Q & A WITH A READER ON CHRISTIAN SUFFERING

Q & A WITH A READER ON CHRISTIAN SUFFERING 

Thank you,  Daktari. 

I have sat somewhere and carefully read the article. It is of interest to me, having gone through so many seasons of pain in my Christian life.

It is especially painful when God is silent. No matter the many times I pray.

I have a few clarifications to seek:

Q1. If Job’s suffering was permitted by God but Job was never told the heavenly reason for his suffering, does the book of Job teach us to explain suffering, or does it teach us to trust God when His purposes remain hidden?

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RESPONSE 

Yes. We may never fully comprehend why God takes us through difficult circumstances in life. However, we are persuaded by the teaching of Scripture that God's divine purposes are fulfilled even under those painful circumstances. James 1:2-4 read together with Psalm 34:17-19 and other relevant passages of Scripture supply a theological hint. They encourage us to be patient with God whenever we suffer afflictions because God uses them to fortify our faith. Notice Job's concluding statement in Job 42:1-6. He finally admitted that he spoke from ignorance and repented in humility and submission to God (vv.5-6). He confessed "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,

But now my eye sees You.

6 Therefore I abhor myself,

And repent in dust and ashes."

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Q2. In the article, you write that Job “rightly recognized and accepted that his suffering was within God's permissive will,” yet Job spends much of the book questioning, lamenting and demanding an explanation from God. Does biblical faith require us to understand and accept the reason for our suffering, or does Job show that faithful lament and questioning can coexist with genuine faith?

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RESPONSE 

Yes, he lamented about his suffering but when God finally spoke, God's revelation came to him with compelling clarity. Job humbled himself before God and accepted that his suffering served God's purposes. This is perhaps the most critical lesson that we can draw from the text. I have slightly revised that section of the article for clarity. Kindly revisit it. 

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Q3. Does Satan still appear before God as he used to then?

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RESPONSE 

This is a difficult theological question. Some Bible scholars consider the vision conveyed in Revelation 12:7-12 as evidence that Satan can still access the presence of God. They consider the vision as futuristic and argue that Satan can still access heaven but only on God's permission. 

Other scholars argue that Satan has no access to heaven following his rebellion and expulsion (cf. Isaiah 14:12-21). They consider Satan as a persona non grata in the third heaven. 

My view is that whether Satan can access heaven or not is immaterial to our Christian faith. He cannot hinder our access to our heavenly Father. Christ's defeat of Satan at the cross of Calvary settled our future with God. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. 

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Dr E Kimosop 

23/9/2026