Peggy has a cousin who, in a relatively short period of time, lost her husband to cancer and later her mother to an illness that appeared suddenly, caused her to suffer a few months, and eventually took her life.  Our hearts go out to her and it is hard to grasp how such grief and suffering can come to one person.  We struggle to find words of comfort and answers to the question “Why did God let this happen?”

So why did God let it happen?  Great theologians throughout the ages have written heartfelt answers to that question.  Not being a great theologian, this is not going to be one of those answers.  These are just personal thoughts on a difficult subject.

Let’s start with the obvious.  Suffering sucks.  Nobody wants to suffer, nobody in their right mind seeks it out.  God does not desire that we suffer.  Yet suffering exists.  Frankly, the world as we know it could not exist without suffering.  If God simply removed all suffering, or even all suffering only from those who call themselves Christians, we would, in the end, not be human.  We would simply be robot-like characters in a “forever happy” story with no free will.

Yet the appeal of a “gospel” of avoidance of suffering is a constant allure.  And some build theologies around that allure.  They whip out selected Scripture passages to build our faith and to trust God for miracles.  The message is simple.  If we could only stretch our faith a bit more this suffering stuff wouldn’t have to happen.

Now I am a believer in asking God to cure illness, end suffering, and restore wholeness and I freely admit that, at times He does.  But I truly believe that a single-minded focus on deliverance from suffering blinds us to a reality that may, in fact, be better.  In deliverance from suffering we can sense God’s goodness.  But in the midst of suffering we can sense with clarity something even better, God’s nearness.  (Psalm 73:28)  If we follow Christ because of the promise of a pain-free life are we truly followers at all?  Is it not better to feel His nearness even as we suffer?

There is a remarkable little verse, or part of a verse, in the 23rd Psalm that expresses clearly what I feel God wants us to experience.  Let me put it this way…imagine your life as something of a “Lord of the Rings” quest.  You, like Frodo, are on a perilous journey through great dangers.  Jesus is your companion, guide and protector on this quest.  He is with you always.  Suddenly, in the most dangerous part of the journey the enemy appears…orcs, trolls and black riders galore.  You are surrounded, there seems to be no escape.  You cry “Lord, get me out of here!”

And Jesus, after looking around at the enemy, turns to you with a grin and says….”Let’s eat lunch!”  This is pretty much what Psalm 23:5a says.  “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”  Your heart races.  Isn’t it natural to respond “This is the valley of the shadow of death.  Let’s get out of here first and then eat when we get to the green pastures.”?

But God wants to be with us here and now, right in the midst of suffering, not just in some future time of ease.  In the comfort of His nearness in our pain we can experience Christ in a way that no happy time can give us.  Suffering isn’t better than ease, but nearness to Christ makes the difference between them as nothing by comparison. 

Why would I want a Christ who merely obeys my orders and makes my life happy on my terms when I can have a Christ who beckons me to sit at ease with Him no matter my circumstances?  Why would I want a Christ who is my deliverance genie when I can have a Christ whose face I can touch and feel the tears of His grief in my sorrows?  Why would I want a Christ who only transports me to green pastures when I can have a Christ who is with me on every step of my life journey