Historical Approaches To The Problem of Pain Pt. 3

The existential model

The fifth model is more practical than theoretical: God suffers as we suffer and gives us strength to withstand and even redeem our pain.

• The Bible affirms this assertion (2 Corinthians 4:1, 16; Ephesians 3:13; Hebrews 12:5; Revelation 2:3).
• God walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4).
• He weeps as we weep (John 11:35).
• Jesus experienced every temptation and pain we feel (Hebrews 4:15).
• He is present with us now in the sufferings of life (Deuteronomy 20:1; Psalm 34:18; Isaiah 43:2; Daniel 3:24–25; 12:6–7; Acts 16:25–26).

Philosophically, this approach is not a true theodicy. It offers no real explanation for the origin or existence of suffering.

But it does provide the practical assurance that our Father walks with his children through the hardest places of life and will never allow us to face more than he will give us the strength to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The redemption model

The Bible uses a variety of adjectives to describe God: he is love (1 John 4:8), omniscient (Psalm 147:5), omnipotent (Jeremiah 32:27), and so on. 

But only one attribute of God is repeated three times: he is “holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). 

In Hebrew culture, repetition was used for emphasis. We might say that God is “holy, holier, holiest” to reach the superlative level. They repeated the adjective three times to achieve the same effect.

If God is the “holiest” being that exists, he must be perfect in every way (cf. Matthew 5:48). If he is perfect, he can never make a mistake. If he allows or causes anything in his creation that he does not redeem for a greater good, he has made a mistake in allowing or causing it. 

Therefore, I believe that God’s omniscience, omnipotence, and love require him to redeem for greater good all he allows or causes.

We may not see this redemption fully until we are in heaven, for “now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12).  However, sometimes we can see God’s redemption at work in our present day.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at how these approaches offer practical help in the midst of suffering.

Today, ask yourself if you believe that God truly does redeem for greater good all he allows or causes. How have you seen that play out in your life?