Why? Why? Why?

Why? Why? Why? Why am I suffering for so long? Why? I have been loyal to God. I am faithful to His ways. Why doesn't He answer my prayers and heal me? Why? Brethren, some of us are going through impossible pain, just unbearable, just huge amount of pain. One of the persons I saw, I was ascribing to somebody, the eyes of that person were pleading. I could read the eyes as if they were speaking to me, pleading for mercy and intervention. Let's turn with me, please, to James 5, verse 13. This is the scripture we know quite well.

James says, Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. We need to be praying for one another, brethren. Verse 14, Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer of faith will save him, save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. We do go out as elders, not just me, but all the elders here do it and have done it and send out anointing cloths to serve the brethren. And he says, the sick will be saved and they'll be raised up, and if there is, then God will forgive.

Then he talks about the story of Elijah that he prayed and there was no rain, and then three years later he prayed and he prayed. And so the question is, why? As an elder, and many of you are elders, you know what I'm talking about. It breaks our heart when we see people suffering, and we pray for them. And our greatest desire is that they would be healed now. There has been times that people were healed instantly, but not every time.

Why? Today, brethren, I want to analyze to a degree this question of why. Indeed, the pain sometimes can be so deep and so profound, we could even think or say, God has chosen not to heal me. Why? Is God unfair? Why doesn't God intervene? You know, there are people in the world that say, there is so much suffering, therefore God doesn't exist. And we have to be careful that we don't allow our thoughts to go to that extreme.

Why does a loving God allow the death of a little child? Why does he allow terrible diseases to afflict the faithful? Why does it allow this unending pain that some people go through? Sometimes injuries, that is none of our fault. Maybe it's trauma that we experienced as young people, that are affecting our lives to the point that we are going through great depression. Maybe there's the death of a husband, for instance, in the case of a wife, the death of a husband that leaves the wife in a terrible, distressful financial situation.

Maybe it's a job loss or prolonged marriage problems and subsequent problems with the children breaking one's heart. It could be an unreasonable boss and you have a grueling job or maybe a monotonous job or maybe spiteful co-workers giving you a hard time. And all these things, one way or another, make you worried about the future. You see the things happening in the world and therefore you become very anxious, leading to enormous fears and sometimes you are paralyzed not knowing what to do.

Our life plans and our dreams are gone. We know it's gone until the rest of our lives. In this life, it is as if there is no hope. Why? Surely God loves us. He could miraculously intervene and remove the trial. So some may ask, is God fair? I'm not saying you do that, but that thought could cross the mind. Turn with me to Psalm 73. Psalm 73. And we're going to read, starting from verse 3. Psalm 73. And we're going to read from verse 3. For I was envious of the boastful when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. You know, these people are sinners and everything is going well with them. And I'm trying to obey God and I'm having all these problems. Why? They are not in trouble as other man, nor are they plagued like other man. Therefore, pride serves as their necklace. If violence covers them like a garment, their eyes bulge with abundance. They have more than heart could wish. They just have everything. And we in the church, we're trying to please God.

We're trying to do what's right. And we have all these troubles. Why? Look at verse 12. Behold, these are the ungodly who are always at ease. They increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued and chastened every morning. That is a tough question. Look at Psalm 13. Psalm 13. 1-3. And we're going to start in verse 1.

How long, O Lord, will you forget me forever? Has God abandoned us? Is life an unending struggle? How long will you hide your face from me? Is God not listening? I just can't go on anymore. Verse 2. How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?

Yes, our heart, when we go through these trials and difficulties, is broken. It's broken. How long will my enemy be exalted over me? You know, these things are either health issues, they are maybe emotional issues, emotional letdowns, feelings of discouragement. And those people are exalted. But God, don't you promise me that I'm your child? Don't you promise me that you would heal me?

Where's your goodness? Where's your plan? You see, we can easily get into that rut of starting to doubt God. Verse 3. Consider any enemy, O Lord my God, enlighten my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death. Look at God and say, God, look at me, look in my eyes. Answer me. Help me. Why this trial?

Have you considered Job and Job's thoughts? Let's look at Job 21. Job 21. You know the story of Job. He lost his wife, he lost all his properties, and then he got extremely ill with boils all over his body. You know the story. Now, I'm going to read Job 21 starting from verse 4, but I'm going to read it in a different biblical translation. Now, quite often I do not like modern translations because, particularly when you look at doctrine, they are lacking. However, in a situation like in Job where things are difficult to understand, a version which is more paraphrased can help us understand a little bit more what is happening. So, in this specific chapter, I am going to use a modern translation, more specifically the NLT, the New Living Translation. By no means am I supporting or condoning that translation, but I'm just saying in this section, reading the story, it helps us to understand a little bit more. So, reading in verse 4, in the NLT, reads, My complaint is with God, not with people. I have good reason to be so impatient, says Job. Verse 5, Look at me and be stunned. Put your hand over your mouth in shock. Verse 6, When I think about what I'm saying, I shudder. My body trembles. Verse 7, Why do the wicked prosper? Growing old and powerful. Verse 8, They live and see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren. Verse 8, Their homes are safe from every fear, and God does not punish them. That was verse 9. Verse 10, Their bulls never fail to breed. Their cows be calves and never miscarry. Verse 11, They let their children frisk about like lambs. Their little ones skip and dance. They sing with tambourine and hob. They celebrate to the sound of the flute. They spend their days in prosperity, then go down to the grave in peace.

