Wrestling with Suffering: Suffering, Sin, and the Smile of God

Text: Job 9:33 ESV

Suffering, like none other, can make us question, doubt, and distrust the very character of God. We often wonder whether God is punishing or somehow paying us back for something we have done or not done.  We fear he might be angry and that his smile has been replaced by a scowl. The Bible tells us that God is pleased with us in Jesus Christ, but can we really believe this when things appear so dark and dim?  Do Christians really live under God’s smile, though suffering seems to say otherwise?  

In the book of Job we see a servant of God enduring a great season of suffering. Job, who undergoes acute and intense suffering at the hands of Satan, finds himself in a swirl of true and untrue statements and sentiments about God. His battle to believe the goodness and grandness of His God spans over forty chapters of dialogue with his friends and even God Himself. He ends up repenting for his prideful arguing and questioning statements when God confronts him. He says,

“I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” (Job 42:3 ESV)

An Arbiter

But towards the beginning of Job’s exchanges with his friends over the causes of his suffering, Job utters,

“There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.” (Job 9:33 ESV)

Job, in this statement, alludes to and is aware of the need for an arbiter between him and his God.  

First, at the very beginning of the book, we see Job’s awareness of the need for a mediator between him and his God. The book begins by the author telling us that Job is acutely aware of sin and the need to atone for it. Look at the ongoing rhythm of Job’s life as detailed in Job 1:4–5:

“His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.” (Job 1:4–5 ESV)

Job would continually arise and mediate between God and his family, fearing that they had sinned and that there would be no sin sacrifice to atone for his family’s sin. Job did this continually, and this shows us how intensely aware he was of the need for mediation between God and his family.  

But, in Job’s own suffering season, we see Job alluding to and even appealing for such an arbiter who might be the go between on his behalf between him and God. He appeals and even says,

“There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.” (Job 9:33 ESV) 

Here we see a clear reference to the coming mediation and arbitration that God has for all of his children who trust in His Son. In Job’s acting like a mediator in chapter one, and his appeal for a mediator eight chapters later, we acknowledge

“there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5 ESV)

Your sin or God’s Son

There are only two ways that God can relate to his creation: either on the basis of their sin or on the basis of His Son. If we are trusting in our own good deeds and works for God’s approval and acceptance, then God can only relate to us based off of what we have done or earned. On this basis we can never assume God is smiling at us because our sin is all we have to show for ourselves. But if we are trusting in what God’s Son has done and earned for us in his life and death on the cross, then we can never assume God is ever frowning at us. If God is relating to us on the basis of His Son, then full approval and favor fills his face towards us at all times.  

As thoughtful Christians, we must become aware and rest assured that if anyone wants his smile, we can have it now, and once we have it, we can never lose it.  

Definition of a Christian

For the purposes of this sermon I will define a Christian this way: Christians are suffering sinners who live under the perpetual smile of God because of His Son. The smile of God cannot be denied for the saints of God who trust in His Son.  

Just because the dark clouds of suffering, oppression, and discouragement seeks to blind us from the sunny smile of God, they do not prove the sun does not exist.  Think of it like a plane ride on a foggy and storm-filled morning. I have been out on the tarmac countless times when the fog and cloudiness is thick, and I assume the sun is not out, only to be surprised when we break through the clouds and see the sun shining brightly. Of course it’s out! It’s always been out! And it’s the same way with the smile of God! It is the fight of the Christian life to get above the dark clouds of gloom and bask in the warmth of your God’s love for you. 

Suffering

Though God will eradicate and eliminate suffering one day, the book of Job is not about eliminating suffering but rather, it is about trusting God to endure suffering with faith and hope. We will not suffer one day in heaven, but we do suffer today. Everything from the common cold to the pains of child-birth, we suffer. 

We suffer from 

• Living in this fallen world in general (nose bleeds, sickness, death, body image, depression 

• The result of sin (guilty consciences, divorce because of marital unfaithfulness, loss of friendships due to selfishness)

• Persecution of our faith (rejection, snubbed, imprisonment, death)

• Spiritual warfare (oppression, attacks, and possession)

Though there are many types of suffering, we can observe Job’s suffering at the hands of Satan (ie. Spiritual warfare) and draw some conclusions that apply towards all types of suffering. Knowing who we suffer under is incredibly crucial to us suffering well.  Is it the smile of God or the scowl of God?

Job’s Suffering

Let’s recall the dialogue between God and Satan that starts Job’s whole suffering ordeal. The dialogues in chapter 1 and 2 mimic one another very closely (Job 1:6-12 and Job 2:1-6). God asks Satan where he has come from. Satan then says he has been walking up and down upon the earth. God offers his beloved servant Job, whom he loves and who is blameless, upright, fears God, and shuns evil. Satan asks God for permission to have him and promises that this servant will soon curse and betray him. In both instances God ends by granting permission but placing very clear boundaries on the extent of Job’s suffering.  

