Suffering, nature of

Since the fall, human beings have suffered in various ways. Scripture provides insights into the nature and place of suffering both in the world and in the lives of believers.

Suffering began with the fall

Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:16–19; Romans 5:12

Suffering is universal

Job 5:7, Job 14:1

Different kinds of suffering

Physical pain and illness

Genesis 48:1 See also 2 Kings 20:1 parallels 2 Chronicles 32:24, Isaiah 38:1; Job 2:7; Psalm 42:10; Matthew 8:6, Matthew 17:15; Luke 4:38; Acts 28:8; 2 Timothy 4:20; James 5:14

Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Emotional stress

Psalm 55:4–5 See also Genesis 35:18 “Ben-Oni” means “son of my trouble”; Proverbs 12:25; John 11:32–35; Philippians 2:27

My heart pounds within me, and the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling grip me, and horror has overwhelmed me.

Spiritual suffering

Psalm 22:1 See also Matthew 27:46 parallel Mark 15:34

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?

The prospect of death

Genesis 3:19 See also Ecclesiastes 12:7

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground — because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

Major causes of suffering

The disorder in creation

Genesis 3:17 See also Genesis 12:10; Joel 1:4; Matthew 24:7 parallel Luke 21:11; Romans 8:22; Revelation 11:13

And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

Human cruelty

Psalm 54:3 Genesis 4:8; Exodus 1:16, Exodus 1:22; 1 Kings 21:19; Matthew 2:16; Genesis 49:5–7; Exodus 1:11; Amos 2:6–7, Amos 4:1; Malachi 3:5; 2 Kings 6:25, 2 Kings 19:17 warfare; 2 Chronicles 10:13–14; Job 1:14–15, Job 1:17; Amos 1:3, Amos 1:13; James 5:4–6; Revelation 6:4

For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life — men with no regard for God. Selah

Family troubles

Psalm 27:10 See also 1 Samuel 1:7; 2 Samuel 16:11; Job 19:14–19; Malachi 2:14; Matthew 10:36; James 1:27

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

Old age

Psalm 71:9 See also Ecclesiastes 12:1–7

Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.

Satan's activity

1 John 5:19 See also Job 1:12, Job 2:6–7; Luke 13:16; 2 Corinthians 12:7; Revelation 2:10, Revelation 20:7–8

We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.

Aggravations to suffering

Memories

Job 29:2

Fears

Job 3:25; Hebrews 2:15

Resentment

Job 2:9

Sin and suffering

They are not necessarily related

John 9:3 See also Job 2:3; Luke 13:2

Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.

They are sometimes closely related

Romans 1:18 See also Genesis 6:5–7; Numbers 14:33; Deuteronomy 28:15; Psalm 107:17; Ezekiel 23:49; Acts 5:5, Acts 5:10; Romans 1:27; 1 Corinthians 11:29–30; Jude 1:7; Revelation 2:22

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

God's final judgment

Matthew 25:41 See also Daniel 12:2; Matthew 8:12; Mark 9:48; Isaiah 66:24; Revelation 20:15

Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Effects of suffering

Hardness of heart

Revelation 16:9 See also Exodus 7:22; Revelation 9:20–21

And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues. Yet they did not repent and give Him glory.

Repentance

2 Chronicles 33:12; Luke 15:17–18

Blessing

Psalm 119:71 See also Isaiah 38:17

It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.