Articles
Our Appointment with Suffering
W. T. Hamilton was writing a book when he learned he had bone cancer. The irony is that his book was on the problem of human suffering.
In time, the cancer took his life, but not before he finished the book. To say the least, his own experience with cancer has added a meaningful dimension to his study.
Hamilton’s book, Why Has All This Happened to Us?, is an excellent treatment of an exceedingly complex issue. Although I haven’t read it all, what I did read was right on target and biblical to the core.
I can’t help but believe that Hamilton’s having grappled with the Bible’s perspective on suffering equipped him to cope when he learned of his own malignancy.
The Bible says a lot about suffering. God knew we would not only have troubles but would be troubled by the fact that we have troubles. We crave answers to our questions: Why must the innocent suffer? Why do the wicked prosper? Why me, Lord? What have I done to deserve this?
The problem of human suffering has been used as one of atheism’s strongest arguments. Oscar Wilde is quoted as saying, “There is enough misery on every street of London to disprove God.”
But God cannot so easily be dismissed. A fair assessment of the evidence (which would require more space than this article can provide) demonstrates God’s justice. As someone has said, “God is too good to do wrong and too wise to make a mistake.”
Joseph must have wondered why he was so unjustly treated during the 13 years of his slavery and imprisonment. Years later, he was able to say to his brothers who had done him so wrong, “. . . you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Genesis 50:20 NASB).
Joseph’s story so well illustrates the great principle, “. . . God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
I just hope I can remember that the next time I have an appointment with suffering.
