Faith That Worksಮಾದರಿ

Faith That Perseveres

The million-dollar question, the one so many of us have asked, and the one that has led so many to walk away from their faith, is: Why would a good God allow us to suffer? Maybe you’ve even wondered that recently as you’ve walked through something really difficult or painful.

The reality is, we live in a fallen world where sin exists, and until Jesus comes back, our mission is to help everyone know the goodness of God that brings hope to those living in darkness. Until Jesus returns to make all things new, suffering is inevitable. We will all experience hurt, loss, heartbreak, betrayal, and rejection. So, how in the world do we not lose hope? How could anyone hold onto hope when life guarantees pain?

James would answer that question like this:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV

Did you catch that? The testing of your faith produces perseverance. Growing pains in the body are, well, painful, and the same applies to our faith. Without testing, without challenge, without adversity, we will never grow into the fully formed, mature, and capable people God designed us to be when He created us in His image. That's what James is teaching us here. Some day, Jesus will come back, and all suffering will end. For now, though, we can lean into hardship, knowing that the Creator of heaven and earth loves us, is with us through it all, and will use every bit of our suffering to make us more like Jesus.

But to keep the record straight, we have to recognize that even though God will use the brokenness of the world to strengthen us, He is not the one who creates the brokenness that causes our suffering:

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:13-15 NIV

Temptation is when we are egged on by our desires to choose our way instead of God’s. We cannot be tempted by God. Nobody is ever tempted by God. And because God doesn’t do the tempting, there must be something or someone else at work.

What is that thing? It’s sin, a disease of selfishness that tempts us to do what’s wrong. And, we have a spiritual enemy working against us, and his name is Satan. Satan came to steal our identity, kill our joy, and destroy our lives, and he would love nothing more than for us to blame our pain and suffering on God, especially when he and sin are the real culprits. James continues …

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:16-18 NIV

If we receive a good gift, we can trust it’s from God. If we receive something that isn’t good, then we know it’s not from God. This has always been true, and it always will be true. The love of God never changes, no matter how much sin seeks to tempt us or the devil tries to trick us. The greatest expression of God’s love is the grace made available to us through our faith in Jesus. This faith makes us brand new, no longer defined by the sin or the shame of our past, but defined by God’s love for us.

So, why would a good God allow the people He loves to suffer? Because, even though He does not cause suffering, God can and will use it for good. He uses our suffering to grow our character and resilience, increase our compassion for others who are suffering, and help us recognize our need for Him.

How do we know? Not just because the Bible tells us so, but because Jesus shows us.

Jesus allowed Himself to suffer in some of the most gruesome ways. He was whipped, beaten, spit on, stripped naked, staked to a cross, and crucified in front of everyone. And the difference between Jesus and us is that He actually had the power to stop every bit of it. One word could have taken out His enemies (literally all of them). But He stood silent in front of His accusers and held still while they nailed His hands and feet to the cross that would kill Him. Why? He allowed Himself to suffer the worst death imaginable because He knew that even more good would come out of it.

What was that good? He endured the crucifixion because He knew it would lead to the resurrection. He sacrificed Himself to save us from our sins. He chose to walk through the pain of death so we could join Him in eternal life.

This is why God allows the people He loves to endure pain and suffering. Because He always has and He always will use it for good. So, persevere in your suffering and wait on the Lord, because the good is coming.

Challenge: Think about or journal through the following questions:

• Is there anything going on in your life right now that you would consider suffering or a trial?
• What do you think it would look like to suffer faithfully?