Category Archives: Suffering

Suffering: An integral part of the Christian life

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churchsign“Come suffer with us!” Maybe that should be what we advertise on our church signs. It would be more honest than much of what we see out there.

The New Testament makes it clear that suffering is part of the Christian life. It may not be the part that we like to talk about, but it’s an integral part of who we are.

Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation.” (John 16:33) That’s pretty clear. When Paul and Barnabas went around encouraging new Christians, they told them: “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

It’s pretty straightforward. Still, we get surprised when bad things happen to good people. We ask “Why me?” “Why them?” and “Why that?” There are dozens of passages that say that Christians will suffer. Hard times aren’t a sign of God’s disfavor. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:7) He told the Romans: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:16-17)

Suffering isn’t fun. But it’s definitely part of the Christian life

Why Me?

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When something bad happens in our lives, it’s easy to ask, “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?” However, I’m thinking that it might be appropriate this week to ask the same question in some different situations:

If you are reading this in your home, you are among the truly affluent people in this world. Not in the U.S., but compared to the entire world. Very few can own their own computer and only a fraction of those have Internet access. Ask yourself: “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”

If your salary is over $60 per month, you earn more than half the people in the world. Say to yourself: “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”

If you made a choice about what to eat today, remember that over one third of the people in this world will go to bed hungry because there is no way for them to get enough food. Think: “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”

Running water? Electricity? Indoor plumbing? Central air? Automobiles? Change of clothes? Ask again: “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”

If you can walk the streets in relative safety, if you can send your children to school, if you can go to a doctor when you need to, just repeat: “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”

If you own a Bible, think of the thousands in this world who speak a language in which the Bible has not yet been translated. Think of those in countries where they aren’t allowed to buy a Bible. Think of those who’ve never even seen a Bible and say, “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”

If you’ve had the privilege of hearing the message that Jesus died for our salvation, think about the millions and millions of people in this world that don’t even personally know a Christian. Ask: “Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”

This Thanksgiving week, surely that is the question that all of us need to be asking.

“Why me? What did I do to deserve this?”

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” (Deuteronomy 8:10-18)