Question 1:What’s your favorite way to relax and recover after a hard day?

Why Does Suffering Exist?1

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THE POINT

Suffering is a part of living in a fallen world.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Some days are harder than others . Deadlines, upset coworkers, and congested traffic make the sight of home a welcome relief . Walking through the door of your house means a chance to relax, catch your breath, and forget about all the hardships of the day . With a good night’s rest, we can face another day . But sometimes the difficulties won’t leave .

When we were expecting our first child, we got caught up in the excitement of preparing for a new life . Like most new parents, we looked forward to the months ahead: fixing up the nursery, attending

baby showers, choosing the baby’s name, and even choosing names for his or her grandparents . Our family joined in the excitement!

But things did not go as planned . Right after the end of the first trimester, the pregnancy ended in miscarriage . We were devastated . The following days were a mix of sleeplessness, grief, tears, questions, anger, and disbelief . We had indeed experienced a great loss . We cried out to God with one question, ”Why, Lord, have you permitted this suffering?”

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WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Genesis 3:16-19

16 He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with painful effort. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you. 17 And he said to the man, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.”

Suffering is a real part of life . Every one of us has experienced suffering in one way or another . But it hasn’t always been that way—nor was it part of God’s design for us .

The word Genesis means, “beginning,” and that is exactly what we see in the first three chapters of this book . In Genesis 1 we see the mighty power of God in creation . In Genesis 2 we see how God interacted with His creation in the Garden of Eden . The chapter closes with the creation of Eve and the formation of the family .

These are all great beginnings, but then we get to Genesis 3, one of the saddest chapters in all of Scripture . Adam and Eve had the perfect life in flawless surroundings, but they

chose to do the one thing God told them they “must not” do: “eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen . 2:16-17) .

Why is this so significant? It was the moment sin entered the world—and with sin came suffering and death . It was a costly decision for Adam and Eve, and the consequences of that sin have been devastating for all of creation ever since .

Question 2:What emotions do you experience when you read these verses?

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Suffering is a part of living in a fallen world.

In these verses God informed Adam and Eve of the consequences of their sin. Earlier God had warned them that one of the consequences of sin would be death. They would no longer be able to live in the garden under the protection of God’s presence; therefore, their physical bodies would suffer under the weight of sin.

After cursing the serpent, God addressed Eve first. God would intensify her physical pain in childbirth, and her relationship with her husband would suffer. Eve’s desire, God said, “will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you” (v. 16). Her inability to rule over or somehow control her husband would be a constant source of frustration. Husbands

and wives thus became locked in an ongoing struggle for control that continues to this day.

Adam was also impacted by the consequences of sin. The immediate consequences of his sin had made his work of caring for the land difficult. In addition to this heavy work, God reminded Adam that the ultimate punishment would be their death.

Physical pain, broken relationships, and hardships are all forms of suffering that are the consequences of sin. This passage in Genesis 3 shows us how seriously God takes sin. It brings great consequences to our lives. As we’ll see in the next passage, though, we are not the only ones impacted by sin.

Romans 8:18-22

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.

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THE POINT

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Paul took a unique approach to the way a believer should understand suffering . In order to reassure the believer who might be walking through a difficult time in life, Paul encouraged us to look forward . Instead of focusing on our adversity and becoming absorbed in our pain, Paul reminded us that we have a glorious future . Knowing about our future does not reduce our current pain, but it does encourage us to remember that our current situation is temporary and our future destination is eternal .

As a pastor I am so inspired when I see members of the church who are faithful to the Lord even through suffering in their lives . When I visit parents who have lost a child to a tragic accident, I am reminded of that future hope . When I watch a husband care for a sick wife year after year, I am reminded . When I see a student being persecuted for her faith at her high school and yet remain true to the Lord, I am reminded . In Hebrews 11, we see examples of men and women who remained faithful in the face of suffering . “These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised . But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth . . . . But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one ” (Heb . 11:13,16a) .

Christians are not the only ones suffering yet looking ahead . All of creation “was subjected to futility” (Rom . 8:20), yet it looks forward to the time when it “will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children” (v . 21) . When God made the world it was good, but because of sin it also has become a place suffering . With words such as futility, bondage, decay, and groaning, Paul painted a picture of creation that is far from bright . No wonder creation itself looks forward to “the glory that is going to be revealed to us” (v . 18) .

Question 3:How would you describe the contrast between creation and our current state?

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Romans 8:23-25

23 Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

Creation groans, and so do Christians. We groan because we understand the devastation of sin. We groan, but we groan with hope. Because of the indwelling Spirit in our lives, we have tasted hope. We have a hope that assures us of better things to come.

John described this hope to us later in the Book of Revelation: “God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away” (Rev. 21:3b-4). When the new heaven and the new earth are unveiled, all our suffering will cease. We will be dwelling with God; sin and its consequences will be no more. This provides great hope for the believer as we walk through suffering.

Earlier, Paul had described our relationship with Christ in terms of adoption (Rom. 8:14-16). This is a picture we greatly value, because we have three adopted sons from China. As eager as we were to bring them into our home, they also were eager to have a forever family. Without adoption, some children feel no real sense of belonging. Wherever they live is only temporary; “home” has no sense of permanence. Adoption means someone loves them—someone wants them.

Paul had this image in mind as he wrote about the believer’s eagerness to be brought home. Adoption through Christ points to God’s immense love for us even when we see ourselves as unlovable. He has chosen us, even when it feels like the world has abandoned us. He is coming for us, even when our current circumstances cause us to question His timing. And this is the basis for our hope. We are waiting to enter our forever home of heaven. When that day comes, we will say goodbye to suffering for all eternity.

Question 4:What are some ways the Holy Spirit helps you endure suffering and look forward with hope?

Question 5:What excites you most about our future hope?

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THE POINT Suffering is a part of living in a fallen world.

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____ Karma ____ Desire to bring people to repent

____ Sin ____ Bad luck

____ People’s inhumanity to each other ____ Fate

____ God’s judgment ____ Other: ________________________________

What questions do you ask yourself when you’re in the midst of suffering?

SOURCES OF SUFFERINGCheck each of the items that are biblical reasons for the

existence of suffering. Then answer the question.

“For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.”

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Engage

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Suffering is present, but it is not permanent. How will you live out the truths of these passages? Choose one of the following applications:

Acknowledge your sin. Admit to God that you are a sinner. While you may live with the consequences of past sin, you can be forgiven and look forward to a future in Christ that will ultimately be free of suffering.

Look to God. As you “groan with hope” and look to the future, make a list of the ways God can use your current situation to deepen your walk with Him.

Share your hope. As you encounter others who are suffering, allow God to use your suffering to help others. Be aware of opportunities to help and encourage others who are suffering.

Whether it’s the little things that add up and stress us out or the big things that suddenly take our breath away, suffering affects us all. Thanks be to God that it won’t always be this way!

LIVE IT OUT

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THE POINT Suffering is a part of living in a fallen world.

© 2019 LifeWay Christian Resources