Asking ‘What’ in Suffering…

When the disciples came across a man who had been blind since birth, the first question they asked Jesus was what caused the man’s suffering. In a time and place without braille, guide dogs, and other tactile support resources, the life of a blind person was incredibly tedious. The disciples assumed that either the sins of this man’s parents or somehow his then future sins caused him to be born blind. Jesus’ response is remarkable and life giving to those who suffer: “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). The answer to the question ‘what?’, was glory!

When the disciples asked, what caused this suffering, they were reflecting a natural human instinct to want to understand the root of our pain and hardship. What made this happen? What did I do to deserve this? But perhaps the more transformative question is not “what caused this?”, but rather, “what will God do in response to this?” The answer to that question brings hope and purpose.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Paul reminds us that “though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” He emphasizes that the suffering we endure is light and momentary compared to the eternal glory that awaits us. Our suffering is not the end of the story; it is a prelude to the greater work God is doing. When we shift our focus from asking “what caused this?” to asking “what will God do in response to this?” we are guided to the hope that He will make all things new.

Psalm 42:11 speaks to the turmoil of the soul during times of suffering: noting that there are moments when we feel as though we cannot praise God, when our souls are cast down and heavy with grief. Yet, even in those moments, the psalmist points us to hope: “Hope in God, for I will again praise him, my Savior and my God." Even when we don't feel ready to praise, we can rest in the assurance of what God will do, he will save us from our suffering, and we will one day again praise Him.