Table of Contents

Beyond Today Program - "Why Me, God?"

God Does Care for You

Hearing God's Will

Why Suffering? Where Does It Come From?

Jesus Christ Is the Way Through Your Suffering

If You Would Like to Know More...

Beyond Today Program - "Why Me, God?"

When tragedy, sorrow and heartache strike, where is God? Hear the poignant stories of two people who found the answer and real hope.

Watch the Beyond Today program - http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/christian-living/why-me-god

Watch "Why Me, God?" on YouTube - http://youtu.be/UdDGTv0-LJc

[Connie] You just think it's a minor hiccup and you go on. But, it didn't get better.

[Tim] It was like a whirlwind. It was just… it was almost like that part in my life is almost blacked out in a way.

[Steve] At times life brings great challenges. Where is God when pain and suffering occur?

[Connie] Just the word "cancer" scares you to death.

[Tim] He was just screaming it over the phone. It was, it was… I'll never forget.

[Steve] On this special edition of Beyond Today, we'll look at the distress and heartbreak life can bring through the eyes of two people who have dealt with real-life tragedy to help you answer the question, "Why Me, God?"

[Announcer] Join our host, Steve Myers and his guests, as they help you understand your future on Beyond Today!

[Steve] When you're faced with the pain of what seems hopeless--whether it's sickness, betrayal, distress, or even loneliness. Have you ever asked: Why me, God?

To help answer that question, let's examine it through the eyes of two people. First, let's listen to Tim's story.

[Tim] I always wanted to be a cowboy. I worked at one of the biggest ranches in Arizona--Babbit's Ranch-- just right out of high school, I worked there.

[Steve] Now is that where you grew up then and eventually met your wife?

[Tim] Yes it is, fact is my wife was born in Flagstaff. I met Debby from hanging around friends that knew her that lived in the area. But I never could get the nerve up to call her--Debby. I just felt like it was... she'd turn me down. So I kept thinking about it. It took me a whole afternoon to make that phone call. I just finally did. I finally got the courage up to give her a call, and she was real quick on the answer. And she, she told me yes!

[Steve] From there, did you date for quite awhile? How did things develop?

[Tim] Within a year we got married. I was working construction at that time. We didn't have much of a honeymoon so to speak. We ended up going to Las Vegas--that's where we got married. Spent the three days up there and then ended up just coming back, going to work, and bought us a trailer. We bought some property off of her father--my father-in-law.

There was a lot of trials in our early years. I remember, we would just take enough home to buy groceries. Basically it was just so hard at that time starting a new business.

[Steve] Something was on the horizon that would make those trials pale by comparison and change everything. We'll come back to Tim in a moment.

[Steve] I also interviewed Connie telling her story:

[Connie] I went to four high schools in four years. But, I was so used to moving that it wasn't a big deal to me. I was just always the new kid, and you know, I'm not shy. So…

[Steve] You couldn't afford to be.

[Connie] No. So I'd just go up to people and say, "Hey, I'm the new kid." And so, we moved around a lot. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to go to college, just because we were so poor, but, I did get to go.

[Steve] And then you met someone, that kind of changed things.

[Connie] I did. We worked together actually, in the kitchen at the college. And so then we got to know each other better, and when I graduated college--ten days later, after graduation--we got married.

We just had fun together. We wanted to conquer the world together. And, we wanted a big family. He had four brothers and two sisters. We had kind of planned on that.

[Steve] There were detours ahead on that road for the newlyweds. Soon their vision began to turn like into a dream gone bad.

[Connie] And so we went to the doctor, and he was diagnosed with failing kidneys. And they said he'd be on dialysis within the month. And he was. So it, it did rock our world. You think of dialysis and you don't even know what that means.

And so, we were struggling. Struggling to just keep afloat. We were down to our last scraps of food. We were, maxing out our credit cards. It was just a tough time, and a knock came at our door.

So, they just came and delivered this big box of food. Which wasn't a big deal to them, but it was huge for us. It fed two people for a long time, and I mean, I just broke down and cried. But it was the love there of that support, and seeing the little details that God worked out along the way, that helped us through the big, big problem, or the big trial.

[Steve] It wasn't long before the dialysis was just not enough. Connie's husband, Jim, desperately needed a kidney transplant. Thankfully, his brother stepped up and donated a kidney. There were complications, an extended hospital stay, but finally a bit of normalcy returned.

[Connie] And so then, we're back on track, kind of, of what our goals were in life. Okay, he's got a full time job. I quit within that year and started working from home so that we could try to have a family, and figure that out. And away we went.

Then, because his immune system was suppressed, a few years later, he started getting sick. His health had been compromised enough that we weren't able to have a family together. So, we went the adoption route.

In fact, we had a possibility, and it was exciting. I remember going through the house just, I mean, practically skipping. I was like, oh okay.

