We met at our mailbox and he pointed his finger toward the heavens. "I have some questions", he said, "for Him." His wife died a few days ago after a long, excruciatingly painful death from cancer. I simply listened as he wondered aloud why God would let his wife suffer, since she was such a good person, instead of picking him to be the one to suffer. In his opinion, suffering should be dealt out based on behavior. I didn't try to defend God or theologically explain why even good people suffer. After all, God Himself didn't give Job, a man whom God described as blameless, an explanation for all the suffering he had gone through. Instead, God accuses those who did try to come up with reasons for Job's sufferings as having "words without knowledge." (Job 38:1) I'm sure I've also been guilty of being like Job's friends by trying to wrestle with, reason out, explain away, and defend God's reputation when what I see as senseless suffering occurs. All of us have heard God's people say stupid things in the face of tragedy. Many of us have said some of those stupid things ourselves. This time, thank God, I held my tongue with my neighbor friend. I just tried to listen and by doing so, to communicate to him that my husband and I are a safe place to ask the hard questions.
It's strange to me that we struggle so with suffering while lavish undeserved blessing occurs as well, and yet we don't struggle with that. God gives us lavish grace and mercy and undeserved blessing and yet we accept it without question. Why was I born in a land of plenty while others are born into poverty? Why was I born healthy, while others are born with disability? We don't wrestle with reasons for blessing nearly as much as we do with the reasons for suffering. Until that blessing comes to one of our enemies, until someone who has hurt or offended us prospers, and then we struggle and cry out,"Why, God, why?" (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, February 25th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)
still following,
You make such a good point, Elizabeth. We don't struggle with our undeserved blessings and search for "the whys" behind them. Thank you for the wisdom in this post.
ReplyDeleteJulie, thank you for your encouragement!
DeleteYou being at the mailbox was exactly what God knew that man needed at that time. Just an ear to hear his anguish..what a blessing you were. Job was a hard one to read, but I like how you explain Job trusted. Sometimes that is enough. Thanks for linking at Sunday Scriptures and sharing. :)
ReplyDeletePeabea
Please be in prayer for him and his family. We are hosting his wife's memorial at our church this coming Saturday.
DeleteSuffering is so hard to explain, even to those of who walk with Christ and strive to obey Him. I am glad you were there for this man.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult to understand, explain and endure. Without knowing God and His character and the truth of His word it would be impossible.
DeleteThat's tremendously thought-provoking, Elizabeth! I rarely question the blessings! I do love that you continue on in counting your blessings/being grateful on your blog here!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have all of the answers, especially to hard questions. It is a blessing to have friends with whom we can be comfortable sharing, and most of all that pray with us.
ReplyDelete