He Did and He Will.

In the last blog I brought up a few tough questions, one in particular I have really wrestled with over the last several months.

If God is good
And just
And hates sin
And grieves for our suffering
Then why do we suffer?

The devil isn’t having to work super hard to keep my doubts alive these days. I am worn out. My hands that have been clenched around truth for the last five plus years are weary. I long for a reprieve from trials. Sometimes I struggle with wondering where God is in all of this.

So I ask Him. Being the faithful Father He is, He continues to remind me of truth and wraps His hands around mine, so that I don’t let go of the promises that truly give me life. (Ps.119:49-50)

Three Truths to Cling to in Your Doubt:

1. Suffering has a purpose.

God’s plan of sanctification has good motives: The Holy Spirit is purifying our heart, fashioning it more like our Savior’s and fulfilling our purpose of bringing God glory. We’re being made holy. We’re a light to the world. We’re being fit for eternal paradise. Whatever processes we undergo for these purposes, God will not waste pain. As Jerry Bridges said; “God never wastes pain. He always uses it to accomplish His purpose. And His purpose is always for our good and His glory. So, we can trust Him, even when our hearts are breaking or our bodies are wracked with pain.”

2. God is good and wise.

Lamentations says that God does not willingly afflict the children of man. You know what that means? He takes no delight in my suffering, only in what it produces. He is sad when I am sad. He doesn’t cause unnecessary grief. He ways the cost of His actions, and in His perfect wisdom, He never makes a mistake. Take heart, friend. You’ll never suffer more than necessary, never without reason, and never without grace from a God who loves you more deeply than you’ll ever know. (Lam. 3:31-33)

3. He did and He will.

As I vented to God about why He doesn’t end suffering, it was like a lightbulb went off. “Grace! He did put an end to suffering! What do you think the cross was for?” Because of Christ’s incredible sacrifice, He gave anyone who repents and believes hope. Hope that one day, everything that is wrong will be made right. Every. single. thing. Believer’s bodies won’t have pain. Loved ones won’t die. Justice will be final and irrevocable. Wickedness will be forever silenced. We won’t wrestle against our sin nature. Our suffering will be forgotten.

Sin, death and the devil are defeated forever. All of this is because a good God sent His only Son to pay the price for our sin.

We endure now for a little while, but not forever. Forever is reserved for the joyous, triumphant reign of Christ Jesus, whose blood will put an end to all that is evil, hurtful, and wrong. In an unimaginably wonderful way, we will taste and see that the Lord is good. We are blessed with glimpses of that even now. (Ps. 34:8-10)

Like the privilege of holding onto these glorious truths which will carry us right into heaven. Praise God who made a way!

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10

© Grace Baeten 2023