Calling on Jesus in Our Suffering

most difficult questions to answer when witnessing

to non -believers is the dilemma of innocent

suffering. This question is usually posed in

a manner such as this. If God were all good,

he would desire all his creatures live perfectly

happy lives. And if he were all powerful, he

could do as he wished. Then why does he allow

the innocent? to suffer. For another way it may

be asked, how can a loving, just, and all -powerful

creator permit the cruel and evil events which

often befall humans? This is an old question.

One that has confounded men at least since the

time of Job was written. And it's an honest question.

There's never an answer. But it's also a difficult

question, even for theologians. Several answers

have been provided in the past and are still

in use. The following is a review of the most

prevalent answers offered by recent writers on

the subject. A current view, widely held, is

that evil is the price we pay for the greater

benefit of freedom in the universe allowed by

God. If the possibility of evil did not exist,

mankind would not be free to love God by choice

and thereby become part of God's own family.

Humans would be compelled to love God, and the

creation of a bunch of robots lacking the freedom

to choose him out of love was not in God's design.

We learn from the book of Job that neither should

we love God because he can provide us with abundant

gifts. It's assumed by nearly all theologians

today that God wants us to love him unconditionally

simply because he's God and we're his creatures

and he loves us unconditionally. A prevalent

view of ancient Hebrews as well as those of Jesus

there. was that all disasters, as well as disease,

pain, etc., were the result of wrongdoing or

sin of the person afflicted. This is assumed

by many today. And one would have to agree that

much human suffering can be attributed to the

immoral choices made by the individuals themselves.

As some would say, they're getting what they

deserve. Yet we know that much suffering is visited

upon the totally innocent. This was the dilemma

of Job. His friends advised him to admit the

sins he had committed and ask God for forgiveness.

But Job knew he had committed no sin. And so

his question remained. Why? In chapter 9, Job

seems to be ready to abandon the assumption that

God is good. He wonders, perhaps God is so powerful

he was not made to be good. He may seem to be

good, punishing the wicked and warning the righteous,

but being all -powerful, he has no compulsion

to do so. Rabbi Harold Kushner, in his book,

When Bad Things Happen to Good People, suggests

that God is not all powerful. God is really good,

he says, and would like only good things to happen

to good people. But some things are beyond his

control. Not all events are part of an ordinary

universe. Some things happen by chance, and God

has no control over them. C .S. Lewis in his

book, The Problem of Pain, says that pain or

evil is God's way of making us realize that something

is wrong. The way we conduct our lives and our

world. If pain or evil did not exist, we would

continue smuggling along present paths without

realizing the need to change. Lewis reminded

us that God made us for himself. And only by

surrendering ourselves to him completely can

we achieve the state of perfection he envisions

for us. Only when we experience things going

badly will we realize the need to change. To

use Lewis' words, God whispers to us in our pleasures,

speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to

us in our pain. It is his metaphor to rouse a

different world. In a popular book, Finding God

in the Questions, Timothy Johnson addresses the

question of evil as the principal one of several

he raises. Johnson says that he approaches the

problem by attempting to play God and design

a better world than the one we have. He admits,

however, that no matter how hard he tries, really

cannot imagine a better world than the present

one. Surely a major feature of Johnson's new

world would be the absence of suffering. He does

note, however, that a world without suffering

or death would be a world where humans would

be incredibly smug, pursuing pleasure without

worry or concern. As he says on page 177 of his

book, I find myself torn between the natural

desire for a world without suffering and injustice

where we would feast forever on a cosmic silver

platter and the present one where there is at

least the possibility of striving to overcome

pain with honest love and real choice. Johnson

also notes that suffering and injustice of this

world not only provide an opportunity to make

it better, but also provide an opportunity to

look forward to another time and place where

there is ultimate justice and no suffering. A

place permeated by love. The last source that

I will touch on this morning is the book by James

Dobson, When God Doesn't Make Sense. This book

contains a series of heart -wrenching stories

of sufferings by children and adults who, like

Job, were innocent victims. Dobson's advice to

such victims refers back to the conclusion drawn

by Job. Let us remember that God is creator and

man is creature. Not only is God all good and

all powerful, He is also all -knowing. Man is

limited in all three characteristics. That which

man is capable of knowing is but a minuscule

part of that which isn't known. Most of God's

activities are just unknown to man. Dobson says

that when God doesn't seem to make sense, we

should remember his greatness in our limitations.

That will allow us to maintain our faith in him

even when we don't understand. This is also the

answer given at the conclusion of Job. After

God finally speaks to Job from the storm, Job

replies. And in chapter 42, we read his confession

to God. I know that you can do all things, Job

said. No plan of yours can be thwarted. You ask,

who is this that obscures my counsel without

knowledge? Surely, I spoke of things too wonderful

for me to know. You said, listen now and I will

speak. I will question you and you will answer

me. My ears have heard you. Now my eyes have

seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent.

and dust and ashes. So, which of these answers

will you give when someone poses the question

to you? Personally, I cannot accept those answers

which place limits on God. I believe that God

is all good, that he is all powerful, and that

he is all knowing. I can accept that much suffering

is a result of immoral choice. Innocent suffering

often results from the wrongdoing of those of

us who are not so innocent. I can accept that

evil exists so man will have the benefit of moral

freedom, which is also C .S. Lewis' basic point.

Through pain, God is trying to wake us up. to

the need to change our behavior. Johnson's point

also seems valid, that the suffering of this

world provides an opportunity to strive for a

better way. And I, Fred Smith, would add that

it provides an opportunity for each of us to

grow. When Sarah, my wife, was 68 years, passed

a few years ago, I was devastated. I cried deeply

for nearly three months. Anything might set it

off. I would see her picture. A bowl she cherished.

The chair where she always sat. Anything. One

evening in my house, it was dark. It was cold,

and it was still, and the loneliness overwhelmed

me. I went from room to room, calling her, Sarah,

Mama, Mom, please come, I need you. But she wasn't

there. I began sobbing so hard, I fell to the

floor. I had hit rock bottom. I cried to God,

Lord, please help me. I can't continue like this.

And folks, as clearly as anything I have ever

experienced in my life, I heard a voice say into

my head, I am Jesus Christ. I will fill that

empty spot left in your heart by her departure.

And you won't have to feel lonely. Folks immediately

began to feel good, elated even. I regained my

walker and was shouting hallelujahs, got myself

ready for bed. That night I slept peacefully

till the next morning. I have never since felt

that kind of loneliness. I began to grow. for

love and compassion for others that I never before

knew existed. My life is more meaningful than

I ever thought it could be after serving him.

So yes, suffering will come, and it will hurt,

and you may not know why, but don't let it. Drive

you to despair. Call on Jesus. Listen to him.

He speaks American English. We're the son of

action. I know why I'm hurting. Join with me.

You don't have to have a dead spouse. But if

you let Jesus come into your life, he will raise

you up to more than you can be.