[Steve] But the exciting possibility of bringing home a little baby was suddenly crushed by the news.

[Connie] We were about to talk to the family, and Jim was sick. And we couldn't meet with them. And, we went to the hospital instead.

And the doctor that happened to be on staff at that local hospital hadn't seen him before. And he just looked at him and said, "Oh, I think there's something more going on here."

He was diagnosed that next day with lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer. So it was throughout his body in the lymph system, and it was an aggressive cancer. Just the word "cancer" scares you to death.

[Steve] Jim's anti-rejection medication caused the aggressive cancer that evaporated their dreams of an adoption and turned into a fight for his very life.

[Connie] The doctors took me aside--this would be for the third time--but they almost emphatically said, "He is in the dying process."

Two months of a rollercoaster, emotional rollercoaster, that I can't really explain how it felt like a lifetime in certain ways. But it was two months, almost to the day.

You can't change it. You're in this situation, you have to do whatever you can to, to deal with it. The whole time we, we knew God was there. We were relying on Him. We were beseeching Him. We were having everybody that we knew pray for my husband.

Just because you're going through something and you know God is there, doesn't mean it isn't hard.

[Steve] It was a very hard thing for Connie to face--the death of her husband. Even though she felt God was there, should you avoid the inevitable question--why?

[Connie] You're not human if you don't ask that one; I don't think. But you can't stay there. I don't know why. I really don't. But, in the long run, I can't, I can't dwell in there, or I can't stay there because I'm not going to get the answer, now, especially. So, I have got to take what I've learned from that and go forward, and try to learn the lessons that I'm supposed to learn.

[Steve] Learning lessons and moving forward amid tragedy was a difficult step that Connie had to take.

Now Tim tells more of his own account. His construction company finally began to prosper. His wife, Debby did the accounting. Tim worked overtime. Finally they were able to pay themselves from the business and go after that dream of living in the country on their very own ranch.

[Tim] We started looking for property. We looked over a year. We went up to Montana, Colorado. We ended up finally purchasing a ranch in New Mexico.

[Steve] With a ranch in New Mexico and a construction business in Flagstaff, that's not like five miles apart.

[Tim] No. Fact is, it was 500 miles apart and it would take eight to ten hours to drive depending on traffic.

Success and their choices began to take a toll on their lives. Tim had to split his time every week, between the ranch and the construction company. That brought problems because it separated him from Debby for the very first time in their marriage.

[Tim] Debby didn't like it at all. She didn't like being away from me. She just kept… She'd tell me, she's say, I just want to be with you. I just want to be wherever you are. So that was a big change in our life.

I could see where that was becoming a hardship for us. It was really becoming hectic. And we were getting busier and busier, and that was becoming more of a, a hassle. So, we were trying to sell the construction company.

[Steve] So, among all of that activity between the two places with the ranch and the construction company, a day came that totally changed everything. Can you tell me about that?

[Tim] That was a time in my life I won't forget. It's basically… I had just got back to Flagstaff. I had left the ranch, and I left it at a Sunday night, probably around nine that night. Drove all night long, and just didn't even get no sleep, went right to work. And we had some busy schedules that following Monday. Well, we ended up getting done mid-late afternoon, somewhere in there. So I went right home. We still had our house in Flagstaff. Went there, and I just remember going up in the game room and crashing on the floor. And, just sound asleep.

Then I remember hearing a phone…the phone. So I, it was in, in my, you could just kind of hear it as you're sleeping. So, I didn't pick it up. I just, it was almost like it was a dream.

And then it kept ringing, and kept ringing, and then I realized that it was the phone. So I answer the phone, and it's my youngest son. And he says, "Where have you been?" And, I said, "I was sleeping." He said, "Debby's dead. My, my mom is dead."

And I said, "What?" I thought maybe I was still dreaming. I thought I was sleeping. I couldn't believe what he was telling me. And he was just screaming it over the phone. It was… I'll never forget.

[Steve] It's hard enough to deal with the death of a loved one, yet how much more with such untimely death? We'll come back to Tim's heartrending story in just a moment. We left Connie, finding hope in dealing with the tragic death of her husband, Jim.

[Connie] And they just surrounded me with love. You know, people really just took care of me. For, and that's what I needed, for a while. You know, I wasn't the strong person all the time. I needed help. I needed support. I needed encouragement. And I had those people. God put those people in my life to help me along the way.

[Steve] As time passed, healing continued in Connie's life. As her pastor, I watched as new possibilities came her way.

[Connie] Not only were you my pastor and his wife, but also friends; just because of the trial, and you know. You guys helped me through a lot. And, you guys knew someone, that, I guess you thought we would click--and we did. When I met Mark, he was a grain farmer in Michigan, had two teenage kids that he was trying to make sure he raised.

