Why Do We Suffer?

Why do we suffer? This is one of the most profound and difficult questions Christians face. Since we live in a world governed by an all-good, all-powerful God, why is there so much evil and pain? Why doesn’t He stop it?

Job wrestled with this same question. He was “blameless and upright” (1:1), yet God allowed him to lose everything: his property, his family, his health. Job’s friends thought he must have sinned in some terrible way to deserve such punishment. Knowing he hadn’t, Job was left asking, “Why?”

In today’s message from his video teaching series Dust to Glory, R.C. Sproul teaches on the book of Job and the biblical understanding of suffering. We suffer for many reasons. At times, we may be facing the direct consequences of our sin. But faithfulness is no guarantee that we won’t suffer. In fact, the opposite is often true. As believers, we’re called to undergo trials for our sanctification and God’s glory. And we can rejoice, for to suffer for righteousness’ sake is to be blessed (Matt. 5:10).

Such was the case for Job. He was given the high calling of remaining true to God even when grim agony became his daily lot. He suffered so much not because he was one of the worst men but because he was one of the best. Ultimately, he learned to trust God’s will even in the midst of misfortune—and so must we.

Watch today’s message, or for a limited time, request your copy of the full teaching series Dust to Glory for a donation of any amount. You can also dig deeper into the Scriptures with the Reformation Study Bible.