And yet they say to God, Go away. We want no part of you and your ways. Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey Him? What good will it do us to pray? That's the quote of the wicked.

And then verse 16, They think their prosperity is of their own doing.

And then Yah-Job says, But I will have nothing to do with that kind of thinking.

Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. Do they ever have trouble? Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger?

You see, you know the story. Job's friends turned to Job and said, You, Job, have sinned. You have done something wrong. And you know the story, because time and again Job says, I've done nothing wrong. I'm being punished unfairly. I have done nothing wrong.

Think that from our side. We could say, we've tried our best to be godly. We've been careful how we live, maybe in our diet, maybe in what we eat. Well, we may say, well, surely sometimes we have sinned.

Maybe sometimes in the past we have not had the right diet. But now we've repented, we've changed. We're eating the right things. We're trying to rest. We're trying to do exercise. We're trying to be careful why this health issue, why these problems.

So, going back to the situation of Job.

So, Job is in this saying, I have done nothing wrong. And so, Job now wants to argue his case with God.

And he wants to get into a discussion with God and says, look God, you're not being fair. If I go to a court case, I would win. I would win because I would come out clear because I've done nothing wrong. Look at his reasoning here in Job 23. Job 23 verse 2 through 7.

He says, even today my complaint is bitter. My hand is listless because of my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him in those gods. I knew if I knew where to see God and talk to him and argue my case like in front of a court.

That I might come to his seat. I would present my case before him. Verse 4. And fill my mouth with arguments. I have all these reasonings that I've done nothing wrong.

I would know the words which he would answer me and understand that he would say to me, would he contend with me in his great power? No. But he would take note of me. There the upright could reason with him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge. In other words, I would stand up in a court case and I would win against God because I have not sinned.

Wow.

But look at verse 8 and 9. Look, I go forward, but he is not there. And backward, and I cannot perceive him. You see, God is not around. I can't argue with him. When he works on the left hand, I cannot behold him. When he works on the right hand, I cannot see him.

You see, God doesn't come to court. He's not going to come to this court case. Verse 10.

But he can see where I am, says he, but he knows the way that I take.

When he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. In other words, when God will test me, he will see that I'm pure as gold. I've done nothing wrong.

Verse 11. My foot has held fast to his steps. I have obeyed what God told me to do.

I have kept his way. I have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. You see, I am not going to change. I'm going to stay this way. I'm going to obey God.

I'm not going to sin now because of this.

You see, Job is saying, hey, I don't deserve this. I don't deserve this. And maybe we could be asking, why, God? I don't deserve it. I've been trying to obey your laws. Why am I suffering for so long? Why me? Why doesn't God answer my prayers? Why am I in such pain? Please, God, release me.

Then Job reaches the conclusion in chapter 28 that it's a question of wisdom, and he needs more wisdom because he says in chapter 28 verse 12, but where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? And look at verse 28. 28-28. And to the man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding. I know that is wise to obey God.

And I will not deviate from that. But I don't think God has treated me fairly. That's really what he's saying.

And a little bit further, in chapter 30 verse 16, Job is saying, And now my soul is poured out because of my plight. He's basically saying, I'm in despair. I'm in the Spain.

He says, The days of affliction take hold of me.

Look at verse 19. He has cast me into the mire, and I become like dust and ashes. He's saying, God, you've thrown me down into the dumps, and I'm just like dust and ashes.

And look at verse 23.

Chapter 30 verse 23. For I know that you'll bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. I know I'm going to die.

And so he's in despair. Why? It is a very pertinent question.

Looking at chapter 31, verse 1 through 4, he says, I have made a covenant with my eyes. In other words, I have done my job. I have been faithful to the very point, to the very point that I made a covenant with my eyes. Why then shall I look upon a young woman? In other words, I will not look at a woman with the wrong intent. I won't do it. I've gone that far. For what is the allotment of God from above, and the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is it not destruction of the wicked, and disaster of the workers of iniquity? He says, I've done my part. But doesn't God see what I've done?

And then verse 4, he says, does he not see my ways and count my steps?

