Where Are You? A Theology of SufferingSample

Maybe you've shouted it, cried it, whispered it: "Where were You, God? Where are You? What are you doing?"

Those questions arise when life brings what we never asked for - things we didn’t choose, yet they’re still part of our story. They’re part of our journey.

The good in it is this: God refuses to waste the season. Even in pain, frustration, or disappointment, He is still present. He doesn’t orchestrate every hardship, but He chooses to use it. He weaves something beautiful into the tapestry of pain and affliction.

None of us prays for a tough year. No one hopes for bad news at 1 a.m. or inconclusive test results. Yet these things arrive - uninvited and unannounced. They knock the wind out of us. But God does not wait for mountaintops to teach us; often He leads us through the valley, because there are lessons there that cannot be learned anywhere else.

The Treasure in Fragile Jars

Paul describes us as fragile clay jars that carry a great treasure within. We’re easily cracked, dented, and chipped by life. Some of us make life-altering decisions based on how much sleep or caffeine we’ve had. We’re fragile people.

But the point isn’t the jar - it’s the treasure inside. When cracks appear, the light of that treasure shines through. People don’t look and think, What a strong jar - they see the light that’s holding it all together. The more the jar cracks, the more clearly the treasure is revealed.

Even Jesus showed us this - He was beaten, crushed, and broken so that God’s glory could shine brightest through the suffering.

Affliction Is Unavoidable

Affliction isn’t a glitch in the system. It’s part of the world we live in - a world at war, marked by sin and spiritual conflict. Evil has been running the same playbook since Genesis. Human choices ripple outward. Even God’s loving correction plays a role, training and forming us like a father disciplines a child he loves.

Jesus didn’t hide this truth. He said that we will have troubles in this world. Not might. Not maybe. But He also said, Take heart. Because even though trouble remains, He has overcome it.

So for us, the goal can’t be a pain-free life. The goal must be to become more like Christ - to glorify God in every season, on the mountain, and in the valley. We worship Him not because life is easy, but because He is worthy. We don’t barter with God, waiting to see if He’ll fix it; we pre-decide that He’s worthy now, and always.

Don’t Be Surprised by the Fire

Peter told the early believers not to be surprised when fiery trials came. He wasn’t speaking lightly - these were people being burned, beaten, and torn apart for their faith. And yet he said, Be glad. These trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering.

Affliction is inevitable. But in those moments, our response can reveal the treasure within. The cracks in the jar aren’t signs of failure - they’re openings for glory to shine through.