How to Handle Suffering Without Breaking Apart?

No one looks forward to suffering, it’s not something we plan to do. We would rather shun suffering than welcome it. Yet suffering is a reality that none can escape. From the richest to the poorest, suffering comes to all.

It may come in different forms and measures but when it comes, it does so with a Big Bang! Suffering is never easy, it cannot be simply brushed aside. It disturbs us internally, even to the depths of our soul. Suffering can lead to depression and dejection, it has even led people to suicide. Even in its less extreme forms it hurts quite bad.

Unimaginable loss

We all have suffered, it’s one of the universal realities of this fallen world. Just like us we find Job suffering in the book of Job chapters 1 and 2. We see a tragic narrative where Job is faced with a barrage of tragedies. He loses his property, servants and children in an instant and then he goes onto suffer from painful sores all over his body.

I mentioned his loss in one line yet to Job it meant the loss of all his life’s effort. He is described as “the greatest (richest) man in the East” (Job 1:3). He may have worked hard all his life to get rich and possess servants and thousands of cattle. He may have spent much time with his children to love and care for them. Yet all this is lost in an instant. Later when his body is full of painful sores, his wife cannot take it anymore. She gives an outrageous advice.

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job 2:9 NIV

Even death seemed a better option!

Time to shout ‘why me?’

In moments like these we search for reasons and answers. Why me? Yes that’s what we want to know. Job had no answers he did not know what led to his suffering. Suffering does not bring with it all the reasons and answers; it just comes and overwhelms us and here it overwhelmed Job.

Job’s response is radical, yes he does mourn, he does breakdown but he does not break apart. As he mourns He says something which gives us a glimpse of his worldview.

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my motherʼs womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job 1:20‭-‬21 NIV

Job worships in suffering!

Now how amazing is that? Most of us will think of worship as the last thing to do when such tragedy strikes. To most of us worship means nothing more than singing songs. Yet here we see Job depending on his relationship with God in this moment of despair. His understanding of God helps him. Job does not see God as provider alone — he sees God as Sovereign and Lord.

Job does not see God as just God in good times rather to him God is absolute in good and bad times alike. He says “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10) Most of us think of relationship with God as a guarantee of good things, we forget that our relationship with God is our commitment to be in His will no matter what.

Job’s way of looking at things

Job recognises that all he has is from the Lord. Job is not the owner rather it all belongs to the Lord. This understanding of things helps Job deal with it. The loss is not lessened but the rage and hurt inside is cooled. It is an important part of dealing with suffering because the rage and hurt inside is closely linked to the loss of ‘my loved one/thing/opportunity and etc’.

When in reality nothing belongs to us, we cannot hold onto anything as mine — we are caretakers called to love, build and develop what’s given to us by the Lord for his Will and not our will.

To sum it up

Without the assurance that we have in God, suffering is a personal attack on our being and we have no hope or comfort. Job on the other hand is able to deal with it because of his:

• Trust in the Lord

• Understanding of God

Job’s attitude forces us to reflect on how we understand God — is He there for my will to be done or am I there for His will to be done?

We cannot run away from suffering as Christians. Suffering is a close companion of Christians and we see it across our history. Remember following Christ means denying ourselves and carrying our own cross.

At the cross, when Christ suffered he took on our shame, sin and final suffering to give us hope for an eternity with Him in his Perfect Kingdom. So while we wait for that let us not be afraid to suffer or let not suffering cause us to lose faith rather may it cause us to cling to the cross a little bit more. He is our comfort.

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. Psalm 119:50 NIV

Shashank S Rawat, UESI Staff based in Kolkata