“Every human being, at some time, must experience suffering, sickness, and finally death.”
“The Bible teaches that in the life of an unbeliever the causes and results of suffering are quite different from those in the life of the believer, although they may not appear different. If a lion, for example, could think, and in his lion mind could see two men suffering from blindness, he might conclude that the causes and results were the same. But an angel, seeing the suffering of these two men, would comprehend the spiritual factors; he would understand that in one case the Devil was doing as he pleased with a member of his kingdom; in the other, an all-wise Heavenly Father was permitting one of His children to suffer, for a purpose. The Bible tells us what should be our attitude toward the world of unbelievers: “In meekness instructing those who oppose themselves; God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:25,26).”
“We know from Job’s experience that Satan cannot lift a finger against a child of God, without the direct and definite permission of God, and can do no more than God permits.”
“When suffering overtakes the regenerate man, he may immediately perceive some divine purpose. This prevents him from becoming a fatalist. The follower of Islam may shrug his shoulders and say that kismet, fate has overtaken him; and in that belief he will settle down in the darkness of credulity. But when it comes upon a Christian, he can look up with confidence into the face of his Heavenly Father who has never made a mistake and who does all things well, and expect the event to work out for his good, no matter how terrible the grief or anguish of the moment. Thus the Christian can say, “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Such a truth brings a calm in the midst of suffering which far surpasses the grim resignation of the stoic. Thus God Himself said to His chosen people in the midst of their suffering, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a planned future and hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). God has a planned future for us.”
“God has arranged the varied sufferings of man so that no outsider can know His purposes, but the suffering soul can know. The sufferings that come to a believer may be classified as corrective, constructive and exemplary, but we can glory in our tribulations, no matter what their purpose be.”
“Did not our Father plan it all? Is He not working out a determined purpose? Then shall we not receive whatever He measures out to us, knowing that it will have its effect upon us, even in eternity?”
Barnhouse, Donald Grey. God's River Romans 5:1-11 Expositions of Bible Doctrines Epistles to the Romans.Philadelphia: The Evangelical Foundation, inc., 1959. 77-78
