The Gospel Way CatechismSample

QUESTION 16: What Is Suffering?

ANSWER

Suffering is the experience of physical, emotional, or spiritual pain—a mark of life in a fallen world. Suffering is real and mysterious, but never meaningless, because God makes use of suffering to shape our character and increase our faith.

“An essential part of the teachings and directives of the great religious and philosophical thinkers the world over has been the meaning of pain and suffering,” wrote the German philosopher Max Scheler. Every society lives by spoken or unspoken teachings and traditions that help make sense of the world. Essential to any overarching world story is the meaning of suffering and how best to respond to it.

In today’s world, we often encounter four different understandings and responses to suffering. Some say suffering results from human choices and failures and can be eliminated through human effort and resources. This view emphasizes self-reliance. Others see life as a product of chance; suffering is just an unfortunate aspect of life on earth, carrying no real significance. Some religions see suffering as an illusion caused by attachment to the material world, which can be transcended through the destruction of desire. Finally, many point to suffering due to societal or systemic failures, prioritizing the need for social and political change.

While there is truth to be found in these views, Christianity doesn’t line up completely with any of them. The Bible teaches that suffering is real and unavoidable, its causes and effects often mysterious, and yet suffering is never meaningless. The Old Testament book of Job is an exploration of suffering, never giving easy answers or simplistic solutions, and it stands as one of the greatest literary works of all time. God has promised to make use of suffering, and one day to eliminate all sorrow forever.

In Romans 5:3-4, the apostle Paul writes: “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (NIV). Seen in this light, suffering is not meaningless but can be used by God to develop and shape our character. This does not mean that suffering is enjoyable or easily explainable; it simply means God can and will use it to produce spiritual growth and maturity.

How should we respond to suffering? With gentleness and patience. Sometimes, suffering results from sins we have committed or the sins someone has committed against us. Other times, suffering is part of living in a broken world. It is wrong to assume that a vibrant faith or dedicated obedience to God will preserve us from the experience of suffering.

Many find suffering to be a stumbling block for believing in God, and understandably so. But even if the Bible does not give us a fully exhaustive account of why God permits so much suffering in this world, the gospel story demonstrates that God is not indifferent to our pain. If it’s true that the Son of God willingly entered the worst of human suffering, then, in Christ, God knows what it means to suffer. He is with us in our sorrow.

Isaiah 42 describes the mysterious Suffering Servant who, Isaiah 53 reveals, will have the guilt of our transgressions put upon him so that, by his suffering, our condemnation will be taken away. This is the great hope spread over the pages of the Bible—God knows how to care for the fragile. He loves to care for the bruised and battered. He is the one who enters our suffering, promises to bind up our broken hearts and heal our wounds (Psalm 147:3; Isaiah 61:1).

Reflection Questions

How have you coped with the experience of suffering in the past? Reflect on your reactions when faced with suffering. How does your response align with the understanding that suffering can shape your character and increase your faith?

How does your understanding of suffering shape how you view God and his character? Consider how your experiences with suffering influence your perception of God’s nature. How can you reconcile the reality of suffering with believing in a loving and merciful God who promises our suffering is never meaningless?