The purpose of this lesson: To assure those in Christ that (a) the existence of suffering is not evidence that God has deserted us and (b) assurance that God cannot misunderstand us in times of agony.
Few things are as depressing as not being understood. One can even question personal sanity if enough people around the person do not understand him (or her). In contrast, few things are as exhilarating as being able to communicate your deep thoughts in an understood manner. To reveal your deep thoughts (even to someone who disagrees) in a way that is understood powerfully impacts you on your deepest levels.
The importance of being understood cannot be exaggerated.
Few things as quickly destroy personal faith in God as does the conviction that God does not understand what the person is enduring. Consequently, human suffering has enormous potential for destroying personal faith in God. Few experiences cause human beings to feel misunderstood by God as do physical sufferings (whether mental or bodily).
Being misunderstood attacks faith. Few have the ability to trust God if they are convinced God does not understand them. Also, few have the ability to trust Christians if Christians do not understand them (not agree with them). None of us like being misunderstood or having some declare we mean something other than we say.
This is especially true when a person oversimplifies the experience of suffering. For example, if a person concludes the experience of suffering can be explained in the following way, the person's faith in God is at risk. (1) God is all powerful, and by His power He could prevent my suffering if He wished. (2) A significant reason for me being a Christian is to acquire protection against suffering. (3) My suffering is evidence that (a) God does not hear my prayers or (b) God is not there. (4) The fact that I suffer is irrefutable evidence that God either (a) does not exist, or (b) has very little power.
Few things rival the power of suffering to generate misunderstanding. Christians urgently need to grasp the fact that God understands when suffering threatens us or attacks our physical existence.
Physical suffering is not that easily explained. That approach does not consider God and Satan's clash in this world, and the consequences to people because of that clash (consider Ephesians 6:12). It does not consider the role of suffering in a faith existence. It does not consider the role of human suffering in God's purposes. It does not consider the role of suffering in surrender to God. It does not consider the willingness of the person in Christ to support God's work through suffering. It does not consider some of God's work exceeds human understanding—the fact that something "does not make sense" now does not mean it will never "make sense." Never forget God produced our Savior through suffering!
Christians need to guard against the over-simplification of suffering and the meaning of suffering. If a person becomes a Christian in the conviction that being in Christ guards against suffering, that person easily will be disillusioned in his (or her) faith. The issue is not as simple as God has power, so He can protect against suffering if He wishes. The sufferings of Jesus, the apostles, and the first century martyrs declare there is more involved in the reality of physical suffering than mere power. Understanding the relationship between God's purposes, the existence of sin in physical life, and a faith commitment is complex. Freedom from physical suffering is not God's promise for those in Christ who live a physical existence. There is a vast difference between the strength to endure suffering and the absence of suffering.
In Romans 8:12-39, Paul's argument is NOT that suffering does not exist for those in Christ. It did! Paul knew that often being in Christ can intensify physical suffering (see 2 Corinthians 11:24-33). His appeal was NOT to come to Christ so your physical suffering will end and be prevented in the future. He said (a) suffering will occur for the Christian. (b) Christ suffered, and his people suffer with him. (c) The reality of physical suffering is not comparable to the reality of what God intends eternally for those who live by faith in Christ. (d) Physical suffering produces groans, but suffering is temporary. (e) God understands accurately what those in Christ endure. (f) Even though suffering makes us humans weak, God justifies us. (g) No external force (including suffering) can separate us from God's love. (h) Because of Christ, those in Christ conquer (the experience of suffering strengthens those in Christ rather than separates from God's love).
It is essential that those in Christ understand what is and is not said about physical suffering in this physical world.
One of the benefits God provides those in Christ who suffer is the intercession of the Spirit. Paul said the Spirit can interpret our feelings (groans) when we are incapable of putting into words what we feel. If one in Christ cannot put his intense experience into words, the person cannot form a specific prayer. (I cannot express my feelings in prayer if I cannot find words to express what I am experiencing). Though this inability is a human weakness, God has provided for this weakness. The Spirit can interpret what we feel in ways that God understands, and intercedes for us.
Stress the fact that God cannot misunderstand our feelings in our agony. Paul stated this as an assuring understanding. God knows what we are enduring, and why we react as we do. We are not "on our own" as we endure suffering!