And then he goes through a series of ifs. You look at it, verse 5, if, and if again, verse 7, if, and verse 9, if, and if again. And so he goes through a series of ifs. And he says, if I'd done this, I would understand it. If I'd done that wrong, I would understand it. If I'd done the other thing wrong, I'd understand it. And he says, that's enough, and he just keeps quiet. That's what he says at the end of chapter 31. The words of Job are ended.

And then the fourth friend, Eliyu, in chapter 32, then he says to his other friends and to Job, he says, so these three men ceased answering Job because he was self-righteous in his own eyes. And then the wrath of Eliyu, the son of Barakel, the Buzite of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job. His wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. You see? And he was upset with his friends because they didn't have any answer.

And look at chapter 33 verse 12. Chapter 33 verse 12. Look, in this you're not righteous, Job. I'll answer you, for God is greater than man.

In other words, you and I might just not understand all of God's reasons.

Look a little bit further. Chapter 35. Chapter 35 verse 14 through 16.

Although you say you do not see him, that's what Eliyu is saying to Job, although you say you do not see him, yes justice is before him. Justice is before God. And you must wait on him. We have to wait on God because God is just.

And now, because he has not punished in his anger, nor taken much notice of folly, therefore Job opens his mouth in vain and he multiplies words without knowledge.

You see, we have to wait a little longer. We don't understand everything. And then Eliyu continues in chapter 37, for instance, in verse 14 and 15.

Says, Listen to the earth of Job, says Eliyu, stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you know when God dispatches them and causes the light of his cloud to shine? And so on. Do you know when God decides to do certain things? You don't know. There's a lot of things you don't know, Job.

Do you know when God is going to decide to bring justice on the earth? You don't know. Well, now with prophecy through Christ that we have a better understanding. We have a little bit more knowledge on that. But at those days, they don't know that.

And so Eliyu is saying, Job, God is greater. He has a plan and you gotta wait on him.

So he's now touching the right point. Then God himself now talks to Job. And we read, for instance, in verse 2 and 3. Job 38, verse 2 and 3. Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Who do you think you are, Job? Now prepare yourself like a man. And I'm going to ask you some questions, and you ask me. So now Job starts getting a little bit of instruction from God. And God starts saying to him a couple of things. Look at chapter 40, verse 2. Shall the one who contends with Almighty correct him, correct God? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.

Can you Job argue with God? Can you teach God? And then God asks a series of questions that Job just does not have answer. How does this happen? How did that happen? How did that happen? You don't know Job. You just don't get it. And then Job finally in Job 40, verse 40 and 5 says, then Job answers God, Behold, I'm vile. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I'll not answer. Yes, twice, but I'll proceed no further.

Job starts realizing that he didn't know everything.

And then in verse 7 and 8, God's challenge to Job, he says in verse 7 and 8, Now prepare yourself like a man, and I'll question you, and you answer me. Would you indeed annul my judgment? Would you condemn me that you may be justified?

Can you annul God's wisdom? Do you know better than what he knows and his decision? Because God is for wiser.

So what is it? God is wiser. God knows better. And you and I have to trust in his greater wisdom and timing. Sometimes we don't have all the answers.

But trusting, think about it, trusting is a matter of faith.

When you trust somebody, you have faith in him.

In Hebrews 11 verse 6, Hebrews 11 verse 6, you just turn to Hebrews 11 verse 6, without faith, without absolute trust in God, it is impossible to please God. For he who comes to God must believe that God is, and that is a reward of those who diligently seek him. In other words, God knows when and how to reward us, you do that in his time.

Now, chapter 11 is the 5th chapter. And through the first few verses of chapter 11, it's all these wonderful things that miracles happened and people got answers of their prayers.

But look at Hebrews 11 verse 35. And yeah, in Hebrews 11 verse 35, there's a switch. Because it says, women received their dead raised to life again. What a wonderful miracle! Your husband dies and is raised to life like Lazarus. And then life continues until obviously dies at the end of his physical life. But look at the rest of verse 35. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. Others did not have the miracles happening in their physical life. You read the next few verses. They had markings, their scourgings. They were stoned to death. They were sauna sunda. And they had to die.

You see, why do some receive the answer now and some only later? It is a question of trusting God's decision. He knows better.

It is hard and painful. Of course it is. It is very hard and painful. It breaks our heart when we see brethren suffering. And how we wish they would be healed they would be healed right away. And God will heal. God will heal.

But we don't know when. We don't know when.

Now, our booklet on Why Does God Allow Suffering covers a lot of the material, a lot of good material about this, that I recommend you to study it carefully with your Bible because it addresses a lot of points.

David recognized it was a matter of trust. We started early on reading Psalm 13.

