Does God Cause Suffering?Sample

Day Three: Perseverance

As we continuously look at God’s character, and realize God is who He is, we also see what Satan meant for evil, God used for good. The most grotesque crime committed in the history of the world – the crucifixion of the sinless Son of God – is the very tool used by God to save the lost. 

In other words, the Bible is totally clear on this point. The trying of our faith produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:12). In the midst of Job’s anguish, look at how his crying out began to develop into confident assurance in God. First, there is a wish uttered in desperation: “If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that His terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak without fear of Him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot” (Job 9:33-35). Then, there comes the beginning of faith: “Earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never be laid to rest! Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man, he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend” (Job 16:18-21). Then comes an explosion of faith: “I know that My Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27). Oh, what a confession! This man had faith.

Add to all this one more blessing. As a result of his suffering, Job could now say to God, “I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5). Having passed through the fire he had met the living God in truth. Doesn’t this remind you of Paul’s heart cry in Philippians 3:10-11? “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection of the dead.”

But what do we tell those suffering if God’s answer seems so distant and faint? Tell them this: God remains faithful, even when our circumstances tell us the opposite, and the final end of the righteous is always blessed. Minister to them according to their faith, and build them up to receive again from the Lord. Bring them assurance that their God is good – perfectly good. And even if, according to all outward appearances, the Lord’s promises have failed, turn their hearts back to God. That is the essence of faith. Tell them to look, not at what they can see, but at what they can’t see (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Take hold of their hearts and minds, and don’t let them go.