Where Is God When People Suffer?

Many people question the God of the Bible when they see or experience suffering. How could God allow injustice? Does he not care? Can he not stop it?

Those questions can be answered in different ways, but I have seen them answered well in the lifestyle of my wife. Just in the last few days, Janet has taken food from the food drive at my workplace to the Contact Church's food bank. Those who would go hungry have a little more to eat because of her efforts. She has taken children's clothes and toys to another congregation that is planning a medical mission trip to Mexico in a few days. Poor children in Mexico will have a few more articles of clothing and a few toys to enjoy because of her efforts. She has made phone calls, sent e-mails, and had lunch with a friend whose husband recently left her. Now another woman who has been mistreated knows that she will not face the difficult days ahead alone.

Where is God when people are in the midst of suffering, pain, and injustice? He may be working in many ways, but one way is through the compassion of his people. He is the God who "defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing" (Deuteronomy 10:18). He works through believers who "look after orphans and widows in their distress and...keep (themselves) from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).

When Christians embrace a lifestyle of concern for others, it's much more difficult to object to the Christian faith. People can see the compassion and mercy of God in the lives of believers who care and act. They will know where God is: in the hearts of compassionate Christians who are trying to make a positive difference in this world.

Medical Missionaries in the Christian Chronicle

"The rich and poor have a common bond,
the LORD is the maker of them all" (Proverbs 22:2, NASB).

I read an interesting article in the June 2007 edition of the Christian Chronicle. Living a Medical Mission by Erik Tryggestad tells the story of Kemmel and Lisa Dunham, a couple of health professionals who left their jobs in the United States in order to work as medical missionaries for the Churches of Christ in Guatemala. The article may be read online at http://www.christianchronicle.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=714.

I found one quote very interesting. Dr. Lisa Dunham said, "We see many of the same illnesses here...people worry about the same things here as they do in the States...interpersonal problems that go unresolved and spiritual needs that haven't been addressed."

I have noticed the similarities of the problems that people face also, whether we are rich or poor. On my job, I serve some of the wealthiest families in Oklahoma. In the Contact Church, I serve Christ with some of the poorest people in Oklahoma. Whether rich or poor, I have seen people struggle through many of the same problems. I have seen wealthy and poor families fall apart. I have seen wealthy and poor people battle cancer. We are not as different as we sometimes would like to believe. All of us struggle with problems that are bigger than we are. Everyone of us needs the Lord.

On another subject in the same article, Mr. Tryggestad wrote, "They (the Dunhams) recently finished reading through the entire Bible--for the first time." I like that. They did not wait until they had all the answers or had read the entire Bible before they started serving as missionaries. However, they disciplined themselves to undertake something that took months in order to complete, because they wanted to know God better (and there is no better way than by listening to his complete message). I would love for everyone to follow their example. It's a great way to get to know God better and to honor him.