Why do bad things happen to good people?  Why don’t we get to say “enough” sometimes?  When it all falls apart, and then the bottom falls out, and then it catches fire, when do we get a pass?  When do we say “ok God, stop”?

Short answer is I don’t exactly know.  I do know we live in a fallen world, full of sin.  I also know that Christ gave us an example of suffering that leaves me in awe when I really look at His life.  And I know that there are countless verses letting us know that we will suffer, not that we may, but that we will.  And that we are to count it all joy.  I also know that suffering is a critical, non negotiable way that God works to purify us (as silver is put in the fire and the dross skimmed off), to break our stubborn independence, force us rely on God, to enable us to love and serve others going through trials and tribulations, and in the end to change our perspective.  To change our perspective to an eternal one, not a worldly one.

Romans 5:3 -4  states that “we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; and character produces hope”.  The challenge for most of us is that we are so focused on this world, that we sometimes miss what God has for us through suffering.  If nothing else, suffering should remind us that our hope is in heaven.  Not here.  Suffering is a reminder that our perspective should be eternal.  That everything we can see, hear, touch, and feel will pass away in the blink of an eye.  

I can’t help but think of the story behind the old hymn “It is well with my soul”.  I have sung that song hundreds of times, and only recently learned of the story behind the song.  Horatio Spafford was a wealthy Chicago lawyer married to Anna.  Together they had a son, and four daughters.  He was a devout Christ follower and was friends with Dwight L. Moody.  They suffered the tragic loss of their young son, and shortly afterwards, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed almost every real estate investment they had.  Two years later, he scheduled a boat trip to Europe to give his wife and daughters a vacation and time to recover from the series of tragedies.   The boat had a collusion at sea, and all four of his daughters drowned, only Anna survived.  She sent him a telegram with the news, “rescued, alone”.  On the boat to get her in England, Horatio wrote the lyrics to It is Well with my Soul, including the poignant line “When sorrow like sea billows roll, it is well, it is well with my soul”.  I am humbled by his utter trust and dependence on God.  When almost everything in his world was tragically taken away, God was enough.

II Corinthians 4 is one of my favorite chapters on suffering and perspective.  In short it says that through God’s grace, we have a ministry (purpose) and we do not lose heart.  We set the Word of God and the truth out plainly for people to see.  Satan works to blind unbelievers, because we preach Jesus Christ as Lord.  The treasure of knowing Christ is held in our bodies, which are weak and fragile (jars of clay).  We are hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down.  But we are not crushed, not in despair, not abandoned, and not destroyed.  Even though our bodies are wasting away, inside Christ renews and strengthens us daily.  All that we go through, as painful and crushing as it seems, is light and momentary, achieving for us eternal glory that far outweighs the trials.

Think about that.  Paul, who knew about suffering, said all that we go through (ALL that we go through) is “light and momentary” and is “achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all”.  And all God’s people said amen.

May we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Grace and Peace