And I stopped in verse 4, but if we go back to Psalm 13 and we read verse 5, Psalm 13 verse 5, 13 verse 5, it reads, But I have trusted in your mercy, and my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

David had faith in God and waited for God.

You see, it might not be today that God will answer that. It might be tomorrow.

Do we have to do our part? Yes, we have to do our part. If you need to go and get medical advice, please do so. God expects you to do your part.

But then, sometimes there's nothing else mankind can do. We have to rely on God. And sometimes God intervenes miraculously, and sometimes it doesn't.

Look at Romans chapter 8 verse 18. Romans chapter 8 verse 18.

Romans chapter 8 verse 18. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

We have to believe that, yes, we're going through tremendous sufferings now.

It's not easy. And now it's not easy. My heart breaks when people suffer.

We pray. We cry for them. But you and I have to understand there is a huge glory coming our way.

And I don't think quite often we think about that.

Quite often we don't understand that there's going to be glory which shall be revealed in us.

Look at verse 28, still of Romans 8.

And we know that all things work together for good.

To those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Oh yeah, we don't quite see it how.

But we have to trust God.

We have to have faith in Him.

Because then in verse 29 and 30 says, For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn amongst many brethren. Moreover, when we predestined, He also called, and when we called, He also justified, and when we justified, He also glorified.

It's basically saying, God has determined that Your purpose and my purpose is to be His children and for us to have His glory. Not the same level, of course, in Pheria, but of His glory.

He says, we'll be glorified. And for Him, it's a done deal.

It's a done deal for you and I, unless we throw it away.

Oh yes, it's difficult when we go through it, but it's a done deal. We just have to go through it and trust God.

Look at James chapter 1. James chapter 1.

We're going to read verse 2. James chapter 1, verse 2. My brethren, count at all joy when you fall into various trials. Well, surely when you have these difficulties, it is difficult to count it as joy.

But knowing that the test of your faith, you see, it's your testing of your faith. It's the testing of your trust in God.

Produce patience.

That's endurance. And let the patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect, that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Look at verse 12. Still in James chapter 1, verse 12. Blessed is the man who endures temptation. These difficulties, these challenges. For when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life.

There is a crown of victory, a glory coming to you and I beyond our understanding. And we have to trust in that, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Look at 1 Peter. 1 Peter chapter 1.

1 Peter chapter 1.

We'll read verse 6 and 7.

For this, or by power, in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.

Many of us are being grieved by enormous trials.

Verse 7. That the genuineness of your faith, that's how trust is being tested, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it's tested by fire, brethren, fire hurts. Put your hand in a fire and leave it there. I was not going to leave it there, because it hurts.

Hurts deeply.

But you see, our faith is being tested by fire.

That may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the coming, at the revelation of Jesus Christ. You see, God has got honor, glory, praise, awaiting you, even though you are suffering today. It's difficult to comprehend, but we have to look at that glory, awaiting us, at that honor, at that praise. Look at 1 Peter 4, verse 12 and 13. 1 Peter 4, verse 12 and 13. Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial. A fiery trial. Some of the brethren are going through enormous fiery trials before they make it. But this is their final fiery trial, maybe.

And once they made it, they made it.

Which is to try you, to try our faith. Whether we really trust in God and don't give up.

As though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you are partaker of Christ's sufferings. You know, Christ went through huge suffering on the cross.

And we are partakers of that. That when His glory is revealed, when Christ's glory is revealed at His second coming, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

And then, in chapter 5, verse 10, still in 1 Peter. But may the God of all grace, is it God is the God of all goodness and love and kindness, who has called us to His eternal glory. God has called us to His eternal glory.

Wow!

We need to understand this.

To give us real hope. To give us strength.

By Christ Jesus, of course.

After you have suffered a while, interesting, in Greek, the word is you suffered a little.

Not a while, a little.

So, this little between inverted commas suffering, could be in a little bit of time, because compared to eternity is nothing. Or could be in a certain limited degree, because compared to the glory to come is nothing.

After you have suffered a little, perfect you, trials make us perfect. Establish you. Trials make us immovable, firm, well established.

Trials strengthen us, give us strength to bear that trial and to bear difficulties.

And trials settle us. In other words, we are founded, we are settled, we have a good foundation. A firm foundation that we're not going to be shaken around by winds and floods and false doctrine. We're just going to stick.

To Him be the glory and the ruminium for ever and ever. Brethren, and so be it.

Brethren, do not cost away your confidence. In Hebrews 10, verse 35, Hebrews 10, verse 35, Therefore, do not cost away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you've done the will of God, you may receive the promise. And what is that promise of that great reward? And so, brethren, why? Why?

Because God is allowing our faith and our confidence and our trust in Him being tried, but He has a glory, far surpassing this trial, awaiting you and I.

That's why.