Everyone agrees there is suffering in the world. As Christians, we also hold that God is good and God is sovereign. How do we reconcile these realities? Some say you can’t. Some say that in light of evil and suffering in the world, God either must not be good or he must not be in control. The Bible says otherwise. In fact, the Bible has much to teach us about how God’s sovereignty is at work in and through suffering. Of course, this is not just a theoretical discussion. We have all grieved as loved ones face a tragic death. We have family members that have suffered with cancer or another illness. Many have personally suffered the hurts and abuse of others.
How God’s sovereignty works in times of suffering is simultaneously a deep and very personal question. Yet Christians know that our God is good and he loves us. We know he is in control; he has a plan and purpose for all things. And so, we find comfort and hope in these seven biblical truths:
- God’s sovereignty extends over all things, including the presence of evil, sin, and suffering in this world. God is not just in control of the good things. Like an umbrella, his kingly rule extends over even the wickedness, sin, and hardships present in our world. This is an incredibly comforting reality.
- Proverbs 16:4 – “The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.”
- Isaiah 45:6-7 – “I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.”
- Lamentations 3:37-38 – “Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?”
- (See also Proverbs 16:33; 1 Samuel 2:6-7; Job 42:11; Amos 3:6; Acts 2:23, 4:26-28)
- Christians should expect suffering, hardship, and persecution to be a part of life in this fallen world. The world is broken, and so there will be pain. Christians are not exempt from this. The suffering in this life is much more difficult to face if we allow it to surprise us. We don’t invite suffering, but we shouldn’t be caught off guard when it comes.
- John 15:20 – “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”
- 1 Peter 4:12-13 – “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
- (See also 2 Timothy 3:10-13; 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4)
- When sickness comes, we pray for healing – yet in God’s providence, it is not always his will to heal. Sickness and disease entered the world with the sin of Adam and Eve. Christians and their loved ones will get sick. And so, we cry out to God to act in mercy and heal. Sometimes for his glory, he does! And yet, that is not always his will; and so, even when we don’t understand, even when it hurts – we trust him.
- 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 – “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
- (See also Mark 1:34-38; 2 Timothy 4:20)
- God uses suffering in the life of the Christian to grow humility, obedience, faith, perseverance, and to equip us to comfort others. Suffering is not good, yet in God’s wisdom he can use suffering for his good purposes. There are ways the Christian can grow in times of hardship that are not possible in times of blessing. Through suffering we can grow more and more into the image of Jesus!
- Psalm 119:71 – “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.”
- Romans 5:1-5 – “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
- (See also 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; James 1:12-15)
- In hardship, believers share in the suffering of Jesus, that we too might experience the glory of his resurrection. Not only can we experience personal growth in times of suffering, but we can fellowship with Jesus in a unique way. We suffer as Jesus did. We suffer with Jesus. And just as his suffering resulted in glory, so will ours.
- Romans 8:16-18 – “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. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 – “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.”
- (See also Philippians 3:8-11; 1 Peter 2:19-21)
- In God’s providence even evil, sin, and suffering are ultimately working for the good of Christians and the glory of God. We know and believe that God works all things together for good, but does this promise apply to the evil of this world as well? Yes! In God’s wisdom, power, and mystery even evil, sin, and suffering are orchestrated for his good purposes in our lives and in his Kingdom.
- Genesis 50:20 – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
- Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
- Ephesians 1:11-12 – “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”
- (See also Job 1:21)
- Believers can rejoice in suffering knowing that God’s sovereign hand is at work. These truths don’t mean that we want to suffer, or that we welcome suffering. But we also don’t merely put up with suffering. By God’s grace and God’s Spirit, there is joy in suffering! As we trust God and the promises of Scripture, we can find peace and rejoice even when life is hard.
- Romans 5:3-5 – “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
- James 1:2-4 – “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”