The ‘S’ word we know – but do not like – is suffering. I wrote on this topic last June then set it aside. Today I found myself shuffling into an auditorium with a couple thousand people to hear the wonderful Dr Paul David Tripp. Apparently, we have all suffered and we all would like answers. He has written a book on Suffering titled ‘Suffering’. That source will give you lots to think about. Here I will mention a few thoughts from his effective presentation. I’m not plagiarizing but will comment on what struck me. When we believers reference what the Bible says on a topic, God’s word is for all of us and we speak from the same source. The following is how he organized the topic.
We live in two worlds. In one there is love, grace, and truth but we experience suffering because of our address. Currently it is planet earth – a place that began in the garden for us but is now broken beyond repair. That is why the Bible references the new Heaven and the new earth in our future. We have the word of God and then our experience. They fit together but how? Rom 8:18-25 and in Gen 22:1-8, Abraham and Sarah wait 75 years and then he climbs a mountain to make a sacrifice. That is it. Proceed with/through suffering with hope. We hope because our faith gives reason. Our pasts prove God is worthy of that hope. Tripp says we either worship God or accuse Him in our suffering. The Bible does not dilute this truth.
In session two Tripp discussed why Christians suffer. I’ll just list the scriptures on suffering that we studied: I Pet 4:12, 2 Cor 1:3-9, 2 Cor 4:7-16, and I Pet 4:13-16. The last session Tripp began with Ephesians Chapters 1-3 – a gospel rant (I’d never thought of that). Next is the intervening grace. A good prayer while suffering is simply “God help me”. No eloquence is required. We become desperate people. God redeemed us and is redeeming the chaos around us. We suffer and He saves. Tripp closed with a description of grace (I did not get it all down so get the book). Grace is intervening, unstoppable, providing, and inseparable along with some other qualities. The ‘G’ words (God’s grace) trumps the ‘S’ word. Good news in our suffering.
