It is common today for people to get angry with God. It is the preferred voice of many when speaking of or to the Supreme Being. The world is filled with suffering and pain, and we insist on an explanation from God. We are the judge and jury, and God is the defendant; and we demand to know why, if he is so powerful and so loving, he allows the world to go on like it is. This is the tone of many books written in the last couple centuries. And, of course we do see that also in several places in the Bible. Job, for example, is very bold in expressing his angry questions to God; although when God appears, Job does “put his hand over his mouth” (Job 40:3-4).
There have been other ways to react to our suffering. It was in the early 1800’s that the “mad at God and he better explain himself” attitude began to gain widespread appeal. Before that, a more common approach was to just accept suffering as a fact of life, and one dare not question God about it. God is the judge, and if there was a problem with the world, we had best look first at ourselves and our sinful ways. If any of the Old Testament prophets would have been asked about why the nation was suffering, they would have replied in no uncertain terms, “Because you have it coming, you sinners, and you better repent and return to the Lord before it is too late.”
This was the understanding reflected in the writings of many of the giants in church history—Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, and many more. We see in them a humble acceptance of suffering, even a reverence for it; learning from Paul who said in Romans, “we share in Christ’s sufferings so we may also share in his glory.” For many Christians over the centuries, suffering was an expected part of life in a sinful world, and if humbly accepted, is able to strengthen our faith; and that would make it all worth it. Period. So don’t be whining about how unfair your life is, just accept what you receive from the Lord and be quiet. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
This is a difficult teaching. I too am a product of my time, and sometimes I also want to shake my fist at God and ask him to explain himself. And, God apparently has broad enough shoulders to handle our puny assaults on his majesty. In the end, he blessed Job, and even allowed his disrespectful words to be included in the Holy Scriptures; along with some angry Psalms, and a few other Biblical outbursts.
But there is great wisdom in the quiet acceptance of suffering that we also see in the Bible and throughout church history. People in earlier times faced great hardships and pain, enduring it all quietly and with great strength, being assured of God’s goodness and greater purpose, even if they did not see it. Today, many Christians accept suffering less graciously and fuss more; and all our fussing probably adds to our suffering.
But think about it. The old writers lived very harsh and painful lives compared to ours. There was no modern medicine, no pills to relieve the painful effects of accidents or illness, and no vaccinations to prevent or treat diseases. Plagues could wipe out entire villages, and crude surgeries were performed without anesthetics or antiseptics. Most families lost at least one child, and the many single parent families were not because of divorce, but because of the death of one or the other. Often, both parents died, and the orphans would be reduced to begging. Homes were cold in the winter, hot in the summer, and rats and lice were constant companions. A year of bad weather for the crops meant not only a financial setback, but famine as well. Yet, Christians in these times could speak of enduring suffering nobly, bearing their cross for Jesus, and accepting their lot from God in reverent submission and silence.
This is the case yet today in many parts of the world. In impoverished or persecuted regions, where danger, material hardship, and physical suffering are daily realities, Christians rarely spend time judging God, accusing him of unfairness, or asking “Why me?” Instead, they expect suffering as a normal part of life in a broken world, and focus their faith on finding the strength to endure it.
In the more privileged nations, food, comfort, medicine, and safety are taken for granted. But that is where minor hardships or disruptions can prompt intense spiritual crises, deep complaints, and immediate questions about God’s goodness.
Isn’t it remarkable that it is the comfortable moderns who shake angry fists at God about unjust and unfair suffering? It is today’s Western theologians, philosophers, and journalists who write books demanding apologies and explanations from God; as they live in princely comfort, typing away on their computers, the world at their fingertips via the internet, sitting in air-conditioned offices, with the food pantry full, and the medicine cabinet well stocked. These are the ones burning with rage against God, yet reluctant to mention the word sin, and certainly never seeing any connection between sin and suffering. Granted, we do need to be careful when we consider that link; but as we suffer, we must remember God is the judge over us, and we are not the judge over God. After all, God is bigger and does hold all the cards. This is a fact so obvious that it should go without saying. But it does have to be said. It even had to be said to Job (see chapters 38-41) after God allowed him to vent his anger for a little while.
There is much in the world and in our own lives that we do not understand, but this much is clear: God is God, and we are not. (continued…)
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Job 38:1-4 — Then out of the storm the Lord spoke to Job: “Who are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words? Now stand up straight and answer the questions I ask you. Were you there when I made the world? If you know so much, tell me about it.”
Hosea 6:1 — Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us; he has injured us, but he will bind up our wounds.
Romans 8:16-17 — The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
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