After a couple visits, and a lot of talking back and forth, I moved to Michigan. And we got married January of 2005. Cold…

[Steve] On a very cold day as I recall.

[Connie] Yes, very cold in Minnesota. You know, we, we were a great team together. He was a, he was a leader in his congregation for the teens. He was a go-getter and I just joined right in. It was great.

[Steve] As time went on, a shock came out of nowhere.

[Connie] Yeah. In the spring, planting season, he was having a hard time. He was not feeling well. And by June of 2007 he was diagnosed with colon cancer.

It was one of those things where you ask: why, again?

In this situation, I just thought that it wouldn't, it wouldn't end like it did with Jim. I didn't think… I knew it was serious I just didn't… So we went through the, the battle together.

It was a two-year battle. It was really all of '07 and almost all of '08. So it was a lot longer battle, but there was a time in there he was declared cancer free. You know, and you think, okay we've won. With God's help, we've won. But, that's not the way it ended or, went. But, I dunno.

[Steve] How do you trust God, when you really don't understand what He is doing?

[Connie] We trust God in the good things. We've got to accept God's direction in our life no matter what is happening in our lives. You know, it's not all going to be rosy. But, again, if you look at the little things, God is in the details. God is there with you. It's just that sometimes the answer isn't what you want.

[Steve] So you were able to look at those things and see the positive side without letting the negative side drag you down.

[Connie] Yeah.

[Steve] How were you able to do that?

[Connie] I don't know. By the power and grace of God. I would have never said I could handle a death of a spouse, or go through this trial of cancer. Yet, you take it little by little and you get through it.

[Steve] Mark's death was a harsh blow, but Connie's approach was to take life little by little. Day by day it was by God's grace and power seeing her through. As we shift back to Tim's story, his son just broke the shocking news of Debby's death.

[Tim] There was a person that had been on drugs. He was distraught. He was just, really out of it. Basically, he was going real fast on the dirt roads out there, wrecked his truck, and our place happened to be the closest. So he walked up to the, to our house.

My wife was in the house sitting in a lounge chair. He had his rifle. He walked in and shot her--killed her right there instantly.

And, just kind of ransacked--took some food, took my son's pickup. Went over to the neighbor's house. She came walking out to see if he needed some help, because everybody's real friendly around there. And he shot her 'fore she even got close to the, to the truck, to my son's truck, and then drove off.

Probably the hardest phone call I had to make was telling her folks that Debby was dead. They had already lost two children before that. Just to hear the voices in the background, that they'd lost another daughter, basically--their only other daughter--was just so hard for me to tell them that.

[Steve] What did you do with two young boys? How did you begin to deal with that?

[Tim] It was just such a drastic change. It was just… it was like a whirlwind. It was just, it was almost like that part in my life is almost blacked out in a way. I don't know if you try to put that out of your mind or what. But my everyday life after that was just, it was just one day at a time.

[Steve] So then with Debby's murder, did that change your relationship with God?

[Tim] That really changed my relationship with God. I knew all along that I hadn't been doing right. I never was much of a religious person, but I just would never make that commitment to really follow God like I knew I should.

I thought God used this as a way to get my attention. To say, "Hey, you need to get a grip here. You need to come and start realizing the things that you need to change in your life." And I'm not saying that He didn't love Debby. I know He loved Debby. And I'm not saying that He planned this whole thing. He, I don't believe that either. I'm just saying He let the circumstances play out. I mean I knew that He would be there for me, if I just put, came to Him.

I knew everything that I had read, everything in God's, God's Word was true. I used that lesson as a way to come closer to God.

[Steve] Do you think there were steps along the way that helped you heal and get beyond Debby's death?

[Tim] One thing that really helped me was when I decided to make my commitment to God and start, following His way. Being around brethren, that… like-minded brethren that followed God, that kept His Commandments, His Sabbath, His Holy Days, knew God's plan. That was a big help.

I realized some of the hardships that I went through afterwards, laying on my bed and crying, and wondering, "What am I going to do?" You know, "How am I going to make this all come together?" But then I sat there and think back on that, how it did come together. So I know God didn't give me more than I could handle. He worked things out for me. Things did work out. He was there for me. He never did leave me. So that was a huge comfort.

[Steve] With revenge on the community's mind, the murderer was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the two precious lives that he took. Tim's trust in God prevented feelings of retaliation and helped him deal with thoughts of anger and bitterness. He told me what he learned.

[Tim] And I told myself, don't get angry because you can get bitter. I could see where that would really take you down the wrong path if I did that. That was a big factor to where I could overcome a lot of these things and just having faith in God, and His plans.

[Steve] It does take faith to trust God, even when you can't explain your struggles. At times, life seems to provoke us to ask: Why me, God?

