Where is GOD in all My Suffering?
“O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?”
Psalms 13:1-2 NLT
“Save me, O GOD, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me. I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my GOD to help me.”
Psalms 69:1-3 NLT
If you have suffered for a long period of time you may have had similar thoughts as David had in these Psalms.
Quite often, we suffer as a result of our own mistakes. Sometimes, we suffer because of someone else’s selfish desires. Sometimes, we suffer simply because we live in a broken and messed up world. Regardless of why we suffer, there is something in our control-and that is how we respond or react to the situation presented to us.
I want to take a brief look at the life of Joseph who suffered for a long time, how he handled it, and what came out of his suffering. Not only that, but at one point or another we all can relate to Joseph’s story and suffering. Though my suffering, nor the outcome doesn’t remotely come close to Joseph’s, it was still huge moments for me in my life.
Betrayed By His Brothers
Joseph had 10 older brothers who were not only very jealous of him but hated him because their father outwardly expressed that Joseph was his favorite son (Genesis 37:1-4).
Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
Genesis 37:28 NKJV
Not only did his brothers sell him into slavery, but they went back and told their father that Joseph died from an animal attack. Many times, the suffering we experience can come from those closest to us.
I have never been thrown in a pit or been sold into slavery, but I have been lied to, cheated on (twice), used for money, mocked, and slandered, by those closest to me at the time and those who I thought I could trust.
So how do you react when someone you trust hurts you?
The Scriptures do not reveal any reactions by Joseph from this betrayal other than what is stated by his brothers in Genesis 42:21
“…We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.”
Genesis 42:21b NLT
Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, etc; the Bible is not shy in revealing mistakes made by those recorded in GOD’s Word, so we are left to believe that Joseph’s reaction to his brothers by this betrayal, was not sinful in any way. No griping, cussing, hurling insults, just him pleading for his life. How many of us can say the same when faced with negative circumstances?
I, on the other hand, reacted to my hurts in very non-righteous ways. I yelled, I cussed, I belittled the ones who hurt me, I bad-mouthed them to others, and spewed creative insults at them. In fact, I became very talented in the art form of insulting, that I was told, at one point, I should do it in a standup comedy routine.
As entertaining as my outbursts were at the time, I was totally wrong in how I handled myself. The Bible says we should expect pain and suffering (John 16:33), but it doesn’t say we should act like a raging fool when we have been hurt by someone.
“Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.”
Romans 12:17 NLT
I was definitely not honorable to GOD with my reactions.
Punished For doing the right thing
Joseph was eventually bought by Potiphar and was given the responsibility to take care of everything around the house. Potiphar’s wife, however tried seducing Joseph many times, but Joseph refused her. He not only didn’t want to disrespect his master; he didn’t want to sin against GOD (Genesis 39:1-18).
“Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. So he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained.”
Genesis 39:19-20 NLT
So Potiphar’s wife made up a story on how Joseph tried to rape her. Despite Joseph’s innocence, Potiphar threw him in jail.
Have you ever chosen to do the right thing only to still suffer consequences because of it?
Back in my retail years, I was a manager over a large department. One day, I was directed to go help a different department. When I asked if this was going to be on top of my own department responsibilities, I was told not to worry and that others would complete those tasks before the District Manager’s visit the next day.
After completing everything I was asked to do on the other side of the store, I was recognized and appreciated for it, but was unaware of the impending conflict to come.
When the District Manager toured my department, the next day, she discovered that the tasks I was originally responsible for was not completed. The worst part of it was, instead of my Supervisor explaining what had happened, and what I was told to do the day before, she didn’t say anything and I was ultimately held accountable. It also didn’t help that the District Manager and my Supervisor were friends outside of work.
So I became defensive and argumentative, I used some not-so-nice words, slammed down some equipment that I was holding, and stormed off and left for the day.
“For GOD called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as CHRIST suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left His case in the hands of GOD, who always judges fairly.”
