Revised ~ September 16, 2016
Originally published on Saturday, July 2, 2011
Psalm 102:1-2 In these verses, we read of the one who called out to God in a great time of need and trouble. 1Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. 2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
Why Do the Righteous Suffer?
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| About 47,000 feet above West Virginia. |
We wonder why good things happen to bad people, but we wonder more why bad things happen to good people….. The answer, we are people and people do suffer. Count it all joy to suffer with Christ and think it not strange of the suffering we are enduring. For in due season, we will reap great joy in the arms of our Lord.
I received news today of a dear friend who has relapsed – Leukemia. A scary word for any ~ but a part of the world we live in today. It makes us wonder “Why, Lord?” He is such a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend. He has lived a good life and is of an age where you might say, he has lived it all ~ he is probably ready to go Home to be the Lord! (Yes, praise the Lord he is saved!) But what if I said that to you about your loved one? How would you feel? Are you ready to let your loved one go away from you for a season?
My friend is ready to go Home and be with the Lord; but he is concerned for his precious wife, his daughter, grandchildren, and friends – how will this affect them? Are they secure in knowing that the separation is only for a “time?” God’s plan is perfect, we don’t always understand and we do ask, “Why?” We are people.
Recall the time when the perfect Lamb of God asked, “Why”? It is okay to ask why, but be prepared to not know that answer until God reveals the “why”. It may not be until we reach Heaven. But most folks are pretty smart. I have heard many say – “I know why!” – They know they are being chastened by the heavenly Father for the things they have allowed in their lives that are unpleasing to Him who already saved them – and they just don’t want to change. Because He loves me and I am His He chastens me on occasion.
I am reminded of these words in Hebrews: Hebrews 12:6-8 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Have you ever been through one of those experiences in life where you just ask, "Why, Lord?" It is not that we necessarily doubt that the Lord is with us, we just can't see the reason for such trouble. Or, when we are tempted to doubt, it is because we can't see how this trouble is for our good.
Maybe you are going through a rough time right now or know someone who is. It doesn’t have to be a health issue – maybe it is finances, children, marital problems, job, or lack of a job. Maybe it isn’t any of these ~ maybe it is that you cannot say for positive sure that you know the Lord as your PERSONAL Saviour. To gain Heaven, you must know HIM as your personal Saviour. Many say, “I’m good, I do a lot for the community, the poor and hungry! I give to United Way, the Red Cross and other organizations.” These things you do, what the Bible calls “works”, will not get you into Heaven.
Even though it seems hard at the time and we don’t understand the “why” of it all; every trial God gives us will teach us something. We are assured of His promise that it will work for our good if we love Him. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
A lot of people do not stop to notice that the Lord chastens every one of His children, not just the "bad ones." If you are going through something like this and are like the rest of us, you have probably wondered if you have done something to deserve discipline or chastisement from the Lord. We know there are other reasons for suffering than just that a person has sinned against God. Punishing us for sin in our lives is not the only objective God has in mind for allowing suffering; whether physical, mental or emotional.
If you are born again, God will not give you more than you can handle. He knows just how much we can take far better than we do, and He will be our strength in whatever He allows. Psalm 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
So take courage, and lean on Him. He is your strength in these hard times. Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Don’t Stop here! Make sure of your own salvation. And if we have helped in any way, please encourage us by sharing with us your comments, your testimony, and your prayers. LKMilam
God Bless,
Tom & Linda Milam
Missionaries to America!
