WHY DO CHRISTIANS SUFFER? (THE ASAPH STANDPOINT)

 By Blackson Makhumba B, MBS.

Introduction.

I find no most appropriate time to write this book, in an attempt to answering the question, ‘Why does God allow Christian suffer while the seemingly evil people prosper?’ than this. I, being myself, greatly afflicted in all directions, yet having hope and strength in the Lord; am not ashamed to comfort and encourage others. The reason is that I know what it means to suffer. I have been maltreated, hated, sexually abused by both men and women; I have been ridiculed, rejected and scorned. I have lived in poverty (lacking what I did not have) the best part of my life, even as a believer in the Lord, and much more as a pastor. However, the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ has been sufficient in my weakness. It kept me through and through, and even now.

In short I can say that I have lived disillusioned life, wondering about life’s fairness all the past years I have spent here on earth before now.  Many a times I have been tempted to believe that life is indeed not fair; that especially God is not mindful of me. I have learned from Asaph experience in Psalm 73 (on whose standpoint this book is based) and I declare today, “Truly, God is good all the times; especially to me, to my family, and to all the believers of all generations.” I have come to understand that every suffering we go through has a reason; and that the Spirit of God is always there by our side comforting us (John 14:16-18).

In this book, I am attempting to explain revealed reasons to my question, ‘Why does God allow the seemingly righteous people suffer while the wicked prosper?” I aim at encouraging those Christian passing through difficulties like me to hold on to the faith. Do not count your failures and suffering, instead, you must count your blessings one by one regardless of how dark the future may seem, and you will realise the goodness of God. Never pity ourselves but keep your faith in God. Unless a woman feels the pains of labour, she will never give life to the world that has been innocently resided inside her womb (See Mark 10:29-30).

 I am not making presumptions that the reasons for Christian suffering and the responses thereto given in this book are absolute. There are a lot of other resources out there speaking on this subject. I encourage my reader to look up into other sources for more information. But the best resource is Lord God, who holds the final explanation to every question we have.

I pray that the Lord should open our eyes to understand that the suffering you are passing through now is not meant to destroy you, but to build you up. May you patiently endure it by the enabling of the Holy spirit of Christ, and recognize that God is working in us for good (Romans 8:28). Then, if suffering is meant to draw me nearer to God as it was with Job, then suffering is good.