But there is hope. We'd like to help you find that reassurance, like Tim did. It's possible to be comforted and discover encouragement in your very own Bible. That's why we've prepared a special study aid for you called, Why Am I Suffering?

This valuable, free study guide will help you deal with the struggles and challenges of your life. Why Am I Suffering? will explain that despite life's worries, you can find God's support to set your mind at rest and be restored like Connie.

We have never offered this booklet on Beyond Today before. But please note, we only have a limited number of copies available in print, and once those are exhausted Why Am I Suffering? will only be available as an electronic download. You need to have this guide to deeper study and understanding of why we have to deal with pain in our lives.

Get your free copy now online at BeyondToday.tv. Or, request a free copy to be sent to your home by calling: 1-888-886-8632.

Connie found that even when there was pain and suffering, God was helping her to deal with the death of two husbands within six years. She takes heart in remembering what was important to Mark.

[Connie] What was the most important thing to him was, again, relationships. His relationship with God and his relationship with his family. He also had that deep faith and that he relied on God.

And that's what he tried to convey to the young teens that he knew well and mentored. Look, God is in charge and this answer could be something I don't want, but don't lose faith.

In my experiences with what I've gone through, when I was in the low spots, it's because I was focusing on myself or I wasn't looking at the, at what God has done. You know, you have to refocus your mind some, and you have to look at the big picture. God is there. It's just that you have to see that.

[Steve] God helped Connie to look outward to His overall perspective of life. And her story doesn't end there. Within a few years, a dear minister and his wife gave her a suggestion.

They had a friend in one of their church areas that they thought would be a great husband. And I was like, fine, give him my information. You know, you never know what's going to happen or not. And then, when we got to talking, there were so many things that we did have in common.

[Steve] So to make a long story short, you're married!

[Connie] I am. I am. God has taken care of me.

[Steve] So what qualities do you love most about your husband?

[Connie] Being willing to be directed by God. He's very kind, very serving, likes to get out there and do things. He enjoys helping people out, and working on projects. And so, we have a lot of fun together.

[Steve] It is fun when you see God's powerful hand working in people's lives.

[Tim] When I look back, after all this happened, it basically seems like God was directing my path and guiding me in other ways.

Our minister just said that there's this young lady that you may want to contact. I thought, that seems interesting. So, after a few months of just talking over the phone, seeing how much we had in common, we were really wanting to meet each other. It was exciting when we did finally get to meet.

[Steve] Then somewhere along the line you were courageous enough to pop the question.

[Tim] It was time. We knew that's what we wanted to do. And I knew it especially. I was, really loved this lady. I wanted to get married, so it wasn't hard to do. I was, I asked her if she would marry me.

[Steve] So now that some time has passed, married, years have gone by, what is it that you love most about her?

[Tim] Well, the first thing comes to mind is her tacos, but I don't really think that would be appropriate at this point. What I really love about my wife is how caring she is. She handles every little situation without ever getting upset. She just seems to have a zeal for, just, to make things work out. She can continually looks for the good in everything and everybody. She helps lift me up that way. It's almost like God found somebody, okay you need somebody like this in your life.

[Steve] So who would have guessed that the two of you would end up together?

[Connie] That's right, who would have guessed? But, God has a plan.

[Steve] So did anyone ever warn you, are you sure you want to get married again?

[Tim] My family, you know, once they heard Connie's story of losing two mates. Whoa, she sounds like a black widow--be careful!

[Connie] But you've got to have humor in this. We'd probably be lying if we didn't think about that just a little bit. But, again, we have to have faith in God. God has directed us this far, He will direct us in the rest. We're enjoying life and, you know, we're taking what God has given us and going forward.

[Steve] The future is ahead. What are you hoping for?

[Tim] You know, we've never really talked about long term plans. We kind of…

[Steve] That is understandable knowing your experiences.

[Tim] We take one day at a time. We enjoy each day as they come around. We enjoy where we are living, and we just really love our life together.

[Connie] We do. We both have a faith in God, and a faith that God means what He says. He has a plan. He has a Kingdom.

[Tim] I look towards that. That's a big comforting for me, it's knowing that one day I will see my wife again. That that is part of God's plan in the resurrections, so I look towards that time when that will occur. We want to look towards God's plan and His future for us, and that's my hope :

[Connie] And God's in charge and if you fully trust Him, and really believe what He says, it will be okay.

[Tim] We've got to believe that God does have a plan for us, and when we do that, that just makes things a lot more easier in our lives. We can take things a lot better.

[Connie] Let God lead on.

[Tim] Yep.

[Steve] Tim and Connie found hope in remembering God's promises. You too, can find comfort, even when trouble and suffering mar your life.

They realized that it's true. God consoles us as we endure the pain and hardship of life so that we may draw from His comfort and share it with others in their own struggles (1 Corinthians 1:3-4).

