Going Deeper: Week 4 - Suffering & the Question: Why Does God Allow Pain?

This Sunday in our God’s Book series we’re stepping into one of the deepest and hardest questions human beings ask:

Why does God allow suffering?

We all struggle with this one and we walk through life with so much suffereing going on.

And one of the surprising things about the Bible is that it does not avoid suffering at all!

The Bible is brutally honest about grief, trauma, injustice, confusion, and pain. In fact, huge sections of Scripture were written by people living through exile, loss, violence, and heartbreak.

Read Ahead This Week

1. Lamentations 3:19–26

One of the most astonishing passages in Scripture.

It comes right in the middle of devastation and grief, yet somehow says:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed…”

Notice; hope does not come instead of suffering.

Hope appears inside suffering, through suffering, in suffering.

2. Habakkuk 1–3

A prophet wrestling honestly with God.

Habakkuk sees violence, injustice, and suffering everywhere and essentially asks:

“God… what are you doing?”

This book is incredibly relevant for modern life because it shows us that questioning God honestly is not the opposite of faith.

It can actually be part of faith.

3. Psalm 13

A short but powerful lament.

“How long, Lord?”

The Bible gives us language for pain instead of pretending everything is okay.

4. Romans 8:18–28

Paul describes creation itself as “groaning.”

The whole world is longing for healing and restoration.

Helpful BibleProject Videos

“Exile” – BibleProject

This is probably the most important one to watch this week.

It traces one of the Bible’s biggest themes: humanity’s exile from Eden, Israel’s exile from the land, and the longing for home, restoration, and God’s presence again. - https://bibleproject.com/videos/exile/

“Lamentations” – BibleProject

A brilliant overview of how the Bible handles grief and devastation honestly while still holding onto hope. - https://bibleproject.com/videos/lamentations/

“Book of Job” Overview – BibleProject

Especially helpful for understanding that suffering is often more complex than simple cause-and-effect explanations. - https://bibleproject.com/videos/wisdom-job/

A Lens for the Week

One of the key ideas we’ll explore this Sunday is this:

Suffering is not "good"

Creation itself is described as “good” in Genesis. Suffering, death, injustice, and exile are portrayed as intruders into God’s good world, not the way things were meant to be.

At the same time, the Bible is also honest that human beings contribute massively to the suffering of the world through selfishness, violence, greed, pride, and injustice.

But even beyond that, the Bible still leaves space for mystery.

There are moments where Scripture simply says "we do not fully understand."

And that matters.

Because sometimes Christians can rush too quickly to explanations; and frustrating slogans.

• “Everything happens for a reason”

• “God must be teaching you something”

• “Just have more faith”

• 
  

But the Bible itself often slows down and laments first.

Sometimes the most biblical response to suffering is not explanation.

It is tears. Prayer. Honesty. Presence. And then trust.

The Power of Lament

One of the strongest themes in this week’s material is the importance of lament.

Lament is not complaining about God. It is crying to God. That’s a huge difference.

The book of Lamentations, the Psalms, and Habakkuk all show us people bringing, confusion, anger, grief, disappointment, fear, directly into relationship with God.

The Bible does not present emotionally numb faith as mature faith.

It presents honest relationship with God as mature faith.

A Simple Practice This Week

This week, try practicing lament honestly before God.

Here’s a simple way to do it:

Step 1

Read Psalm 13 slowly.

Step 2

Write down:

• what hurts

• what confuses you

• what you fear

• what you’re grieving

  
  

Step 3

Turn those things into prayer.

Don't pretend, be honest.

A Thought to Carry Into Sunday

One of the beautiful things we’ll see this week is this:

The Bible’s answer to suffering is not ultimately a philosophy.

It is a person.

Jesus does not stand far away from suffering explaining it coldly.

He enters into it. He weeps. He suffers. He is rejected. He is wounded. He experiences exile, grief, injustice, betrayal, and death.

And somehow through that suffering, God begins bringing redemption and resurrection into the world.

A Question to Reflect On

What do you tend to do with pain: hide it, explain it, ignore it, or bring it honestly to God?