Overcoming Suffering: Our Fallen Nature & Mortal Bodies

Suffering in our world brings so much grief. Suffering also frustrates the minds of people who are skeptics of the Christian faith. Why is there suffering? How could God still be good in the midst of such suffering?

These are valid questions and I have much empathy for those who ask these questions. But there are answers.

In addition to living in a fallen world, another reason why we suffer is because we live in fallen human bodies.

God told Adam and Eve that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would surely die (Genesis 2:17).

As the story unfolds, tempted by God’s archenemy, Satan, Adam and Eve end up eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In that moment, death, sin and suffering came on the scene. From the moment these three things entered the world, God’s enemy relentlessly attempts to kill, steal, and destroy.

Please know, dear friend, God never intended death to be a part of our lives. The enemy of our souls is the author of all evil. But humanity bought the lie of temptation. We introduced this chaos through our own rebellion.

Every time our bodies groan, hurt, or experience pain, they are longing for the day of redemption, waiting “eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23).

Because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we will one day have perfect resurrection bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 says that “we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” Death has no sting and has been swallowed by victory.

Pain and suffering in our mortal bodies is temporary for those who follow Jesus. The message of Jesus is the only religion in the world where the Divine enters into the squalor of this world on a rescue mission to make the way for the family of God to be restored.

In other words, God wins!!!

One day, Jesus will defeat sin, death and suffering once and for all! Glory to God!