They looked for God in the details. He didn't desert them. They were encouraged as they read the biblical examples of other real people that faced and endured severe trials.

They trusted God to bring them through day by day. They didn't let anger and bitterness take hold. They asked God for help and He provided the support and strength for them to endure and to come through the challenges. God will strengthen you, too.

Whatever you're going through, don't lose sight of the big picture. No ordeal can ever separate you from the love of God. Remember that God understands. He loves you. Don't forget His promise: "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

Here at Beyond Today, we are happy to acquaint you with our free magazine, The Good News.

The Good News gives insight into your world through the eyes of the Bible. Order your free subscription to The Good News and also get your free copy of Why Am I Suffering? Call toll free: 1-888-886-8632. That's, 1-888-886-8632.

Be sure and visit us on the Web at BeyondToday.tv where you can read, download or order your free copy of The Good News magazine and today's special offer of our free Bible study aid, Why Am I Suffering?

Thanks for joining us. Tune in again next week for another edition of Beyond Today and join us in praying, "Thy Kingdom come." For Beyond Today I'm Steve Myers. Thanks for watching.

[Announcer] For the free literature offered on today's program, go online to BeyondToday.tv. Please join us again next week on Beyond Today!

God Does Care for You

When tragedies happen, we ask why. Whether it happens to us personally, to our loved ones, or to our communities, we have a natural desire to find answers. How could a loving all powerful God allow terrible things to happen? God gives us answers. He gives us hope. The Bible is the very Word of God, and it reveals the reasons for pain and suffering. It also gives us the hope of how to get through trials and sorrows. God doesn't want bad things to happen to people. He loves you. He loves people. Like a loving parent, it hurts Him to see His children in pain. In fact, it's part of God's plan for humanity to get rid of all sadness, sorrow and pain. His plan is for every man, woman and child to live in peace and harmony in His Kingdom. He wants this new world even more than we do. He wants us to grow closer to Him, to obey Him, and to find true peace and comfort in His love and way of life. The most important thing to realize is that God cares for you actively.

Often when we're faced with a trial that seems too hard to handle, we feel abandoned. Abandoned by friends, abandoned by family, and sometimes especially abandoned by God. In these dark times our cares and worries overwhelm us with negative and even hopeless thoughts.

God is a God of hope, however. He tells us through the apostle Peter that we should go to Him in prayer and cast our cares on Him, "for He cares for [us]" (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Caring and compassion are two of God's divine attributes that we can sometimes forget about in a trial. King David went through many difficult and tragic events in his life. He was exiled and hunted by his king, experienced the death of his best friend, and even lost his baby son. Even through all his pain he was able to understand God's love and care: "But You, O LORD, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth...You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me" (Psalm 86:15-17).

David beautifully expressed our Creator's care and concern for you in another Psalm: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies" (Psalm 103:2-4).

The loving nature of care and concern that our Heavenly Father has is also in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Gospels we read that "when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick" (Matthew 14:14). The apostle James later wrote that "the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (James 5:11).

It can be hard to imagine that an all-powerful God would be concerned with our trouble. Maybe we feel so small that we think He can't possibly care about us. God Himself spoke through the prophet Jeremiah and assured us that, even though He is omnipotent, He truly does care. "The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: 'I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts'" (Jeremiah 57:15-17, New Living Translation).

Even when we sometimes forget that God loves and cares for us, we can have faith that He never forgets us. In our limited human perspective, we can lose track of God's ultimate purpose. In His great love and mercy, He does not forget us or our future. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope'" (Jeremiah 29:11).

God is love (1 John 4:8). His love and care for you is based on His very special plan for you and all mankind. When God created mankind, He made us in His very own image (Genesis 1:26).

God Does Hear You

Not only does God truly care for us on a deep level, He also hears us when we cry out to Him. We don't always feel that He is listening though. Feeling like you've lost your connection to God is so very human. God knows our feelings and gave us encouragement in the Bible.

In Romans 15:4 Paul said that "whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." So the stories and accounts of people throughout the Bible are there for us. We can read about the struggles of people like David, Moses and Peter and be encouraged that God worked in their lives, just like He can work in our lives today.

When David wrote about his personal struggles, he always followed a simple but powerful path. He cried out to God in faith, trusting God to hear Him. "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed" (Psalm 61:1). Even though David was a king, he was also just a regular person. And just like any of us, he was sometimes afraid or even lacking in faith.

Despite his fear and uncertainty, when his faith in God was restored, it always led him to the right conclusion: God hears, and God cares. "And you who seek God, your hearts shall live. For the Lord hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners" (Psalm 69:32-33). When you're overwhelmed with fear, doubt and trouble, set your heart toward God and ask Him in prayer for His comfort and His will in your life.

When It Seems Like God Doesn't Hear

Even when we take our troubles to God and try to trust in Him, it can feel like our prayers don't actually go anywhere—that we're just talking to no one. Many men and women of powerful faith have felt that way at some points in their lives.

