“To have an accurate, biblically balanced view of suffering, you must first say suffering is a bad thing. Its existence points out all the things that are wrong with us and our world. We live in a world that is broken and groaning under the weight of all the damage that the fall has done. We should never look at all of this carnage and think that it is okay that people suffer. Scripture calls us to be a community of compassion, motivated by love, and zealous to relieve or remove suffering whenever and wherever we can. And the Bible promises that there will be a day when all this carnage will forever end, and we will be welcomed into a place totally free of any pain or suffering.” – Paul Tripp, Lost in the Middle
I appreciate this. One thing we don’t say enough is that Jesus hates suffering.
He hates all that sin has done to his creation. He hates suffering. He hates all the misery sin has inflicted on people.
In his infinite power, he causes all things to work together for good to those he’s saved. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t despise suffering. He doesn’t say, “Oh, it’s not so bad. After all, I’m working it for good.” Our afflictions are real. Our anguish is real. When a teenager commits suicide, it’s devastating. When a parent gets Alzheimer’s it’s tragic.
If you are suffering, know that Jesus hates it. Jesus isn’t fine with it. He has deep feelings compassion toward you. Yes, he’s causing it all to work together for your good. And he’s producing an eternal weight of glory for you through it. But he grieves that you are in pain. He is a sympathetic high priest.
Someday Jesus will banish sin, death and suffering and wipe every tear from our eyes. Because he hates suffering. And he loves us.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes!!!
And Amen!
This makes total sense. That quote by Tripp – I'll be sharing that one. Good stuff. I didn't even realize I needed some direction on this topic.
Hating suffering – moves us to action. We shoulldn't be able to keep ourselves from 'relieving and removing suffering whenever and wherever we can'. Jesus, fill us all with compassion that makes us act.
Blessings,
Kate
Thanks Kate! I found that quote to be really inspiring.
I don't see the Scriptural support for this. It sounds great, and I'd love to believe it. But I believe the Bible paints a different picture. James 1 and 1 Peter 1 both talk about trials (suffering) as God testing our faith. Both passages, too, tell us to count our suffering as joy. Hebrews 2:10 says that Jesus was made perfect by suffering. If we follow in His steps, might not we be sanctified (at times) by suffering? Isaiah 45:7 says God brings calamity. If He hates suffering, why would He bring calamity (and its attached suffering)?
Again, I would love to believe what this post says, but absent scriptural support, I must disagree with it.
- Mind you this is an unsalvational issue, But, in sneeig that, God so loved the world that He sent his only begotten Son, . . . . . . If there’s several Calendar days of the year, that remind the Earth’s people that the Father did send His Son, then good for the Calendar, the People, the Father, & His only begotten Son, Cause He would, that NONE would perish, but, all would have everlasting life . . . God would never hate an event, or day, that causes People world wide to acknowledge His own love He has for us . . . PS By the tone of your question, I’m surprised that you didn’t end your question with Bah Hum Bug . . .