Sitting around the ash heap in the wake of disaster and suffering, Job and his friends struggled with a common question. “Why do people suffer?”
Scripture cites several sources for suffering.
- Satan may use adversity and suffering to tempt people to curse God and sin (Job 1:11-12; 2:4-5).
- God disciplines those he loves for their well-being (Hebrews 12:5-11).
- Innocent people can be hurt by other’s sin (Joshua 7:1-12).
These are not all of the possible causes of suffering. Consider genetics and just being in the wrong place at the wrong time with physical forces are unleashed, etc.
So how are we supposed to know the reason why we are suffering? If the answer is not obvious, the next step needs to avoid being coming consumed with "Why me?" There is a better response.
We can take a lesson from Job and his friends. They spend nearly thirty chapters arguing about "the why," and none of them proposes anything close to the truth found in Job chapters 1 and 2.
So as much as we might want to know why, a worthwhile response during times of trial involves asking: “what is the godly response” and “how am I going to respond?”
Regarding the first question, the answer is the same regardless of why I am suffering! Whether adversity has come because the evil one has laid a snare, or God’s godly love is providing training or maybe I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, God’s person should always respond in the same manner! The godly response is to draw closer to God, walk in His ways and rely upon His strength!
Although we may not know why something has happened to us, we do know what we should do. Accordingly, rather than waste our energy being consumed by "why me," let’s focus our energy upon living as dedicated children of God in a hostile world.
Since the answer to “what should we do” is known, the only true remaining question is, “how will I respond?”
In fact, does not the real question in the book of Job revolve around whether Job would remain faithful to God even in the face of adversity? (Job 1:8-12; 2:3-7). The question to be answered is not “why me,” but "what will I do?"
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