Suffering…

The late afternoon storms last Tuesday afternoon (Australian Eastern Summer Time) brought down a huge neigbouring tree on to the Cammeray Church site – one of two church properties where I am part-time interim senior minister. No one was harmed – for which we thank the Lord. But the building itself has suffered structural damage making it unusable for the coming months.

It brought to mind the devastating fires in Los Angeles, USA as well as the loss and devastation caused by war – not least in Ukraine at this time. Where is God? Why does he allow such things to happen?

Now I need to point out that there are no complete answers to the question, ‘why do people suffer in a world where a good and loving God rules?’ It would be misleading to say we have a full explanation. In fact we can only begin to provide some answers with certainty because of God’s revelation of himself in Scripture.

How important it is then that in the midst of the unexpected in life, we encourage one another with cool, clear minds that are grounded in the Bible. The Psalms, for example, constantly reflect on the vagaries of life and evil (the unprovoked, interventionist war in Ukraine, for example) that we experience, reminding us that the wisdom and strength we need are found in the Lord God.

Psalm 46 begins: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging (Psalm 46:1-3).

The Psalm encourages us that God is the sovereign lord over every aspect of life – over nature, the enemies of God’s people, and the world with all its tensions and conflicts. Written in a time of crisis, the confident faith in the Lord’s ultimate control is most encouraging.

Furthermore, while we might fear the instability in nature and events around us, we can be assured that God not only knows what is happening but is in the midst working out his greater and ultimate and very good purposes. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;… but we are assured of God’s final word: he utters his voice, in judgment on the nations.

If you will allow me a personal note, on September 11, 2001 Judith and I were living in Downtown New York City, in close proximity to the Trade Towers. When the towers collapsed our building was impacted. We were without a home for some 6-weeks and my fledgling New York ministry was also affected. We had to move our apartment and start afresh. Tim Keller who had invited me to start a new gospel-focused Anglican church in Manhattan later told me that he had thought that Judith and I would return to Sydney. But the Lord in his grace brought us through the challenges.

In the midst of the unknown, Psalm 46 was one of the Bible texts from which we, along with many others, drew comfort and strength.

Psalm 46, verse 4 says: There is a river, whose streams make glad the city of God….  Under God the waters no longer rage but are found as life-giving streams for his people under siege.

It is not surprising that the Psalm moves to a climax with a command, Be still, and know that I am God (verse 10). This is not so much a word to God’s people – although that is there – but rather primarily God’s word to the turbulent seas and rebellious world.

It is a command that anticipates Jesus’ words to the stormy seas: “Peace! Be still” (Mark 4:39). It is the same powerful voice of authority of Jesus when he commanded the deceased Lazarus: “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11:43).

Psalm 46, verse 10 continues: God will be exalted among the nations; he will be exalted in the earth.

If such a God is with us, we can have every confidence that when we turn to him he will hear us and sustain us. Despite the awfulness of our experiences at times, God is our refuge and strength.

And the Psalm concludes: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

A huge broken tree falling on a church building in storm-tossed winds can stir us to frustration and even anger as we work through the challenges of the necessary ministry adjustments. The same can happen when God’s people make mistakes, or experience illness or other personal challenges.

Or, in the goodness of God, it could be another way the Lord builds us up in the riches of his love and forgiveness, and opens opportunities for us to testify to our faith in the community. These are my prayers. Are they yours?

Prayer. Almighty Father, we commend to your goodness all who are in any way afflicted or distressed, especially those who are known to us. May it please you to comfort and relieve them according to their needs, giving them patience in their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. All this we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

© John G. Mason