Then the Lord said to Job, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” Then Job replied to the Lord, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.” (Job 40:1-5 NLT).

The movie Shadowlands tells the story of C.S. Lewis’ marriage to American author Joy Davidman. Lewis, a lifelong bachelor-scholar, married at age 58 and enjoyed a brief marriage before Joy succumbed to cancer. When the movie opens, before Joy had come into his life, he is already a popular speaker and well-known author. We see him giving a talk in which he says that God “whispers to us in our pleasures, and shouts to us in our pain. Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a sleeping world.”

Lewis delivers the lines with power. But later in the movie after he has fallen in love, after the woman he loves has gotten sick and after he has sat with her until her death, we see him giving the same speech. His words are not different; he delivers the same lines about God whispering in our pleasures but shouting in our pain. The speech is unchanged, but somehow, he seems different. The talk doesn’t sound the same because Lewis has seen suffering up close, and he himself has suffered deeply.     

Suffering changes us. Suffering threatens us. But the real threat that suffering poses is not a threat to our health; it is not a threat to our body or even to our life. Suffering threatens our identity. Suffering exposes who you are and shapes who you will become; it calls into question who we are and what we believe about the world and about God.

Is God good? Can God be trusted?

A Robust Vision of God

Years ago, during my very first week as a hospital chaplain, we had an orientation with the director of the pastoral care department. His wife had died from cancer, and he had years of experience in hospital ministry and pastoral counseling. He warned us that we would hear a lot of cliché and silly things spoken by patients in their suffering. One of the most familiar is the saying that “what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.”

“That’s not true,” he told us. “Sometimes what doesn’t kill you only makes you bitter.” I’ve never forgotten that. I’ve long wondered what determines the difference.

I’ve decided that the difference is made long before the day of affliction comes. In the days of blessing and ease, whether we realize it or not, we are cultivating a vision of who God is and what God is like. Early in the story of Job we are introduced to a man who faithfully worships and intercedes for his family. Job had a regular habit of dealing with God that didn’t start when the hard questions came with his afflictions.

When our vision of God is large, imperfectly grasping his sovereignty over all things, we will still suffer – but that suffering is defined by something far greater.

Job wrestles at length to understand what is happening to him, and in the final chapters of the story God finally speaks. God’s words, however, are not words of explanation or apology or reassurance. God speaks and reveals who he is. The text seems to suggest that what we most need in our suffering is a robust and worthy vision of God.  

Start Right Now

Right now, there are two things you can begin to do that will help determine the direction of your life when the day of suffering comes.

First, build holy habits into your life. Do this especially if you are living in a season of blessing and ease. This doesn’t mean yours is a perfect life, but the troubles that plague you today are the ordinary headaches and annoyances of life in this world. Start now to create habits of worship and praise and prayer. Meditate daily on the glorious attributes of God and who God is. Remind yourself of the ways you have seen the goodness of God.  

Second, if you are in the midst of suffering, out of control of your life and what’s happening to you, don’t suffer in solitude. Have a community around you who can pray for you when you can no longer manage to pray for yourself.

The Message translation of Psalm 34:18 says, “If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you find your breath.” God is good when life isn’t. But our capacity to see and grasp that requires daily nurture that starts now.

In your own life, and even in your suffering, how have you seen the goodness of God?

Prayer:

Father God, by your Spirit, teach us to respond to suffering with worship. Help us to pray with Job: “the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be praised.” Remind us this day of your goodness and be faithful to us in the day of affliction, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.