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In a bygone sitcom titled "My Name is Earl," the protagonist, Earl, embarked on a journey to correct past mistakes, guided by the belief in karma. Each episode featured him crossing an item off his list, assuming that his actions dictated the course of his life. This comedic take on the notion that good things happen to good people and bad things to bad people resonates with a question many grapple with: Does our suffering reflect our deeds?

Job argues with his friends over this question. His friends are sure this is true. They assume Job has done something horrible for God to punish him so severely. Job, on the other hand, is sure he’s done nothing wrong. Tensions rise as Job and his friends grapple with their beliefs about suffering.

Understanding Perspectives

Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, firmly subscribes to the idea that suffering befalls the wicked. Job, however, challenges this perspective, calling his friends "miserable comforters." The conversation revolves around whether Job's plight results from hidden sins or if, perhaps, there is a more profound complexity to suffering.

Job's friends, akin to many of us, offer platitudes and seek simplistic explanations for suffering. However, Job's narrative prompts us to reconsider these assumptions and delve deeper into the complexities of human experience.

In the face of his friends' accusations, Job begins to perceive God as angry and pitiless. This distorted view arises from Job's belief that his suffering is a result of divine punishment.

Two Extremes of Bad Theology

A bad Christian theology of suffering will land you in one of two extremes.

The first extreme is suffering is punishment from God.

If all you had was Deuteronomy and Proverbs you would think this is how the world works. The Proverbs sound black and white. If you live out godly wisdom then you’ll have a good life but if you’re a fool then disaster follows you. Deuteronomy is similar. Moses lays out God’s commands to Israel. If Israel obeys God, then God will bless Israel. If Israel disobeys God, then God will curse Israel.

However, the Bible shows us that isn’t true. Sin (disobeying God’s commands and design for us) has placed a curse over all creation. This means the world doesn’t work as God intended.

People get cancer.

Crimes and injustice are carried out.

Countries war with one another.

All of us are under this curse. That means any of us can suffer from any number of things regardless of how we live our lives.

Paul writes in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This means followers of Jesus have truly been forgiven by Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. God doesn’t have a reason to punish Christians anymore so he doesn’t send suffering.

Even in situations where God punished someone it was because they made a deal with God. That’s what happened to Israel in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy is a covenant, or agreement, between Israel and God. God is laying out the terms. If Israel upholds their end God will bless them, but if they break their end God will punish them.

The second extreme is expecting suffering to work out for your best.

This is a misunderstanding of Romans 8:28. Paul writes God works out everything for good. Typically, this is interpreted by our idea of good. We expect God to give us a better job, a better relationship, or a better place to live. That’s not what Paul meant by “good.” Paul goes on to say nothing can separate us from God’s love. Paul’s idea of “good” is God’s glory and us not being separated in our relationship from God or God’s promise of eternal life because of something bad done to us.

When you fall into one of these two extremes you either hide from God out of shame or you push God away from bitterness.

The truth is God is not looking to punish you out of anger. He is not holding out on you leaving you to feel bitter. He is lovingly with you in suffering. He promises to work it all out when Jesus returns.

Suffering is Complicated

The truth, however, is that suffering is complicated. Job's story challenges the simplistic notion that good deeds are always rewarded and bad deeds are punished. In the wisdom genre of the Bible, overarching principles are presented, such as the retribution principle in Job (good people get good things and bad people get bad things). While generally valid, it does not mean God causes every hardship or that every misfortune is a consequence of personal sin.

Despite the complexity of suffering, God remains consistent. He is present in our suffering, using it for His glory and refining our character.

Jesus is Our Redeemer

In Job's yearning for his words to be recorded, he unintentionally points to a redeemer, someone who could fight for others. Little did he know that his words would be prophetic, finding fulfillment in Jesus, our ultimate Redeemer.

Jesus is the one who suffered like you to restore what suffering stole from you. The restoration isn’t always instant, but it is certain.

Conclusion

In the complexity of suffering, God is consistent. Embrace the intricacies, seek God in your doubts, and remember that Jesus, our Redeemer, brings hope even in the face of suffering. As Paul David Tripp aptly put it, "God is the One who produces beautiful things out of what you didn’t invite into your life and don’t really want."

Suffering may be complicated, but in God's consistency, we find hope and redemption.

To learn more, watch the sermon below.

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