How can there be a good, loving, compassionate God, a God who is both omniscient and omnipotent, if he often holds back his hand from delivering those in need?
Grappling with this question can be lonely. This isn’t a popular topic to bring up at parties. Even in small groups, getting into this question can be uncomfortable, especially when there are no clear answers to prevent suffering from occurring.
When I bring up my questions related to the problem of pain, people frequently shut down the conversation by either referring me to a Bible verse; giving me a platitude like, “God will work it all out in the end, just trust him”; telling me to listen to a sermon; referring me to a book on the topic; or telling me that I need to talk to a pastor or counselor.
I end up walking away feeling more alone, but I don’t think I’m the only person who struggles with these questions. The death of a loved one, the loss of a cherished relationship, a sudden and unexpected tragic turn of events, or a slow demise of one’s hopes and dreams—deep pain can happen to anyone at any time without notice. Job had these questions and was very familiar with the same kinds of “comforts” his friends offered. David, one of God’s favorites, expressed his angst towards God in the Psalms. So I’m not alone! And I want to find others who will join me in exploring and struggling over how to respond to suffering.
I’ve found Philip Yancey’s thoughtful and honest book Where Is God When It Hurts? to be a great place to start thinking through questions like
How can viewing pain from an eternal perspective change how we respond to it?
How do we develop a much longer view of God’s goodness?
How do we hold out hope for God’s deliverance in the land of the living (Psalm 27.14), while knowing that the ultimate deliverance will not occur until his Kingdom comes in full?
How do we walk alongside each other compassionately as we grapple with suffering?
What is the difference between empathy and sympathy/pity?
If you’re in the midst of grappling with these questions, if you’ve gone through them and come out the other side or if you know someone who is beset by them now, please join me for a weekly or biweekly discussion of Yancey’s book. As we struggle together and learn from each other, we will be able to find a firmer foundation in our faith—as eternity becomes more real and relevant to us, we can be free to live in and be thankful for the here and now.