through some scripture from there.  The question that must be answered is – “If God is good, what is His good purpose in suffering and hardships?”

Paul begins Romans 5 with a declaration of our salvation in Jesus Christ, and then immediately turns to say that we will have suffering in this life as a Christian.

Romans 5:1-5 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us”

So suffering should produce in us hope. 

We see this explained again just 3 chapters ahead in Romans 8:18-25 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

We are God’s creation, we are a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17).  Part of God’s purpose in suffering is to show that our hope is not in this world, but in Christ.  

God’s plan is to use our suffering as a means of comfort to others.  2 Corinthians 1:3-7 – “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 affliction, 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 share abundantly in comfort too.  If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.”

Let me put this into context.  Let’s say you have an auto accident and lose a child.  If someone comes up to you seeking to comfort you, would you rather be comforted by someone who has no children and therefore no true understanding of the pain you’re going through or by someone who has lost a child themselves and knows EXACTLY what you’re going through?  What if you lose a loved one to a long drawn out battle with cancer?  Would you rather be comforted by someone who has never gone through that, or by someone who themselves has been through the pain you are going through?  It’s not to say that you would not be appreciative of any efforts, but certainly you would lean more heavily on the person(s) who know what you’re going through, right?

Many of you struggle with coming to terms with past sin in your life, and the sin that you’re still battling today in your life.  My encouragement is not to make light of your struggle, but to put perspective on it.  Who you are in Christ is meant to be an encouragement to those around you who have similar pasts / struggles.  Someone who has had an abortion can comfort and encourage someone who has had an abortion in a way that I never could.  I can comfort and encourage a man who struggles with past relationships / immorality like no woman can.

If you have truly been saved, then Christ is in you; God, the Holy Spirit has made His dwelling in you.  Therefore, when you are able to comfort those around you because you have been through similar suffering and hardships, that is the will of God, and literally God in you comforting those people.  That is beautiful when it happens, and exactly what God desires.

In Romans 8:35-37 we are told – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Bolded by me for emphasis)