In Darkest Night

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A Discussion of Human Suffering

A hasty survey of the news reveals the perilous nature of our times. Yet, as we recall times past, we fail to find an era that was not wrought with darkness and pain in some form or fashion. Evil and suffering can be found on every page of human history.

We read or watch the news and think to ourselves, "Why is there so much violence in the Middle East? Why do children have to die for their profession of faith? Why was that teenager gunned down in the middle of town? Why do children starve? Why was that person driven to depression and suicide? Why must some children suffer at the hands of malicious predators?"

The question quickly becomes that of "If we believe in an all good God, where is He in the midst of suffering?" This question carries much weight. This question can be the rocks upon which our faith shipwreck or the foundation for a greater understanding of our world and our role in it. If it is to be a foundation for something greater, we must first understand the nature of suffering.

Different Shapes and Sizes

Suffering comes in various forms. There is no short list of what pain looks like. Suffering ranges from the physical to the emotional to the spiritual. It is pervasive and touches every life in some form or fashion. There is no human life devoid of sorrow. Our suffering varies from simple problems to complex and tragic circumstances. Some only experience basic tribulations while others encounter heartbreaking matters of life and death.

While pain and suffering comes in a variety of formats, Scripture describes to us three categories and causes of suffering. We find that suffering can be caused by sin, the broken world around us, and supernatural forces. Any type of suffering, pain, or sorrow we may encounter will have its root in one of these categories.

The Pain of Sin

This cause of pain is the broadest of the three. It also provides some basis for the other two. This necessitates that we discuss it first. 

If we are to understand the nature of sin, we must understand the nature of a loving relationship with God. The Bible states in 1 John that God is love. As I have discussed before, God's triune nature demonstrates that, at His core, He exists in a perfect, loving relationship. God's creative nature is what led Him to create beings that could share a loving relationship with Him.

Yet, we find that love that is forced is not truly love. It is coercion and nothing but a falsified emotion. In order for love to be real, it has to stem from choice. 

The fact of the matter remains that a choice is not a choice with only one option. The more diverse the options are, the greater the choice becomes. In order for us to truly choose love, we must have the option of hate. In order for us to choose the omnibenevolent God, we must have the option of choosing that which is His opposite.

Thus, we find the nexus of the pain of sin. If we are to be allowed perfected love towards God and towards others, we must be allowed the option of the same degree of hate. Our love can flow out of our hearts or it can be sealed in, seeking only our individual desires.

It is when we cave to this inclination to serve only ourselves that sin abounds. We choose our own needs over the needs of others and we bring them pain. We fail to see those around us as fellow creations and see them only as a means to our own desires.

Violence becomes justified because it becomes a means to our ends. Retaliation becomes justified because it satisfies our own notions of justice. Greed becomes a virtue because it temporarily quenches that insatiable need for more.

The cycle of violence and retaliation continue until it escalates into riots, civil conflicts, and wars. As violence grows, it takes over lands. Conflicts destroy the homes of the innocent. Lives are thrust into chaos. And, all the while, the suffering that results from sin increases.

Meanwhile, the suffering that comes from sin does not always reach the level of widespread suffering. Sometimes, harsh words are spoken because anger is seen as easier to submit to than patience and kindness. Other times, we seek what we want without consideration of how it will affect those around us. We speak ill of others because we secretly enjoy the acceptance of a few people that comes at the expense of another.

Sin, the rebellion against God's good nature, is destructive. It causes suffering and despair. It is the root of the pain that we bring upon one another. But, if it were not an option, real love would not exist in humans. But, with our great capacity to bring pain towards one another, we have the ability to show greater love towards one another and towards God.

The Broken World

The second great cause of suffering in the world is natural suffering. According to the creation narrative, God created man and gave him a creative tie to the world around him. Man was tasked with naming all of the animals in creation. In the Jewish context of the story, something's name determines its nature. So, while it was God that created everything in existence, man was tasked with giving the other created beings their names and, thus, their natures. Therefore, all of creation was tied to man.

Then, man succumbed to that which was antithetical to God. When mankind rebelled against God, all of creation was thrown into disarray. When we fell, we broke the world around us because it was tied to us. We introduced the world to the chaos that results from a broken relationship with God.

In Romans 8, Paul discusses how all of creation was corrupted and that "the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth until now." When we see the news about a drought or a tornado that ripped through a town or a hurricane that decimated an entire region, we see the brokenness of creation around us. When we see hunger and disease and mental illness, it is the result of the frailty and futility of our world.

The fact is that we, humanity, were entrusted with the care of the world around us and we failed. We broke our world by choosing the option of sin. We introduced this pain into a painless world. And, now, it continues on and on.

Powers Greater than Ours

The third kind of suffering is that introduced to us by supernatural beings. The simple truth of the matter is that Scripture does discuss the existence of angelic beings and demonic powers. Just as we exist in rebellion towards God, there are angelic beings that exist in rebellion towards God. These angelic rebels are referred to as demons and the chief among these rebels is Satan.

The book of Job describes how Satan initiated Job's suffering by harnessing the brokenness of nature to bring Job calamity. We see in the Gospels how Satan attempted to lure Jesus into sin and rebellion towards God. Much of the New Testament hints at demonic powers influencing and inspiring the suffering of the early Church.

Supernatural entities have the ability to change things beyond what we can observe. They can manipulate our surroundings. They can bring us torment. They can make our lives painful. And, the pain we find here is the pain that is brought to us by fellow creatures living in rebellion towards God.

What Can We Do?

When darkness falls upon our lives, our inclination is often either to turn and hide from God or point the finger of blame in His direction. But, we see that this is the very rejection of God that fuels suffering. It is turning to God that begins the healing process. He can ease our distress.

We find that God is not far removed from human suffering. He experienced it on the Cross. He is indeed the "Suffering God." He has known pain and sorrow. He is near to those who grieve. He suffers with those who suffer. In the midst of evil, God is there. He grieves with the victims and longs for the perpetrators to end their rebellion against Him.

When we turn to God, He takes on our burdens. But, He also calls us to turn away from our selfish ways. He shows us how to love like He does. Our love towards Him is perfected when we love like He does. When we care for the weary and the downtrodden, we become more like Him and enhance our ability to relate to Him.

When we love like God does, we chip away the darkness—even in the darkest night.