I did some biblical investigation to try to understand what was going on. I read the Bible, read some books, talked to my pastor and a hospital chaplain. I didn’t come up with a satisfactory answer. In the course of time, I went to the seminary for 4 years to study to be a pastor. I read more and studied more in this area. Still no fully satisfactory answer was given. I have now been a pastor for over a quarter of a century and have seen suffering up close, but I still do not have a satisfactory answer. Partial answer, yes. Full answer, no.
There is a book in the Bible (named after a man called Job) which wrestles with this question. Job does not give a full answer to this question of why innocents suffer, but does give a response from God. Let me try to give you a much shortened version of Job’s suffering and God’s response.
Job lived about four thousand years ago. By all accounts, he was blessed. He had a strong faith in God. He had a wonderful family with a wife, seven sons and three daughters. Job was also one of the wealthiest men in the region.
In one day, Job lost all of his earthly wealth to a band of marauders. On that same day, there was a terrible wind storm which collapsed the house where his children were, and they all perished. Job did not know this, but Satan was behind these events, although God was still in control.
Soon after, Job developed a painful physical disorder. All Job had remaining was his wife (who was not so nice to him), and his faith. Oh yes, Job had a few friends who would rub salt in his wounds, stating that he must have done something terribly wrong to deserve this.
Job wrestled against his wife, who told him to curse God and die. He wrestled against his friends, who accused him of all kinds of wrong doing. He wrestled against God, who was silent for a long time. Job accused God of being unfair, but he also declared that God was his Redeemer (one who pays a price to rescue us) and his Savior.
After a long time, God gave a response to Job (Job 38-41). It was not the response that Job expected, but it was the response that Job needed. God, in essence, told Job that He [God] is in charge and control. Job could not figure out this mystery, but should continue to trust God. God told Job’s friends that they were wrong and that Job was innocent of their accusations. Job repented of his accusations against God, and was enabled to continue on in his faith. He was eventually blessed by God with other children, more wealth and a stronger faith.
This was a short summary of a long book. But here are a few thoughts we may take from Job’s experience:
There is a mystery surrounding suffering which our minds cannot grasp.
God is at work in suffering in ways that our small minds cannot understand.
God was not the cause of Job’s suffering (Satan was the cause).
We are called to trust in God in places we don’t understand.
We need to be careful in what we say to a suffering person - listening, support and silence are more important than talking.
God is in control, even though our world seems to be falling apart.
God is our Savior and our Redeemer.
Why do innocents suffer? We know that all of us were born with an affliction called sin; this affliction is what will eventually cause our death. Jesus (as perfect God) was the only one who had no sin. He was the Perfect and Innocent One. Yet, as also a human, he suffered and died on the cross for our sins. In Christ, God intimately knows suffering. The death and resurrection of the Innocent One allows sinners like you and I, young children and seniors, to receive forgiveness and live with God forever. We can’t fathom the mystery of suffering. But we can know, like Job, that God is still our Savior and Redeemer (one who pays a price to rescue us).
We can reject God’s partial answer about suffering - saying that it is not enough, saying that it is not adequate. But if we reject God’s partial answer, we are left with no answer and are left in total silence. Total silence leads to anger or depression. My dear friend, if you have experienced unjust suffering, accept the answers God gives. Don’t compound your suffering by adding anger and depression to it. It is far better to accept the partial answer God gives and trust Him for the rest, than to live in bitterness or unrelenting sadness.
Prayer: O God, I don’t want to suffer. Help me when I do suffer to know that you are at work as my Savior and Redeemer. And help me to be a friend and support those I know who are suffering. In the name of the Savior who suffered for me. Amen.
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