1 Peter 2:21-23 NLT
I was definitely not Christ-like. I handled the situation with impatience and pride instead of calmly going up the chain of command to explain my case. My anger about being wronged may have been justified, but I was wrong about how I tried to correct it.
Forgotten in Prison
As Joseph was in jail for years for something he did not do, he still found favor with the people around him. He interpreted dreams from the baker and the cup-bearer for Pharaoh who were also fellow prisoners. For the baker, the dream wasn’t good, it described him being executed. For the cup-bearer it was a positive dream, that he would be restored to his position (Genesis Chapter 40).
“Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.”
Genesis 40:13-15 NLT
Everything Joseph interpreted came true, and the cup-bearer was reinstated. However, Joseph remained in jail.
“Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.”
Genesis 40:23 NLT
How do you handle waiting a long time for GOD to move in your life? At times, does it feel like GOD has forgotten about you?
From the time Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers until he was called out of prison to see Pharaoh, about 13 years had passed.
For me, my wait was only 7 years but felt like an eternity. After becoming single in 2002, I figured I’d meet someone again within a few weeks, but the weeks turned into months, and the months turned into years. No matter what I do, nothing would work. I became depressed, bitter, and angry, even to the point that I would get frustrated seeing couples hold hands or kiss. During this period of my life, my brother and my 3 best friends got married and although I was happy for them, I remember countless times asking GOD when will my singleness end.
I even joined eharmony.com hoping to find the “girl” for me. I answered their profile questions for the best match. I didn’t care about race, geography, or what their hobbies were. My only requirement was that they were a Christian. My chances were good I felt, it’s a site used by 10 million people, and part of their sales pitch is “Every 14 Minutes Someone Finds Love On eharmony. Over 2 Million Have Found Love.”
Long story short, after going through the process, I received an email saying that they could not find a match for me yet, but they will keep searching. I mean, really? After I put my search for worldwide, no match?
Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
Every so often I would get an email from them saying that they were still searching for my match.
So Did god have a plan with of all of This?
There’s one key part of Joseph’s suffering that applies to us as well when we are suffering; GOD is right there with us.
When Joseph was sold to Potiphar:
“The LORD was with Joseph…”
Genesis 39:2 NLT
And when Joseph was wrongly put in prison:
“But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison…”
Genesis 39:21 NLT
No matter how lonely you feel in whatever struggles you are facing, GOD is right there with you.
The cup-bearer eventually remembered Joseph 2 years later, and Joseph was brought to Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. This resulted in Joseph being put in charge of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. This eventually led to him reuniting and forgiving his brothers, and saving the nation of Israel.
“But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was GOD who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.”
Genesis 45:5 NLT
Joseph realized the bigger picture GOD had for him despite all that all he went through. It is a great example of this verse from Romans:
"And we know that GOD causes everything to work together for the good of those who love GOD and are called according to His purpose for them."
Romans 8:28 NLT
In the 3 examples of my struggles, I learned this:
Though the betrayals did hurt, GOD needed to remove people from my life because they did not fit in the plans He had for me.
Though I struggled at work for a season, GOD needed to purge pride out of my heart, so I could eventually get promoted and move on to greater successes in my career. read more on pride here
Though I struggled with loneliness for a very long time, I needed to trust and wait on GOD. He had already picked out who He wanted me to be with, she just wasn’t in the U.S. at the time. We eventually met in 2009 and married in 2011.
Through all of our sufferings, GOD has a plan, but when we are in the middle of that “plan” a lot of times we only focus on the pain. We must remember this:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
Another thing we need to remember is when GOD answers our prayers, He may not answer them quite the way we think He should or when He should.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV
If you feel alone, betrayed, and without hope, you are in good company. Don’t give up. Know that GOD has a plan for you. He is still at work and sees the big picture. In the meantime, remain steadfast and know that in this season of your life, GOD is developing your character and your suffering will not last forever.
Put your trust in Him!
Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NLT
Thank you for visiting and please leave any comments, questions, prayer requests, or ideas for new topics you’d like for me to discuss in the comment box below. If you want any personal, one-on-one communication please email me at papashaunscorner@yahoo.com.
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