The situation and the cry of the sufferer
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:1–2)
The cry of the Psalmist echoes the reality of sufferings caused by natural disasters. Most recently, Hurricane Helene battered western North Carolina causing unimaginable damage and horrendous loss of life. Hurricane Milton followed shortly after in Florida, killing at least 24 people. Since then, Spain has suffered deadly flooding. It is natural for us to cry out with the Psalmist, “Where are you, God?” when we see and hear about all of this destruction.
The pain of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton confronts us with hard questions about God. Why doesn’t God prevent these natural disasters from occurring and causing so much physical damage as well as loss of life? Certainly God has power over nature; after all, He caused the Ten Plagues and His son Jesus calmed the storm (Exodus 7-13, Mark 4:35-41). Also, God loves us, so why should we suffer so much from these natural disasters?
These are the questions that we ask and hear whenever a natural disaster happens. They weigh heavily on our hearts and souls.
Thinking well about God amidst suffering
Perhaps you are the one who is in the midst of suffering caused by natural disasters. Or maybe you are intimately connected to someone who is suffering.
When confronted with the reality of suffering caused by natural disasters, we naturally engage with hard questions about God and His relationship to creation. When our responses carefully speak the truth about who God is, we can receive as well as share His care for the suffering.
I have a professor who gives this warning when counseling a sufferer: “However, unless one has a coherent framework within which to give that help, one might unintentionally end up saying things not true of God or His ways.” The truth of God brings comfort.
If you are one who is suffering, I want to encourage you with the following truths:
- God has neither forsaken nor forgotten you (Hebrews 13:5).
- God is unchanging, which means He is still the same God of love, care, and mercy (Hebrews 13:8).
- God intimately knows about our suffering and has also experienced suffering through the person of Jesus (Hebrews 4:15).
- There is a future hope where God’s promised kingdom will come and where every tear will be wiped and death will be no more (Romans 8:28, Revelation 21:1-4).
- There is comfort in knowing that God is still all-loving and all-good. His love endures forever (Romans 8:38-39).
More generally, we should all think well about God when natural disasters come and cause suffering. Thinking well just means we work to understand and enjoy our Heavenly Father who guides us through the “valley of the shadow of death.” In order to do this, we must keep several things in mind.
First, we must speak truthfully about God and His relationship to the world. This provides a good witness and theology for the God we worship.
Second, we must avoid pinning hope on some “greater good” that will come out of tragedy. Instead of demanding that God bring some visible good or earthly redemption as a result of the suffering, we should be looking towards Christ.
Third, we are to be slow to offer explanations (especially when caring for others) but quick to care. You may have studied The Problem of Evil extensively, but your intellectual stance is not what is needed first, nor is it what any sufferer needs most. Your mere presence speaks far louder when it comes to love and care.
Finally, we should be willing to address the intellectual side of the conversation. This will take patience and care. We may also have to wrestle with hard questions as well as admit that God has left some questions unanswered. All of this is done with the confidence that He has never left us.
We cannot ignore the reality of suffering in our world. The consequences of the Fall have caused creation to groan with pain (Romans 8:21–22), and we are confronted with this reality. But, as Christians, we can offer the hope that our God knows our suffering and intimately cares for us. Furthermore, we are a community that cares for one another. Like Romans 12:15 says, we “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
