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Pain Tolerance

Why do we experience suffering and pain? 

Perhaps the most prevalent unanswered question people have today is the question of tragedy, pain, and suffering. As Christian thinkers, we must be prepared to answer these questions.

How is it possible that we live in a world that requires cancer wards for precious little children plagued with terminal illnesses? Suffering and evil are no respecter of age, reputation, or social status, and unfortunately, tragedies occur with regularity. For all of our cultural advances and sophistication, human trafficking, abuse, war, disease, slavery, and natural disasters relentlessly plague society. 

The Bible is replete with people who, like many of us, asked similar questions. Some demanded an answer from God. Job, David, Gideon, Jeremiah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, and even Jesus questioned God. The Bible has the integrity to be uncensored. It does not avoid the question of evil, suffering, and pain. Instead, we get a front-row seat to confrontations about this subject.

In view of all the tragedy around him, Gideon had the audacity to interrupt the angel who was bringing him a direct word from God. Gideon had a burning, unanswered question for the messenger from God: 

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?”  Judges 6:13, NIV

When have you asked a “Why is this happening, God?” type of question? What were your circumstances?

Notice that the angel of God did not chastise Gideon for his questions. Instead, the Lord gave him a mission; he put Gideon in a position to partner with God and become a solution to the Israelites’ problems. God often uses the weak things of this world so that He receives glory (see 1 Cor. 1:27-29). 

God has a purpose for us through suffering, and we can find love and grace in the middle of it.