The Christian view of suffering

There are six truths that together present a balanced Christian view of suffering.

1. The Bible is realistic in its approach to suffering

The Bible gives a good deal of attention to the reality of suffering. It does not regard it as an illusion as some religions and sects do, nor deal with it superficially. One of the larger books of the Bible, the book of Job, is given solely to this question. The books of Jeremiah and Habakkuk have much to say about it. About one third of the Psalms, the prayers of the Old Testament, are cries that arise out of doubt, disappointment, or pain.

The New Testament also has some very significant passages about suffering. When we come to the New Testament, however, there are no longer any of the questions we find in the Old Testament such as "Does God care? Has he forgotten to be merciful?" There is joy, confidence and hope here that even the greatest suffering cannot overwhelm. Something has made a dramatic difference. In the New Testament, God has a face. He has made himself known in the person of Jesus Christ. We will explore the implications of this further on.