Often it’s hard to understand why we seem destined to suffer while others prosper. Why others are healed while we are forced to carry our pain daily. Seeing peace in another’s family which causes us to wonder why our family seems to be in constant turmoil. Thoughts like these can easily cause us to question God and even our faith. Sadly leading some away from the Lord altogether. What’s interesting though is the Bible actually shows how God will deal with people in various ways. Allowing different levels of suffering in the body.
Scripture shows that God will give each person as He sees fit. Some people will receive what we perceive as good while others will receive what we see as bad. This doesn’t mean that God loves one more than the other. On the contrary out of love God always does what is best for the believer. Even if we can’t always see it.
An example of this is the Church’s in Smyrna and Philadelphia. Both of which did not receive a rebuke from the Lord in their letters but instead were commended for keeping the faith. They had done admirably giving all that they had faced and God recognized them for this achievement.
Revelation 2:8–9 (ESV)
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Revelation 3:7–9 (ESV)
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.
By all accounts, it would seem they should receive equal treatment but scriptures tell that was not what was in store. Instead, we see different levels of suffering displayed in their lives. Smyrna is told they will suffer great persecution even unto death. While the church in Philadelphia is told they will be kept from the hour of trial. It’s also worth mentioning that both churches would have read the other church’s letter and seen for themselves the different treatment they each received.
Revelation 2:10 (ESV)
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 3:10–11 (ESV)
10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
The different treatment each person will receive can also be seen in the lives of those healed by Jesus. If you pay attention while reading the accounts of those who Jesus healed you will notice He rarely did the same thing twice. Some were healed through touch, a word, or even by making mud and spreading it over the eyes. Various ways to handle even the same aliments. It is also important to remember that for every person Jesus healed there were countless other people leaving in His time who were never healed.
Mark 8:23–25 (ESV)
23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
Mark 10:51–52 (ESV)
51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
John 9:6–7 (ESV)
6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
Peter and John both faithfully followed Jesus from the onset of His ministry. Doing all they were asked to do and even living behind their lives to walk with Him. It would only seem logical that they would face the same level of suffering and have a similar expense in this life. But after Jesus laid out the death in which Peter would die Peter asked what would happen to John. A question which Jesus answered by saying if He willed John could live forever and that Peter only needed to focus on following Him.
John 21:18–22 (ESV)
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
If we were to ask Jesus why someone else gets to live one way while we are forced to live another we would receive the same answer. We don’t need to constantly be looking to others and wondering why they have it better or even worse than us. Instead, we just need to keep following the Lord trusting in His plan. Because His ways are mightier than our ways and His thoughts are greater than our thoughts. We won’t ever be able to understand why things are the way they are but we do know that God does. He has a reason and purpose behind all He allows taking place in our world.
Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Every Christian will not receive the exact same treatment in this life. Our lives will all look different. That doesn’t mean we have sinned more, others are better than us, or that God loves others more than us. Each of us has different needs and purposes which will cause our lives to look different. God is going to put us where He wants to be to accomplish the best for all people.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
An important thing to remember is that while you may have to suffer for some time it will never outweigh the glory waiting in Heaven. The only shared rewarded promised to every believer. Better days lie ahead for all those who place their faith in Christ. All the bad things you face in this life will soon be gone forever as you live behind this world to enter eternal peace.
Romans 8:18 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Suffering is a real part of our lives and something God allows to take place. It will affect each of us in various ways. One may suffer greatly while another only faces little in this life. From our view, this doesn’t make sense but we can trust that God has a purpose in it. We don’t need to try and compare our lives to others wishing our life was more like theirs because we are right where we are meant to be.
God has placed you where you are for a reason and in time may turn everything around. But for now, choose to embrace it and serve God to the best of your ability right where you are. Trusting in the fact that the Lord loves you and only wants the best for you. Where you are will lead you to the better place promised in scripture and allow you to have your greatest impact in this world.
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