When in the thick of suffering
Posted on September 8 2009. Comments: 4
Posted by:
Arthur Davis
A few of our friends have been experiencing the most devastating loss and the most cutting grief — and things for which they bear no responsibility.
When things are so raw, what are we to say?
Are we to explain some purpose in their suffering? Frankly, any attempt to theorise with our friends about their sufferings is crushing. The words of Romans 8:28 — “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” — are simply appalling. The experience of suffering is exactly the wrong place to theologise about suffering.*
In other words, we don’t “say” anything. We identify ourselves with them in love (Rom 12:15). With them, we give voice to grief with the most gut-wrenching and searching words of pain.
Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long? Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. (Psalm 6)
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. I am a worm, not a human being; I am scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “Let the LORD rescue him. Let God deliver him, since he delights in God.” (Psalm 22)
We need to be steeped in these colossal biblical struggles with suffering. In Job 28, miners go digging deep into the Earth. Where can wisdom be found? No one can get it. Only God has it. So, because wisdom belongs to God, being wise means fearing God and shunning evil (28:28). This is exactly how Job himself is identified in 1:1 — a man of wisdom. And yet, Job’s wisdom gives no answers in all his sufferings. Even when God himself finally appears, God offers no answers either. In all Job’s waves of pain, there are no answers to be found.
This take on suffering is a difficult one indeed. The book of Job dashes all human attempts at explanation — only to respond with the confounding non-explanation of In the beginning, God. This is the very deepest pessimism about “answers”.
It is right here, within this pessimism about explanations, that we turn to seek God together. We join in the cry, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”
We have something Job did not. We turn to our God; the God who took up that cry himself; the God who bore our pain and suffering; the God who died for us.
The cross of Jesus is no answer at all — and it is the place to be. It will not explain things to us, but it may yet be our strength for today and our hope for tomorrow.
All this must lead us, firstly and finally, to pray together to the God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:3).
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* If you are not in this place, do take the time to read Don Carson’s How Long, O Lord: Reflections on Suffering and Evil. Is Don, is good.
Comments
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Chris Bowditch says:
Like the new site.
Anyway we can give feedback? I reckon there are a few things that could take the site from good to great
Monday, 05 October 2009
Mike says:
Arthur, I mostly agree with you 
However sometimes when our friends are suffering they themselves may want to ‘theorise’ about it, so part of being a good friend might include this. But you’re right that it is not something we raise as an ‘explanation’ or ‘comfort’; especially not when coupled with the phrase “well, at least you’re not ...”
While “Rom. 8:28” might be an appalling tag-line to leave below your name in a ‘get well card’ for someone recently diagnosed with cancer, it is still a comforting truth when grasped in the midst of suffering ( ... speaking personally, as one with a collection of such cards).
Monday, 05 October 2009
Arthur Davis says:
Thanks for that, Mike!
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Jane Prentice says:
Useful thoughts Arthur.
Thanks.