Those who do not know God through our Lord Jesus have a wrong understanding of God's goodness and the consequences of sin. One of the best soccer players on the women's US team said this about God when she got injured in her last and final game before she retired: "I'm not a religious person or anything, and if there was a God, like, this is proof that there isn't." She was blaming God for her injury. There is this thing in her mind that if there is a God, then there should not be any suffering. Many people in the world think the way she thinks about who God is. However, this is not the correct way to understand God. God is good, and this world that we live in is broken because of sin. It is sin that brings suffering and death in this world. Many of our sufferings happen because of our personal rebellion against God. God said these words to the Israelites in Psalm 81:13-16, "If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."
The Israelites could have avoided being defeated by their enemies, but because they rebelled against God, they lost everything. God had been warning them about the consequences of obeying and disobeying Him, but they chose to disobey Him. In this world, we will always suffer because of sin, but our Lord Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead so that we can have eternal hope that is outside of this world. All suffering will end when God brings us to a new heaven and a new earth—only those who sincerely believe in Jesus will enter it. In the meantime, God is with us no matter what circumstances we are in. He is good no matter what happens to us. His goodness never changes. When we became a believer in our Lord Jesus, God did not promise us that we would never suffer, but he promised us that He would be with us through any situation that we are in.
God understands that suffering exists in this world because of sin, and this is the reason He sent our Lord Jesus to die on the cross to save us. We will always be prone to accidents, injuries, sickness, or any difficult situations as long as we are still in this world, but let us not fear or be discouraged because God is in us, and He will be with us forever.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Why does suffering exist in this world? Can I avoid suffering and sickness in this world? Do I blame God or have resentment towards Him for the difficulties and suffering that I am going through?
Take a moment to write down all the worries you face today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for always being with me, no matter what situations I face. Please help me to be confident in you and not to walk in fear. Thank you for being my Savior and eternal hope. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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