Adapted from a sermon by Hsing Yi Yao—Xin Zhuang, Taiwan

INTRODUCTION

Suffering can confront us in many different situations—when we are faced with misfortunes, or pressure, or an impasse in our life that seems impossible to break through. At times such as these, depression is never far away, and we can barely muster the strength to smile. We will ask ourselves, “Why me? Why do I have to face such sufferings?” And then we will question God, “Why have You let this happen to me?”

Unfortunately, some of us never find answers to these questions—they become complaints that lead us nowhere. We fail to face the problem head on, to humbly examine ourselves and allow God to reveal the truth to us. Perhaps our suffering truly has a purpose.

Winter in the holy land is a season of severe cold and heavy, sometimes violent, rainfall and snow. This is why Jesus told His disciples that when the great tribulation comes, they should “pray that [their] flight may not be in winter” (Mk 13:18). But the winter quickly gives way to spring, and the crops and vegetation begin to bud and grow (Isa 55:10). It may seem as though the winter months are a test of endurance, but the combination of rain, snow and time are necessary to bring forth the fruit of the land.

Similarly, the trials and tribulations we go through are like the bitterness of winter, which seems bleak, depressing, and fruitless. But, as Christians, we must patiently endure the harsh winter in order to see the fruition of God’s work in us (Acts 14:22; Jas 1:2–4). And if we carefully examine the cause of our suffering, we will understand why we must suffer—why the rains must fall—in order for us to spiritually grow.

WHERE DOES SUFFERING COME FROM?

The Bible tells us that suffering first entered the world when man sinned (Gen 3:17–19). God cursed the ground, bringing forth thorns and thistles, so that man would have to labor and toil to survive.

When man sinned, he fell short of the glory of God and lost the image of God. He lost his father-son relationship with God, and became spiritually dead. And not only would his life be full of toil, but it would eventually end in physical death. This is the fundamental source of human anxiety, and the paradox of the human condition: that the spectre of death is present every moment of our lives. We are haunted by the question, Where will I go when I depart from this world?

Every affliction we face in life, be it physical sickness or work-related stress, is directly or indirectly the result of sin. More often than not, it is a result of our own lusts and desires. When Job experienced suffering, Eliphaz the Temanite told him, “For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble spring from the ground; yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:6–7). Eliphaz was telling Job that trouble does not come from nowhere. He believed that Job must have sinned against God.

We do not always have to sin to suffer

We later read that, much to God’s displeasure, Eliphaz had misjudged Job’s situation (Job 42:7). He correctly stated that man suffers because of sin, but it does not necessarily follow that Job’s afflictions were a result of his own sin. The Bible introduces Job as an upright and blameless man—there was no other like him in that generation (Job 1:1, 8). It would be difficult to argue that his suffering was a punishment for sin. And yet, he was struck with disaster and disease. We are compelled to ask, “Why?”

In our life of faith, we may find ourselves in a similar situation as Job. After we are baptized, we may put our heart into pursuing God’s word, and grasp every opportunity to serve God. In our daily lives, we may fear God, manifest His image, and glorify Jesus’ name in all that we do. But still, we are not immune from experiencing trials and tribulations—we will face sickness, bereavement, financial insecurity, family problems, and any other affliction common to man. We can even suffer for doing good (1 Pet 2:20). But we might find ourselves asking, “What have I done to deserve this? Am I not a good Christian?” Will we begin to lose hope, as Job did, when we are unable to see why God is allowing us to suffer?

Sufferings can come from God

If we want to understand why God allows us to suffer, we must see things from His perspective. What lesson does God want me to learn from this situation? To help us answer this question, we must quieten our hearts and seek God’s will from the Bible. When we learn more about God, then the anxieties at the back of our mind—Will I recover from my illness? Will I die?—will be replaced by a peace-filled hope in the promise of God, in His wisdom and His perfect will for us.

However, it is not always easy to fathom what God wants us to gain from our suffering. Eliphaz described God’s indecipherable ways to Job:

            “But as for me, I would seek God,

            And to God I would commit my cause—

            Who does great things, and unsearchable,

            Marvelous things without number.

            He gives rain on the earth,

            And sends waters on the fields.

            He sets on high those who are lowly,

            And those who mourn are lifted to safety.” (Job 5:8–9)

This passage describes the sovereignty of God, and His prerogative to do whatever He chooses. He does not need to seek our approval or consult our opinions. This is why it can be difficult for us, with our limited intelligence, to comprehend His will. So how should we proceed?

