If I'm Suffering, Is God Punishing Me?Sýnishorn

Suffering Because of a Fallen World

Suffering in general is a result of the brokenness of the world, which finds its root cause in human sin (see Genesis 3). But this does not mean that every instance of personal suffering is a direct consequence of one’s own sin. Often, our pain comes from the mere fact that we live in a world that is not what God had intended.

When God drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:23-24), they brought with them their fractured relationships and toilsome work, scratching out an existence in resistant soil. Nonetheless, God continued to provide for them (Gen. 3:21). The curse did not destroy their ability to multiply (Gen. 4:1-2), or to attain a measure of prosperity (Gen. 4:3-4). 

The work of Genesis 1 and 2 continues in the world of Genesis 3. There is still ground to be tilled and phenomena of nature to be studied, described, and named. Men and women must still be fruitful, must still multiply, must still govern. 

But now, a second layer of work must also be accomplished—the work of healing, repairing, and restoring the things that go wrong and the evils that are committed. To put it in a contemporary context, the work of farmers, scientists, midwives, parents, leaders, and everyone in creative enterprises is still needed. But so is the work of exterminators, doctors, funeral directors, corrections officers, forensic auditors, and everyone in professions that restrain evil, forestall disaster, repair damage, and restore health. In truth, everyone’s work is a now mixture of creation and repair, encouragement and frustration, success and failure, joy and sorrow. 

Prayer

Lord, help me to see what work you need me to do in this fallen world. If my suffering is meant to show me how to repair and restore, lead and guide me in doing that. Help me work to bless others who are suffering, too. Amen.