Debbie Swindell

When Challenges Arise

Faith may seem strong when things are going well, but when challenges arise, we begin to see what lurks in the crevices of the heart. Does your faith quickly wither and die in times of difficulty, or will you remain steadfast? God is faithful, and reminders of his faithfulness in the past will give us confident hope for the future. But defining moments in events and experiences can hit hard in pain and suffering. Hard times test our identity as Christians. Pain and suffering reveal who and what we truly worship. We discover the authenticity of our faith: Is it genuine or merely self-deception? 

In this post, we will consider wrong thinking vs. correct thinking, our tendency to forget, and God-centered thinking. We will look at the testimonies of Paul, Joseph, and Job. Lastly, with the perspective of Psalm 73, we will examine our own testimony.

Wrong Thinking vs. Correct Thinking

We live in an age when many Christians believe we deserve to live life day in and day out with a certain level of happiness. When we are rooted in selfish thinking, we wrongly look to physical comfort, material wealth, immediate circumstances, and personal satisfaction as a standard of measure when we consider the goodness of God. In times of suffering, our frail faith wavers, and unbelief is rarely far away. Unbelief often comes when we experience hard times and begin to ask questions.

• Why is he doing this to me?
• God doesn’t care, and he doesn’t hear.
• Sometimes, I think God is out to get me.
• What have I done to deserve this?
• No, I haven’t prayed about it. What’s the use anyway?
• It’s not fair. I don’t ask for much from God. Why doesn’t he answer?

We tend to forget, and our questions suggest that we do not believe God is who he says he is. I refer to this as spiritual amnesia: We decide what we want to think about God based on our interpretation of events. Our hearts turn away from God rather than toward him. We begin to focus on what the world says and can falsely conclude that our circumstances are unique (1 Corinthians 10:13). We become convinced that God cannot help us deal with our difficulties. 

If you fall for the ways of the world and your conclusions are not biblical, there is little hope that you will respond biblically to the situations in which God has placed you. We can regain our focus by looking to the Word and reflecting on the time of our salvation, our testimony. We begin by looking back to be reminded of God’s faithfulness – Rather than forgetting, let’s remember.

Knowing God and reflecting on his faithfulness provides quiet confidence, stability, and control in difficult circumstances. It multiplies in us through the knowledge of God, who controls our circumstances. The all-powerful God who loves us and cares about every detail of our lives will see that it turns out best. The better we get to know Him, the more we rest in His wise plans for our future.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. – Heb 10:23

Suffering can be a valuable part of our story as it shapes our testimony, service, and trust in a God big enough to save sinful humans and sustain them whenever they alone cannot handle the most challenging times. We can have a biblical understanding of suffering only when we turn from man-centered to God-centered thinking. 

Testimonies

Some Christians have a testimony that includes a dramatic all-at-once life change. Other times, testimony includes change over time as an individual matures in faith and knowledge. My salvation story is one of rescue. Our details may look different when experienced, but what should stand out is that God did the saving. 

When I read something like James 1:2, that we can consider it joy when we walk through trials of various kinds, there’s a testimony. I think about the life and theology of Paul, the unhindered closeness of Joseph, and Job’s trust in God during times of deep hurt and struggles. These three men have rich and relatable testimonies because of their suffering. Suffering takes on different forms, but in all forms, it is painful nonetheless.

Who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. – Ps 89:8

Consider Paul

Paul was once a violent persecutor of Christians until he came to Christ. When he shared his dramatic Damascus road conversion and testimony of faith, Paul quickly acknowledged his unworthiness, praised God’s grace, and served the Lord relentlessly out of gratitude. 

By trade, Paul was a tent maker and a hard worker. He intentionally preached the gospel and guarded the message of truth passed among the churches. Paul never abandoned his purpose, even while imprisoned. He continued to experience joy when his circumstances were dire. Paul’s testimony is one of steadfast obedience. 

Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach, and so you believed. – 1 Cor 15:8-11

Consider Joseph

The account of Joseph in Genesis 37, 39-50 emphasizes that God was with Joseph at every stage of his life. Joseph was next to the youngest of the twelve sons of Jacob. When he was seventeen, he shepherded the flock with his brothers, but his simple life would enter into years challenged with difficulty. 