What does that mean? It means there is nothing the human heart feels that God does not understand! The human weakness of those in Christ is no barrier to God's understanding! It means what we feel in our hearts that we cannot put into words is known to God through the work of God's Spirit! It means that, even though we are weak, God understands, justifies, and loves. For those in Christ, weakness produced by suffering does NOT put us beyond God's understanding, justification, and love.
God knows precisely with exactness what we feel as we suffer though we cannot put our feelings into words. What we in our suffering cannot express—only feel—God understands accurately. In our suffering we cannot be misunderstood by God!
Salvation is not just for those who people consider good! It is for any who place faith in Christ—even those whose sufferings reveal their weaknesses. This is true for at least two reasons: (a) our salvation rests on God's character filled with mercy and grace; (b) God made certain He could not misunderstand us even in our weakness and limitation.
Human weakness is no barrier to God's understanding. Paul said this as a good thing not as a bad thing. Human weakness in the experience of suffering is not a barrier to the understanding of the God of mercy and grace. Salvation is not just for the "good" people who are "strong."
Physical suffering may reveal our weaknesses, but it does not separate us from the God who justifies and loves. Why? God provided for us. How? He provided us His Spirit to interpret our feelings and to intercede for us. When suffering occurs, there is no need for depression—God understands our struggle and provides strength to endure.
The God of mercy and grace can be salvation compassionate to the weak in Christ through expressing justification and love. The justification and love exist for those in Christ whose sufferings underline their weaknesses.
FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION
1. Few things are as depressing as what? Few things are as exhilarating as what?
Few things are as depressing as being misunderstood. Few things are as exhilarating as being understood in your deepest thoughts/conclusions.
2. Few things destroy personal faith in God as quickly as what? Human suffering has an enormous potential to do what?
Few things destroy personal faith in God as quickly as the conviction that God does not understand what we are enduring. Human suffering has enormous potential to destroy personal faith in God.
3. Name a combination of 4 suggestions often used to oversimplify the experience of suffering.
a. God is all powerful, and He could prevent my suffering if He wished.
b. A significant reason for being a Christian is to acquire protection against suffering.
c. My suffering is evidence that either God does not hear my prayers, or God is not there.
d. The fact that I suffer is irrefutable evidence that either God does not exist, or God has very little power.
4. Over-simplifications of suffering often fail to consider what 6 things?
a. God and Satan's clash in this physical world.
b. The role of suffering in a faith existence.
c. The role of human suffering in God's purposes.
d. The role of suffering in surrender to God.
e. The willingness of the person in Christ to support God's work through suffering.
f. Some of God's work exceeds human understanding.
5. What should never be forgotten?
It should never be forgotten that God produced our Savior through suffering.
6. What is NOT Paul's argument in Romans 8:12-39?
Paul's argument is NOT that suffering does not exist for those in Christ.
7. Paul said what 8 things about Christian suffering in Romans 8:12-39?
a. Suffering occurs for those in Christ.
b. Christ suffered, and his people suffer with him.
c. The realty of physical suffering does not compare to the eternal reality of what God intends for those who place their faith in Christ.
d. Physical suffering produces groans, but physical suffering is temporary.
e. God understands accurately what those in Christ endure.
f. Even though human suffering makes us humans weak, God justifies us.
g. No external force can separate us from God's love.
h. Because of Christ, those in Christ conquer.
8. The benefit God provides those in Christ who suffer is what?
One of the benefits is the intercession of the Spirit.
9. Paul said God's Spirit can do what?
Paul said God's Spirit could interpret our feelings when we are incapable of putting those feelings into words.
10. The inability to express in words what we feel is a human weakness. God has done what for this weakness?
God has provided for this weakness.
11. State 2 things that God's Spirit interceding for us means.
a. It means there is nothing the human heart feels that God cannot understand.
b. It means even in our weakness God understands, justifies, and loves.
12. Salvation is not just for whom? Who else is it for?
Salvation is not just for those who people consider good. It is for any who place faith (confidence, trust that determines how the person lives life) in Christ.
13. This is true for what 2 reasons?
a. Our salvation rests on God's character that is filled with mercy and grace.
b. God made certain He could not misunderstand us even in our weaknesses and limitations.
14. Physical suffering may reveal our weaknesses, but it cannot do what?
It cannot separate us from the God who justifies and loves.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 7