In Pain and Suffering, Is There Hope?
When trials and difficulties flood our lives as they inevitably will, we wonder if there is hope in our pain and suffering? Regardless of your beliefs about God, it is human nature to seek for hope, authentic hope that carries the power to transform life and circumstances.
The book of Isaiah shines with hope despite the series of tragedies that afflict the lives of His people, some of which they brought on themselves. Isaiah shows us God’s divine mercy when we suffer undeservedly, when we sink into sin, and when we just need His comfort in the aftermath. Hope is always in the suffering, but what matters is how we respond to the pain.
God’s Mercy in Undeserved Suffering
King Hezekiah Is an example of one who does everything right but who still experiences the pain of life, that frankly, seems unfair. But there is mercy when suffering is undeserved. His kingdom of Judah and his people are under the imminent threat of extinction as their greatest enemy surrounds them. This impending doom results from the poor leadership and sins of Hezekiah’s father.
As any godly king would do, Hezekiah humbles himself before the Lord God and begs mercy for his people and nation. With humble tears, on the floor, he lays out his petition before His God. He answers. He answered in a big way: He destroys the Assyrians and delivers Judah from destruction.
Amid the victory, however, comes heartache–yet again. He does right, and things get worse. Hezekiah, the godly king, gets sick, and God says he will die. Hezekiah cries out to God, weeping, “God, I’ve lived for You. I’ve tried to serve You. I have done the right things before you, and now you’re telling me I’m gonna die of this sickness. Have I not pleased you?”
Hezekiah claims he does not deserve this painful circumstance, and humanly speaking, he is right in his claim. In God’s mercy, He hears and honors Hezekiah’s prayer, even extending his life by 15 years.
God does not lift the death sentence entirely, and we do not know His master plan for Hezekiah, but we know that He extends the deepest mercy to our deepest sufferings. He cares about Hezekiah and provides the help, strength, and comfort we need. He offers us hope in pain and suffering.
God's Mercy When We Sin
Hezekiah’s story may sound familiar, as often we are more prone to sin when standing on the mountaintops of life. Is God merciful when we sin? Hezekiah, rather than taking the sacred 15 years God gifted to him and living humbly, actually becomes a little prideful and self-reliant, trusting God less.
After his death-bed recovery, Hezekiah seeks other, godless nations as allies, even showing off his kingdom’s wealth via private tours and glorying in human accomplishment, forgetting God. It was like a promo to show Judah would make a great ally.
Hezekiah, this godly man who has appealed to God multiple times and has seen God do amazing things at his own request, you know what he did? He blew it? Have we ever blown it?
Because of this failure, God declares judgment. Everything he has will be carried away into Babylon as his kingdom is crushed and his sons taken captive. Did Hezekiah “deserve” this? Is pride and self-reliance a sin? Did He flout the mercy of God? Yes. He is human, and God knows it. Judgment is coming for Hezekiah.
However, in judgment, God remembers mercy. Why? Because of Hezekiah’s response to the correction. Hezekiah submits to the proclaimed consequences, accepts God’s pronouncement as just, and repents. He knew He blew it, admitted his failure, and trusted God to do right by him.
In response to Hezekiah’s repentance and submission, God delays the consequences, promising that these things would not come to pass in the days of Hezekiah but in a time after.
Have you blown it? Be encouraged by the example of Hezekiah: God is merciful, even in our sin. Trust Him. There is hope in the pain and suffering that comes with our sin.
God's Comfort in Suffering
Isaiah 40 opens with, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.” But realize that, “my people” are those who have rebelled, ignored, rejected, spurned, and turned from God repeatedly throughout their history. But they continue to repent and return to Him. They were not faithful, but He was ever faithful to them.
He offers mercy but doesn’t stop there. He gives them comfort, for the present and future, much as He did for Hezekiah. These well-known verses call them (and us) to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Lord, Christ.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 40: 3-5
Amid all the prophecy of the coming destruction, Isaiah highlights God’s means of comfort that will come to those who repent. He writes of the promised Messiah, but recall that for us, His promise of redemption, resurrection, and transformation are already available.
The comfort here is that no matter why or how we experience suffering, there is one Comforter, one Healer, one Redeemer whose invitation is for everyone who thirsts for His goodness. Whatever the need or problem in life, come, turn your ear and your attention to Jesus.
He will have mercy and abundantly pardon those who return to the Lord. This is the experience of Hezekiah. He has strayed, but he repents, returns to God , and finds the comfort and undeserved favor of God.
Seek the Lord regardless of suffering's cause. There is forgiveness and comfort even when we don’t deserve it.
Remember, Heaven Is Coming
Despite the suffering of this sin-cursed world, Heaven is here in the form of the Holy Spirit within those who have trusted Christ (Ephesians 1:13). But Heaven is also yet to come as we experience the fullness of the presence of God when we leave this world.
Remember, because we have received the forgiveness, cleansing, and right standing with God through Jesus, we will be judged as His redeemed children. Innocent. Clear. Our sin is as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12).
God is perfect Justice and perfect Mercy, and Jesus judges according to the heart. He sees our repentance and submission. He also sees those who sin against us without remorse. He knows their hearts too. He sees the poor and oppressed.
In Heaven, all is set right. Heave is coming. Jesus will judge the unrepentant (wicked) and will slay them with the breath of His lips. During His reign in the New Earth, mercy and justice are perfectly carried out.
The eyes of God see, even now. Stand redeemed in this world and look forward to the next. Let hope be found in this.
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:3
How Should We Respond in Suffering
Respond to His call as the Lord draws you to Himself, even in suffering, and enjoy His goodness, even in the pain. He is our hope.
This is the message of Isaiah: every single one of us has been called out of darkness into His glorious light. We can either receive that message and enjoy the blessings, not only in this age but in the age to come, or we can reject and rebel against that message.
If we receive that message, we currently live as part of the remnant in a sin-cursed world. This doesn't mean God isn't going to fulfill His promises. It doesn't mean He isn't going to accomplish His plan for the ages .It doesn't mean He has let down or failed in any capacity. It means we live in the midst of a sin-cursed world.
So what should we do? We should live like Isaiah and Hezekiah and see our God high and lifted up. He is above all of this.
Yes, there's suffering. Sometimes that suffering is due to our own poor choices from which we should repent. Sometimes that suffering is the result of others' choices. Either way, we should pray, draw nigh to God, sing His praise, and remember there is a Heaven that is yet coming. We should live prepared for that future as a faithful remnant today because he will fulfill his promises. His promises will be fulfilled.
We have been called out of darkness into the light. We are to live as witnesses to that light. Praise Him today, not only for what He is doing now, but for what He is going to do.
There IS hope. Let us live like it. This is the message of Isaiah.
Want to know more about how to have a relationship with God? Watch this video.