The apostle Paul was a man who could have concluded that God doesn't listen to people. After all, he begged God to heal him of a chronic physical problem. God didn't heal him of whatever was troubling him.

Does this mean God didn't hear Paul? Let's take a look at Paul's experience and see how it can help us have faith that God does hear in times of need.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about his experience: "There was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me" (2 Corinthians 12:7-8, New International Version).

What was this trial that tormented Paul? We don't know for sure, but comments in Paul's writings hint it may have been a problem with his eyes (Galatians 4:13-15; Galatians 6:11).

Whatever his trial, the implication is that Paul asked God to take the trial away. He probably did this with fasting and heartfelt prayer (2 Corinthians 11:27). Paul even wanted it for the right reasons—so he could continue to spread the gospel and care for the congregations God raised up.

Can you imagine how discouraged Paul was? It's not hard to imagine he could have thought that God wasn't listening. He could have easily let himself drown in despair, or even get bitter against God. But Paul had the right perspective on what was really happening. He realized that God did hear him. The answer wasn't what Paul asked for, but it was the right answer for God's purpose for Paul's life. Paul told the Corinthians that God answered: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). In other words, God told Paul: "I know you're suffering. I hear you, and I promise to care for you. It may not be in the way you'd like right now, but I have bigger and better plans for you. This situation is just a step along the way. Trust Me."

We don't know whether God spoke directly to Paul or whether Paul gradually came to understand God's will. What is clear is that Paul came to a deeper spiritual understanding of his own suffering. Even though he was in a tough situation, it strengthened his faith and commitment.

It's easy to think that Paul's example isn't relevant to us today. After all, he was an apostle. He witnessed and performed great miracles. He was basically a "super-Christian," right? Just like David, Paul was just a human being like us. He was weak and powerless without God's help. Anything extraordinary in his life came from God—the same God who works in the lives of those who seek Him today.

Paul's experience teaches us an important lesson. Sometimes when we feel like we have unanswered prayers, God's answer for us is actually "no" or "not yet." God never intended our physical lives to last forever or be the most important thing for us. His focus is on us developing righteous character and a trusting relationship with Him that can last for eternity. He wants to resurrect us to eternal life in a glorious, immortal spirit body not subject to weakness, illness and death (1 Corinthians 15:40-44, 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

In the meantime, Paul understood that God in His love will never allow us to fall into trials greater than we can endure. "But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV). Sometimes that "way out" is simply the determination to endure the trial, to "stand up under it."

Hearing God's Will

Paul was not the only one who learned that living, trusting, abiding faith is more important than physical health and long life.

Even Jesus, knowing that He faced a cruel death only hours away, prayed, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me" (Matthew 26:39). Jesus loved life and wanted to live as much as any of us. But He acknowledged a greater purpose for this physical life: "Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done" (Luke 22:42).

Jesus Christ, the perfect example of faith, knew God's will was more important that His.

God knows what is best for us in the long run, even if it may conflict with our short-term wants and desires. As Peter tells us, "[cast] all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Paul says we should be "confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Because God works within us from a broader perspective to build faith and character, He doesn't always answer our prayers in the way we desire.

Why Suffering? Where Does It Come From?

Why would God create a world of chaos and evil?

The truth is that God didn't. This isn't the world that God intended. God's original creation didn't contain these pains. The world God created was peaceful and beautiful. Food was easy to come by. There was no death. People were intended to have a close, personal relationship with God. God gave us free will. God gave us choices.

When our ancestors, Adam and Eve, chose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they chose to disobey God. They rejected His design for the world. In doing so they chose this chaotic world and all the problems we have today. In the world they chose there was the curse of cause and effect, time and chance. Bad decisions now can affect generations to come. Satan became the ruler of this world. We inherited a painful world chosen by our ancestors.

Whether you're in the middle of a trial now or in a period of relative peace in life, it's helpful to understand why suffering exists at all.

Paul Johnson, a famous author, once asked: "If God is infinitely good, and infinitely powerful too, why should evil exist at all?" That question is one we all want answered.

God reveals why He allows suffering to exist in our world today. One inescapable aspect of human life is our free will—our freedom of choice, our free moral agency—that provides the key to understanding why God allows evil and suffering to exist.

"The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2:9).

The first book of the Bible talks about two trees God created (Genesis 2:9). One represented the way to life and blessings. The other tree held the way to suffering, anguish and death. God gave Adam and Eve a choice of the two trees. He explained the consequences of choosing either tree. He even commanded them not to make the wrong choice (Genesis 2:15-17; compare Genesis 3:3).

Just like we so often do, Adam and Eve made the wrong choice. "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate" (Genesis 3:6).

