Look upon my suffering and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instructions. [Psalm 119.153]
As much as some would like to say that suffering is something random that God decides to dole out to His people for reasons only known to Him, the Bible, in its full context, simply does not support that idea.
What the Bible does repeatedly support is that suffering is the result of disobedience. And yet, when a "godly" person suffers, we don't dare think sin could be the cause. Instead, we develop clever theology and doctrine that makes God out to be the unpredictable giver of suffering for reasons known only to Himself. We are more comfortable twisting the covenant message of obedience and blessing than we are admitting the problem lies with us and not God.
The entire justification for being delivered from suffering by the Psalmist above is that he had not forgotten God's instructions. If the suffering had been some random act of God, then the Psalmist would never even have suggested his own obedience as a reason for it to end!
Furthermore, suffering is something not found in heaven. Never, should we be found guilty of praying for suffering for another as we are only to pray for the will of God in their lives "as it is in heaven." Yes, we should pray for obedience that brings blessing - "blessing" being one of those things that "belongs to God" and is therefore found in heaven.
Pride will however prevent many from accepting the truth of God's Holy Word. Pride will keep its embracers imprisoned in ignorant suffering with no possible hope of rescue because the remedy is categorically rejected.
Father, help me to constantly understand that suffering is Your way of bringing us back into obedience - regardless how good we think we are...
