God’s Purposes in Life’s Hardships The Doctrine of Suffering

“So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.” (Nehemiah 4:6)

I've had the honor of doing life with people who are suffering in SALT, BSF, MNTC, and grace church. I've been reflecting lately on the psychology of suffering and how gaining higher ground perspective can help. This is only possible when we draw near to God however there's significant roadblocks to doing this with integrity. The problem with us and the Solution (James 4:1-10, Prov 3:1-8, 2 Peter 1:3-11)) is really about maturity. I've seen in my life and the life of others that we can fail to grow into our new nature and flourish. That we survive, stay alive, and sometimes thrive is a miracle. In BSF our goal is to magnify God and mature his people.

• The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, Matthew 13:38
• I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. John 17:15
• In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16
• But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Yesterday I had a divine appoint with a friend who's going through several hardships and beginning to desire a new way to live. We talked about Practical helps to overcome addiction (Allen Carr) and how a way of life that "always felt like me" can give way to a new/better life can give freedom. Jesus came to release the captive and set the prisoner free. A captive is bound by force and held against their will. They may be able to survive in captivity but they aren't free. A prisoner is someone who deserves being bound by force against their will. Jesus can to release the captive and set the prisoner free. 

In Luke 4:18-19 (Isaiah 61:1-2; Isaiah 58:6), Jesus declared his mission was to proclaim liberty to captives, heal the brokenhearted, and set the oppressed free. Fulfilling this prophecy, He came to release humanity from the bondage of sin, spiritual darkness, fear, and emotional brokenness, offering salvation through faith. 

Key aspects of Jesus setting the captives free include:

• Release from Sin & Guilt: Delivering individuals from the power of sin, spiritual oppression, and the condemnation of the law.
• Freedom from Oppression: Breaking the bondage of fear, addiction, emotional trauma, and generational curses.
• Spiritual Transformation: Offering a new nature and enabling people to become righteous before God as a free gift.
• Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus identified this as his central mission, quoting Isaiah 61 in the synagogue to announce that the time of salvation and divine favor had arrived. 
• This liberation is not just physical, but a freedom of the soul and spirit, aiming to heal those crushed by life's calamities. 

As we study Nehemiah 4-6 we learn that any good and significant work encounters challenges. Pressing deadlines, changing priorities, and shortfalls in people and provisions are pitfalls that often arise between planning and completing a project. Serial setbacks lead many to believe the journey is impossible and the project insurmountable. Others embrace challenges as opportunities that stimulate and invigorate growth.

Genuine work for God faces even greater opposition that can make a task, project, or calling seem like a lashing tempest. Satan, a motivated spiritual enemy, fuels his forces with countless evil schemes and debilitating strategies at his disposal. Fallen humans can also launch a rogue wave of strident opposition. The enemy’s undercover work grows from an ominous ripple to a raging tsunami with an unseen undertow, attempting to drag victims into an overpowering sea. However, the battle belongs to the Lord. In His hands, currents that come against God’s faithful people become catalysts for growth and sanctification. Enduring work for the Lord requires our prayerful planning and His protection. As we turn to God, He equips, encourages, motivates, and matures those who steadfastly trust Him through trials and tribulation. Victory is assured, and the glory is His.

The key for us is to follow Nehemiah's leadership example and appeal to God (Nehemiah 4:4-5) – When scorned, Nehemiah turned to God in prayer. Similar to prayers of deliverance with which he was likely familiar (Psalms 74; 79),  Nehemiah opened his prayer by expressing honest vulnerability. He represented a despised people - not only in this current circumstance but throughout history (Genesis 12:3; Joel 3:2; Zechariah 12:2-3; Matthew 24:4-14; Luke 21:24). Nehemiah recognized God’s power and cried out to Him, asking that He would turn the enemies’ insults back on their heads. Rather than take matters into his own hands, Nehemiah understood and trusted that vengeance and judgment rightfully belong to the Lord (Romans 12:19). 

So onto the Doctrine talk

Nehemiah secured permission and delegated the workforce to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall. Even so, Nehemiah faced external and internal challenges as he sought God’s purposes. First, a Samaritan administrator’s anger manifested into ugly taunts and violent threats. Always dependent on prayer, Nehemiah turned to God. He wisely prepared his people with plans to protect themselves from the Satan-induced schemes of their enemies and encouragement to continue working. Always on the prowl, Satan wants to devour God’s people and thwart God’s plans.

Why is hardship and suffering happening?

• Rebellion against God resulted in separation from Him and brought incalculable pain to creation (obituaries)
• Suffering comes as a consequence of sin’s presence in our world, but God can accomplish His purposes through our suffering (dispositions)
• Discounting the doctrine of suffering requires ignoring the reality and result of sin in our lives. (Depraved psychology)
• Coming to terms with suffering’s source and solution requires living in the hope only Jesus provides (Unfathomable hope)
• When I do not believe that God works through suffering, I question God’s goodness and wisdom when life gets hard, pulling away from Him rather than running to Him.
• When I believe that God is sovereign over suffering, I know that no matter what I experience or how long it lasts, God is with me. He is working all things together for good, and He will always be with His suffering people.

God uses suffering and life’s challenges to build faithful character and draw His people closer

to Him.

– Suffering causes us to lean on, trust, and surrender to God in ways we may not have before.

– Suffering exposes our need and neediness, leading us to depend on God.

– What suffering are you undergoing today? What are you learning about yourself and your God through it?