Although God warned them not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He didn't keep Adam and Eve from making a wrong choice. God created them both in His own image. He gave them freedom to choose like He does.

Because God wants us to be like Him, He gave us the ability to choose what we do. Without making right choices, we can't build righteous character, the same character He has. To build character, we need to make wise choices. We must choose between right and wrong, wisdom and foolishness, carelessness and vigilance.

All actions have consequences. Some consequences are good, and some are bad.

Consequences and Time and Chance

Every day we hear news of tragic accidents or terrible events that cause suffering. Tornados level schools, earthquakes kill thousands, bombs go off in crowded marketplaces. We ask ourselves why these terrible things happen.

Then sometimes it hits closer to home. It's our home that's hit by a tornado; it's our loved one in a horrible car accident. We're left with one inescapable question: How can something like this happen? Where does the suffering each of us and our families go through come from? As much as people try to look within themselves to understand, they have to admit they have no real answers.

The biblical King of Israel, Solomon, faced the same issues and questions a long time ago and in a very different place. He saw the futility of life when tranquility was shattered by random acts of human nature or even nature itself. He concluded, "One thing happens to all" (Ecclesiastes 9:3), and that evil and madness do exist. Much of what takes place is subject to events beyond our control.

Solomon recorded his thoughts on this topic in a book called Ecclesiastes. In a lot of ways it's journal of a person who spent his life searching for the same answers we look for today. He looked around and he saw evil and suffering, righteousness and pleasure. He participated in all of it just to find out what worked best for him. He had enough money to buy and build whatever he desired. He searched for the wisdom of his day, compiled and studied it and was considered by all his peers to be the wisest of all.

Solomon no doubt witnessed actions of violence and unexplainable natural catastrophe that took countless lives. No one had answers, not even the wisest man alive. Why evil? Why suffering?

In all of his observations and meditations he concluded that there is such a time as "time and chance," and that suffering can result from seemingly random events. He concluded "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time; like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them" (Ecclesiastes 9:5-12).

This statement is real, and it gives understanding beyond the headlines and events of this life. Time and chance, events of life beyond our control and completely unrelated to our moment occur, and we are all at times caught in a net and in that moment are like the fish or the birds–life snuffed out and seemingly without meaning.

And yet, there is meaning. There is hope in Solomon's conclusion about the affairs of all life on this realm called earth. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

There is a God, and His judgment is a fact of life. Judgment is part of the hope of this life for without it there is no hope of justice. It is when life is darkest and despair the sharpest that the hope of God's justice offers a glimmer of light to pierce the gloom. That is what Solomon concluded after a lifetime of reflection.

Satan Causes Suffering

While Solomon's conclusion about time and chance in suffering is true, it's not the only source of suffering in our lives. Sometimes terrible tragedies and situations that cause us suffering come from a very real being who exists only to cause harm to people.

Jesus Christ spoke of one He called "a murderer from the beginning" and "a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44, New Revised Standard Version). Jesus identifies the origin of evil and suffering. The suffering you and all people go through comes from a being who first lied, deceived, hated and murdered. He is the enemy of mankind, Satan the devil (1 Peter 5:8).

The Bible tells us he was once a glorious angel whose name, Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12), meant "light-bringer." God said that Lucifer was "the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." He was "in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering...You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you" (Ezekiel 28:12-15).

Something changed deep within Lucifer. God told him: "How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High'" (Isaiah 14:12-14, New International Version).

Lucifer convinced himself he was as good as or better than his Maker. He rebelled against God and tried selfishly to put himself above the other angels (Revelation 1:20). Where does violence, anger and hatred come from? God said that Satan became "filled with violence" (Ezekiel 28:16-17). His attitude of selfishness and anger has influenced people throughout time. Because he hates God, he does what he can to make God's children suffer.

Although the Bible introduces Satan when he deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), he has been around far longer. He was the first criminal, a being whose mind and thinking grew corrupt, twisted and perverse. He introduced evil into the world. Humanity has struggled against evil ever since.

Jesus Christ Is the Way Through Your Suffering

Once you come to understand where suffering comes from and why we so often go through trials, you can start working through your suffering. In God's mercy He showed us the key in the Bible. The key is trusting in Jesus Christ.

How can trust in Jesus bring you through a trial? Why would He help in the first place?

The Bible tells us Jesus does "sympathize with our weaknesses." Why does the Creator of the universe care about us at that personal level? Because He was tempted in every way, just as we are (Hebrews 4:15). What does that mean? It's may be hard to understand how God Himself could, for instance, understand a woman's needs. Or empathize with depression and loss. What of the trauma of a divorce?

Paul explains that we are not alone in our trials (1 Corinthians 10:13). If you attend a Christian fellowship, you find others going through similar experiences (2 Corinthians 1:3-6). This is strengthening. Yet each of us has his own pain, trial and anguish that we may think no one else can really understand.