THE NEED TO PONDER

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher tells us that in times of suffering, we need to ponder (Eccl 7:14). But the way we ponder and reflect is crucial. We might focus solely on our own weaknesses, and get trapped in an endless cycle of repentance and imploring God for His help. Or we might end up pitying ourselves and complaining against God, asking why He keeps adding to our burdens. This is why it is crucial to look at things from the correct angle—not from our own point of view, but from God’s point of view.

First, we should consider—humbly and honestly—whether we have truly sinned. Have I offended God in the past week, or month, or year? Have I committed any unrighteous deeds or transgressed against God? This winter-long period of suffering means we may not be able to plough, plant or cultivate as we would in spring, but God has given us this time to reflect.

Next, we should take responsibility for our own actions and our own sin—do not question why others seem to go unpunished. It can be easy to blame others for our mistakes, or even to blame God by lamenting how unfair our situation is. But once we accept our fault, we will begin to understand why we are suffering and what God wants us to do. And when we go before God and lay the burden of our sin down, we will—almost miraculously—be brought into His promised peace. Our suffering may not end immediately, but we will be able to find rest and wait out the winter with hope.

Suffering because of God’s chastisement

The author of Hebrews tells us that we ought to give thanks when we are chastised by God through trials: “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb 12:11). Just as a father disciplines his son out of love, our heavenly Father chastises us so that we can partake in His holiness. Although we must suffer for a time, the benefits are everlasting (Heb 12:9–10).

Chastisement is never pleasant, and is often painful. But once we realize that our suffering is a result of our sin, then we should repent and return to God. Then we will see the love and grace of Jesus throughout our suffering, and know that it was not futile. If we confess our sins, God is faithful, and will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9). As long as it is not a mortal sin which leads to death, such as murder, sexual immorality, etc., the blood of Christ will cleanse us. This does not mean that we can be baptized again, but that, after baptism, the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood is in effect whenever we are willing to humble ourselves and repent (Heb 7:24–25).

Suffering to manifest God’s glory

Although we sin (1 Jn 1:10), suffering is not always a result of God’s chastisement. In the Gospel of John, it records the healing of a man who was born blind (9:1–7). The disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (9:2). Jesus replied, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him” (9:3).

Sometimes we suffer trials and tribulations so that the glory of God can be manifested in us. When a believer has victory over illness through faith—either being healed or being able to accept his condition—those who hear his testimony and witness his inner peace are led to the Lord. Besides, since trials are from God, who are we to complain? Instead, we should ponder what God wants us to achieve through the trials we are facing, or what we can bring to God at the end of the day.

When suffering comes, not only should we seek to understand why we are experiencing it, but we should face it with courage. We should not run away from it or complain about the situation. Although we might not be able to understand the will of God when we are in the midst of suffering, we are able to face it because we have faith in God.

            Just like Job said, at the end of his ordeal:

            “I know that You can do everything,

            And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

            You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’

            Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

            Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

            Listen, please, and let me speak;

            You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’

            “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,

            But now my eye sees You.

            Therefore I abhor myself,

            And repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:2–6)

Because of the sufferings he endured, Job was finally able to see God with his own eyes, and gained a renewed understanding of God and his own lowliness. Afterwards, God restored Job’s losses and blessed him even more.

Suffering for Christ

Suffering is part of the human experience. But for Christians, we know that we do not suffer without reason—whether we are being chastened for sinning, being perfected through trials, or bringing glory to God. Apostle Paul comforted the church in Thessalonica because they had endured many trials since believing in Christ. He wrote:

We sent Timothy to you comfort you so] that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. (1 Thess 3:3–4)

Despite being persecuted for believing in Christ, the Thessalonica members did not abandon their beliefs. They understood that anyone who chose to believe in the Lord must suffer in this way. Paul reminded them that suffering is part and parcel of discipleship, so they should comfort one another and wait on the Lord. In fact, those who suffer wrongfully, for the sake of righteousness, will be commended and blessed by God (1 Pet 2:19–20; 3:14).

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). The people of the world will face sufferings, but they will not have the peace that faith in Jesus brings.

CONCLUSION

There will be times when sufferings come upon us, like the winter rain and snow. It may seem that we suffer for no reason, causing us to grumble. But God has His purpose for putting us through this harsh winter period—He hopes for us to realize our sin and repent, to become more perfect, and to bring glory to His name, yielding “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (Heb 12:11).

If we tackle our situation head on and ponder on the cause of our sufferings, then we will find that the springtime of spiritual revival will soon arrive. Even if we are facing the worst-case scenario of impending death, we can face it without fear.

May the Lord grant us such faith, so that when we meet with life challenges, we can remain in the Lord Jesus and endure our sufferings with an inner peace, knowing that after winter comes the beauty of spring.