“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.”
Romans 8:18-19
Suffering and sorrow are simply part of life in this broken, fallen world. No one experienced this more personally or severely than Job (pictured above). But Scripture repeatedly calls us to faith in the suffering, trusting that God is working in us and through us even when life hurts.
For much of the book of Job the faithful servant of the Lord expressed his confidence in God’s goodness and faithfulness even in the midst of his own pain. But there is a point at which Job’s attitude shifts and he begins to question the Lord instead of trusting in Him, which results in the final confrontation.
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.'”
Job 38:1-4
On the one hand, the book of Job and also the Psalms invite us – even exhort us – to express our pain and confusion to the Lord. But at the same time the Bible draws a line for us to help us see there is a difference between crying out to the Lord and questioning Him.
Take Psalm 31 as a positive example. It begins with a simply cry of the heart to the Lord for help.
“In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!”
Psalm 31:1-2
Not only does David ask God to hear his cry, he expresses his confidence in the Lord as a refuge and a fortress of righteousness. But this does not keep David from describing his particular suffering.
“Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.”
Psalm 31:9-10
Enemies were surrounding David. His very life was at stake. His body was failing him. His heart was aching with sadness. David did not hide any of this from the Lord but rather brought it to the Lord with honesty and genuine feeling. In the very middle of the Psalm, David’s heart cry turns on this expression of faith.
“But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!”
Psalm 31:14-15
It is significant that Jesus quotes this Psalm as He hangs on the cross.
“You take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”
Psalm 31:4-5
Whatever our pain, sadness, fear or suffering, we can follow the faith-path marked out by David and Jesus. We can commit ourselves to the God of all righteousness, power and love. We can take refuge in the Lord, our Redeemer. And we can avoid the missteps of Job and his friends.
Job’s friends worked hard to discourage Job by arguing that his own sins had brought the suffering upon him. And Job, seeking to justify himself against these accusations, began to blame God for attacking him unjustly. We must not condemn God to justify ourselves (Job 40:8). Rather, we should express our faith in the God of all goodness, wisdom and love.
Nowhere in the Bible is this faith more beautifully presented than in Romans 8.
“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.”
Romans 8:23-25
Yes, we groan as we wait for the final redemption and restoration of our bodies and this world. But the Holy Spirit meets us and helps us in these groanings and gives us the strength and patience to stand firm to the end.
And above all we rest in the unchanging love of the Lord.
“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.”
Romans 8:35-37
God is not against you, He is for you. Nothing can separate us from His love.
So we rest in the love of Jesus. We take refuge in His sovereign goodness. We call on His Name to help us and hold us up for one more day, one more hour. We commit ourselves to Him, body and soul. And we do all we can not to question His wisdom and love.
One of the best resources the Lord has given us to help with this is each other. As you experience the love and faithfulness of the Lord part of your ministry is to share your faith and His faithfulness with others. Our family has been so blessed by the many cards and notes and texts we have received from God’s people building us up with your stories of faith and how God has provided for you through your trials and tribulations.
So brother, sister, press on in the Lord! He is for you!