We may wonder whether God can feel our pain. Can God appreciate the depth of human despair? Peter wrote that Jesus suffered for us, leaving us an example (1 Peter 2:21). In what ways did Jesus lead the way? What confidence can we have that He understands the personal trauma of every one of His people?

Jesus Understands Human Frailty

Jesus understands what it's like to have an imperfect, frail human body. Isaiah was inspired to write that Christ's physical appearance didn't make Him especially attractive or desirable (Isaiah 53:2). In other words, He was apparently average looking. Just like you, at times His body got just plain tired. He rested at the well of Samaria because He was physically weary and thirsty (John 4:6-7).

Like any other human, He needed time to recuperate from the stress of heavy responsibility, for the weight of the world really was on His shoulders. After periods of hectic activity, He withdrew to areas of solitude to refresh Himself and recuperate (Mark 6:31).

Jesus Understands That Our World Isn't Fair and Right

A huge amount of our human stresses and pains come from the societies we live in. Governments are often inefficient at best and abusive at the worst. Injustices and acts of aggression were just as much a part of His world as they are ours. Jesus' life was regulated by an oppressive system of at times foolish laws and regulations, just like ours can be, depending on where we live.

Jesus knew the burden of oppressive government and the sting of racism. He lived in Judea under the occupation forces of the mighty Roman Empire, which treated His people harshly. He was personally insulted, accused of being illegitimate and "born of fornication" (John 8:41).

Jesus Understands Relationship Problems

Many of our problems come from strained or broken relationships with members of our family and close friends. Often we feel the most stress and pain from the people we love most. Jesus had to deal with this too. His own brothers didn't believe in Him (John 7:5). His disciples were His best friends, but even they abandoned Him when He was arrested (Mark 14:43-50). The next day many of His disciples were still too frightened to be publicly seen as He was beaten and executed. "But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things" (Luke 23:49).

What about other interpersonal relationships? Jesus wasn't married, so how can He understand marriage problems? How can Jesus understand what it's like to live with a difficult or even unfaithful mate?

The fact is, He can. He is symbolically married to the Church (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7). How often do we, as individual Christians, let Him down and act unfaithfully toward Him?  (Jeremiah 3:6-14). He is not only prepared to take the Church back, He will receive each of us when we repent and pledge ourselves to live faithfully with Him.

Jesus Understands Illness and Pain

The world is full of people going through physical suffering that comes from illness or violence or simple accidents. If you're in a situation like that, please know that Christ understands the depths of your suffering. In Jesus' last hours as a human being He was falsely accused, mocked, reviled, sworn at, spat upon and slapped in the face. He suffered a brutal beating before His crucifixion, which in itself was an extremely painful and humiliating way to die. You can read about His suffering in each of the Gospels to get just a small part of an idea of what He went through.

Isaiah prophesied about Jesus' suffering: "There were many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness" (Isaiah 52:14, New International Version). Apparently Jesus was barely recognizable as a human after the awful beating He suffered. As God in the flesh, did He want to live physically any less than we do? No, He didn't want to feel the agony of crucifixion and death. He even asked God the Father if it were possible to not go through this trial (Luke 22:42). But He endured the pain so He could sympathize with us as our High Priest and so we could be forgiven of our sins (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Jesus Understands Grief and Sorrow

Before His own physical death, Jesus was no stranger to loss and grief. Jesus was overcome with grief and wept when His friend Lazarus died (John 11:35). Even more poignant is how He viewed all of the people He met and served. As God and the Creator of all things, including humanity, Jesus experienced intense sorrow about what humans do to themselves and to each other through sin.

He looked at the city of Jerusalem and wept because of the tragedy the city had seen and would see in the near future. He was experiencing a profound sense of grief over the way His children were suffering and living in pain (Luke 19:41-44).

Begin to work through your suffering today

Know for certain that you have a faithful God and High Priest who walked this physical life ahead of you. He knows what it means to suffer.

Christ meant it when He told us: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus wants you to approach God the Father with your cares in prayer. Even when you have unanswered prayers, trust in God's promises to listen and care for you. Remember Paul's example. Even though God's answer isn't always what we wanted, it is always what's best for us.

When you're suffering, approach God boldly and confidently in prayer. Know with every pain you suffer that Jesus is your High Priest. He hears, knows and understands how you feel. When we love and obey Him, God will cause even our biggest mistakes, hardships and pain to work out for good (Romans 8:28).

God the Father and Jesus Christ have a plan for you. Their Kingdom is coming. It's a beautiful Kingdom where there will be no more pain and suffering (Revelation 21:4). They want you to be a part of their Kingdom (2 Peter 3:9).

Pray to God. Study His Word in the Bible. He wants to be your loving Father now and forever. Seek Him for comfort today, in your hour of need.

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