Category: Suffering

Recent events in Israel and Gaza have caused Christians around the world to be outraged, shocked and deeply concerned. It can be difficult to know what to think or how to find peace in the midst of such tragic death, loss, and suffering. Thankfully, God’s word gives insight into how believers can respond. 

The best place to start is by trusting in the character of God. He is all-knowing. He was not surprised by these events (Isaiah 46:9-10). He is all-powerful. He is able to work all things together for His eternal purposes (Romans 8:28). He is always present. Even in the midst of terrorism and war, God is working to show people their sin and to draw people to himself (Rom. 8:29-30). 

When I think about God’s character, I am comforted knowing that in his sovereignty  he is able to bring his good plan to completion, even in the midst of the greatest atrocities of history. This is seen most clearly in how God the Father was able to save the lost through the death of his Son, Jesus Christ. Who else could imagine using the death of one to bring spiritual life to so many? If God was able to use the death of Christ to save sinners, I know he is able to work through even the worst tragedies for his good. 

The character of God is easy to forget in the midst of the horrific images and heart-breaking stories from these tragic events. As Christians, we struggle with the harsh reality of living in a fallen world, but we do not have to live in despair. Our hearts break when we hear of tragedy and loss, but we do not grieve without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). 

Jesus warned his disciples about coming difficulties. Jesus said, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” (Matthew 24:6-8) 

Jesus gave that warning so his believers would not lose heart during difficulty and persecution. He did not want them losing hope. He wanted them to look to the future, to realize that God has a plan for his people and that God would see it through. In Matthew 25 Jesus comforted his disciples by telling them that there would be a day of judgment when all sin and corruption would be dealt with by God. Jesus taught his followers that the wicked would be judged with eternal punishment and that the righteous would receive eternal life. 

Another passage that is helpful in times of tragedy is found in Luke 13:1-5. This is when Jesus was asked to address a tragic event that had recently taken place. The passage says, “There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (English Standard Version) 

Jesus addressed two tragedies that had occurred. The first was a horrifying act by Pilate, who was the local Roman ruler at that time. The second event was a disturbing accident where eighteen innocent people died. Jesus must have surprised those present because instead of focusing on the suffering of those who had died, he focused on the living and their need to be made right with God. This is fascinating to me because Jesus was aware of the pain and sorrow (Hebrews 4:15), but he was wanted his audience to think about the events from a spiritual perspective. 

The spiritual reality that Jesus Christ taught was that whenever there is death and suffering people need to consider their own spiritual relationship with God. People need to ask if they have repented of their sins and committed their life to God. Jesus did not want people to become so incensed by the atrocity that they forgot to consider their own standing with God. 

This is incredibly helpful for Christians to consider. When tragedy strikes we are to reflect on our own standing with God. Are we ready to die? Have we repented of our sins and trusted in the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross? This is so important. We should not jump over this question because it is the question Jesus posed to those who were trying to make sense of the events of the day. 

This does not mean we minimize the suffering and horrible pain of tragic events. It does mean that we learn to look at these events from a spiritual perspective. We need to pray that there will be justice. We need to pray that people would consider their own souls and make sure they are right with God. We need to pray that there would be peace, on a political level, but more importantly we need to pray that people would find peace for their souls, through the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross. 

The following article is excerpted from Dr. Swartz’s book: Strength in the River: A Biographical Theology of Suffering (Kress Biblical Publications)

It was time. Well aware of His coming arrest and crucifixion, Jesus walked willingly to His ultimate mission. Just before His arrest, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane with some of his disciples. He told them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watchwith me.”He went on and fell on his face and prayed: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matt 26:38-39).

He knew that in just hours He would be nailed to a cross to die a slow, cruel death to pay for the sins of humanity. He knew that He would bear the full weight of God’s righteous fury against sin.

Jesus, Son of God, fully God and fully man, was now in the midst of a raging river of emotional anguish in growing anticipation of the unimaginable suffering that was before Him. What did He do in His time of deep suffering? He prayed this beautifully submissive prayer. 

The Bible helps us understand the vastness of God’s sovereignty, that God’s plan includes whatever is happening right now. God’s plan can include some trial or pain that you do not want to face or something that you will inevitably face. But God’s sovereignty is endless, as proven in Isaiah 45:7, “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.” 

This is precisely the situation of Jesus: He is faced with the culmination of the Father’s plan for Him on earth—death by crucifixion—and He prays this simple prayer. Jesus was filled with sorrow and dread, yet He never sinned or stopped trusting God. The sinless Son of God is truly our best example of having strength in the river of suffering and our best example of being submissive to whatever God brings. How can we follow in His footsteps and peacefully accept the plan of God? We need to accept God’s plan with resolution, humility, and reverence. 

First, accepting God’s plan is done with resolution. It is a decision, a choice, a moment in time when you take a vote within yourself to please the Lord and say, “Yes, Lord, I accept whatever You bring.” Jesus resolved to accept God’s plan. In prayer, it was now time to plead with the Lord that if there was any other way to accomplish the task of redemption, now would be a great time for His Father to jump in, because His arrest was only minutes away! But time was up. The Father was silent. Jesus laid down His will in surrender and submission, making an official resolution: “Not as I will, but as you will.” 

Second , we need to accept God’s plan with humility. Jesus said, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” In the Old Testament, the “cup” often alluded to suffering and the wrath of God. Psalm 11:6, for example, says “Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup” (Ps 11:6). In order to die, Jesus would have to endure suffering—not just physical suffering but also spiritual suffering as payment for our sin. About to face this unimaginable pain, Jesus was experiencing a very natural desire to shrink back from His task, so He asked His Father if perhaps there was another way that this pain could be avoided.  His prayer is offered with great respect and deference, making no demands of God. Jesus prays, “If it be possible.” He doesn’t claim deliverance from God, but instead makes a request in modest humility. There is tremendous joy and peace in humbling yourself before the Lord, glorifying Him and placing yourself in His hands.

Third, we need to accept God’s plan with reverence. The final petition of Jesus’ prayer is that the Father would accomplish His own will. This is the pattern of Jesus’ entire life, “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me” (John 8:28). Jesus willingly subjugated Himself to the will of His Father. 

This is a whole new level of reverence to the Lord! We might pray, “Lord, not what I will but what You will,” but how often is this really just code language for, “Oh, please do it my way, but if You must do it Your way then I guess I’ll deal with it,” as if God’s will, though painful, is not the best option? His plan needs to be carried out, even if this plan includes you standing in a raging river of suffering. Reverence says, “God, I not only accept Your will, but I pray deeply and earnestly that Your will is carried out. Your will is always best, and if this river is Your will, then please give me the grace to rejoice in it.”

All four gospels are surprisingly brief and to the point about the crucifixion of Christ. All four simply say, “They crucified him.” Jesus endured the wrath of God on the cross, and when the debt had been paid, He declared, “It is finished.” When all that was left to do was to actually die (unlike the typical death of a crucified victim, in which breathing becomes impossible) Luke’s gospel tells us, “Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’” Matthew says, “Jesus cried out with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.” Mark says, “Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.” Jesus took a deep breath, cried out in victory, and died on purpose.

How was He able to do this? He submitted willingly to the plan of God. When you, too, are standing in the torrent of the river of suffering, submit and receive the power to endure, and the same strength given to Christ will be yours as well.

Dr. Steve Swartz is the Senior Pastor at Grace Bible Church of Bakersfield. You can write him at steves@gbcob.org.