Most beloved of Jacob’s sons, Joseph was hated by his envious brothers. Out of jealousy, they sold him, staged his death, and he was thrown in a pit to suffer and die. Joseph survived, and after a series of life events, at age 30, Joseph was made ruler over all of Egypt under Pharaoh. Joseph lived a God-dependent life, and he lived it amid great adversity. Joseph’s testimony is one of accountability and dependence on God. 

Then Pharaoh told Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take your orders. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I at this moment put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt” – Gen 41:39-41

Consider Job

Job’s trust was in God, not his wealth and position; he maintained this trust and upright character throughout all his testing (Job 1:1). Job was a righteous and faithful man who feared God. Job not only cared for his own spiritual needs but also for the spiritual needs of his family. 

Job’s testimony was evident to others in the community in his everyday living. Even Satan was aware of his testimony. Job suffered greatly through loss and was ridiculed by even his best friends. For us today, Job’s testimony is one of authenticity and perseverance.

And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” – Job 1:8-11

Biblical Response

When we read the suffering-laden testimonies of the saints who’ve come before us and couple their stories with Psalm 73, we have a model of biblically responding to suffering. The fundamental question underlying this Psalm is, “How can a good God allow the righteous to suffer?” Knowing God’s character requires us to focus on his wisdom, love, and sovereignty.

Psalm 73 views life from eternity’s perspective, and eternity is the most critical dimension to consider when suffering comes. If knowing God is the highest good in this life and eternity, then whatever draws us to Him is good. God’s Word is the great interpreter of life, and our interpretation of events should line up: The Bible’s conclusions should determine how we explain our experiences. 

My flesh and heart may fail, 

but God is my heart’s strength and portion forever.

Ps 73:26

Application

Each encounter I’ve had with pain, heartache, or suffering has forced me to leave behind the ease of familiarity. And if we are honest, we must admit that when comfort is compromised, our lives feel out of control. In those moments when life has seemingly fallen apart, we can feel deep confusion in the depths of our being. And when we become shaken, we try to run our own lives. Do we rely on God’s faithfulness or allow our feelings to determine our choices? 

“Trusting God is not a matter of my feelings but of my will. I never feel like trusting God when adversity strikes, but I can choose to do so even when I don’t feel like it. That act of the will, though, must be based on belief, and belief must be based on truth.” – Jerry Bridges

We often place confidence in the wrong places – We can either worship God and believe he is who He says he is, or we can put ourselves and our feelings in the center. How we handle these feelings can make all the difference for us and, many times, the lives of others. We have a choice: Will we fight with perseverance and steadfast faith? Or will we fight God? 

When you turn to the scriptures in times of suffering, you can be thankful for examples in the Bible, honest people like Paul, Joseph, and Job. Their remarkable testimonies inspire us as we reflect on our testimonies. How does yours line up? Are you willing to view your story through the lens of Psalms 73? Eternity is the most critical dimension to consider when suffering comes:

• Trials and suffering destroy the myth that the goal of life is to get as much as I can. Trials and suffering remind me that the best earthly situations and experiences can pass away. Sometimes quite suddenly. 
• Trials help me realize who God is and the meaning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• God’s love calls me back from hope in the world to hope in him. And in his love he is preparing me for the real thing, eternal glory.

The authenticity of trust in Jesus, a savior who meets us where we are and enters into suffering with us, provides a testimony to the One who sustains us. Though we tend to forget, today, let’s remember.

But for me it is good to be near God; 

I have made the Lord God my refuge, 

that I may tell of all your works.

Ps 73:28

Further Thought

What should be our first priority in times of pain and suffering? What do we have an innate tendency to move toward?

Next time you experience adversity, what will be your priority? Will you choose to honor God through it or to escape from the suffering by turning to earthly means?

You can receive this series by email. To do so, be sure you subscribe to my blog. The primary sources for this series, How to Sustain Hope in Pain and Suffering, are:

Suffering Wisely and Well by Eric Ortlund

Suffering by Paul Tripp

Knowing God by J.I. Packer