Though the suffering is acute and intense (loss of all of Job’s family, his possessions, and the loss of all comfort by being stricken with boils from head to toe), we can make at least three conclusions that reinforce God’s smile over Job in suffering.  

First Conclusion

Job did not suffer because God was angry with Him. In fact, quite the opposite is true. God adored, loved, and was filled with pride over Job. He honored Job as he offered him to Satan and praised him as blameless, upright, God-fearing, and a man who shuns evil. There is absolutely no indication from the text that Job suffered under anything than the strong and sustained smile of his God. And neither do you!  

God was not looking to abandon and forsake his trusted servant Job by handing him over to suffering. Rather, he was looking to strengthen, sustain, and support him.  Though the book of Job begins with Satan, by the book’s end he is nowhere to be found. Why? Because this book and Job’s suffering doesn’t have anything to do with Satan. It has everything to do with God, who is faithful and favorable in backing and being in the corner of his beloved. Job did not lose, and neither will you, in suffering. Job was not lost, and neither will you be lost in suffering. Suffering will not have the last word in your life just as it did not have the last word in Job’s life.  God started Job’s suffering, he sustained him in it, and he will see that it is brought to beautiful completion in the life of his saints.  

We are reminded of Jesus’ words in John 10:28-29 that no one (not even Satan himself) will be able to snatch God’s saintly sheep out of his hands nor change God’s changeless and eternal smile he has for his children. When God submits his sheep to suffering he does not do it out of anger but out of deep affection and adoration. Does God discipline those whom He hates? No, those whom He loves! God is preparing us for a marriage and home with him and this involves a perfecting process in our lives.  His process is to perfect, not too punish. Consider how he perfected his own Son in Hebrews 2:10,

“For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

Jesus’ perfect obedience and absolute perfect morality came via suffering. He was perfected through it. Let us not despise or be surprised if he treats us the same way. Jesus never suffered because of lack of love, and neither do we.  

Second Conclusion

Job did not suffer because he was being punished for sin. Again, quite the opposite is true. Job was not perfect as Jesus was, but he was generally God-fearing and upright. He was not subjected to suffering because he was sinning. And neither are we. In a process called sanctification, God takes sinful brokenness in our lives and brings about glorious beauty. God is in the process of buffing the image of God into his statues made in his image. He is rubbing off the dross that hides the shine of His Son so that his reflection is made clear once again. We are not being subjected to hardship because we are bad but because we are beloved.  

Jesus did not suffer because of his sin either; he suffered because of ours. That is precisely why God does not relate to his church based upon our sin, but only through His Son. When Jesus suffered for our sins and said, “It is finished.” He finished out and satisfied all suffering as a result of sin. It has been settled. Therefore, there is no unfinished suffering because of sin for the church. Though there are consequences for sin and suffering can come about as an effect of it (as we talked about earlier), God is never punishing a saint for his sin. It is a theological impossibility because Jesus has satisfied that sentence of sinful suffering. We are left with Romans 8:1 as a continual conviction and claim: 

“There is therefore, now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 ESV)

Let us not empty or invalidate Jesus’ sin-satisfying sacrifice. He suffered as a substitute on the cross for your sin so that you would never have to wonder if God was punishing you. He punished Jesus so he’s not punishing you!

Third Conclusion

Job’s suffering was not submitted to Satan’s scowl, but to the Smile of God.  We learn from Job’s suffering, and Satan and God’s dialogue, that suffering is not boundless and endless. It has boundaries. Because our suffering as believers is under God’s sovereign smile, God gives edges and purposes to our suffering. It is under his delicate and divine design. God places edges and hedges around Job’s suffering when He tells Satan, “only do not touch Him” and “only spare His life” (Job 1:12, Job 2:6).  Just as he has for Job, God has boundaries for us. Suffering never throws us to the wolves and out of God’s will. We are right where we should be.  

From beginning to end we see God’s smile on Job. The book begins with the fatherly pride of God for his servant Job. The book ends with God blessing Job doubly for all the evil and suffering God had brought upon him (see Job 42:10-12). God’s smile is upon Job from beginning to end. It is before this God that Job can repent in dust and ashes for assuming the smile of God might have been traded for a scowl (Job 42:6).  

But we also see that God’s smile is not just looking to bless Job. God wants others to come under his smile and enjoy his grace and mercy. This is precisely why Job’s suffering does not end until his three friends learn from his suffering. We see that Job’s suffering was not just for him, but God used his suffering to accomplish sovereign purposes in the lives of others too. God wanted Job’s three friends to learn from him in his suffering and had each of them submit a burnt offering and even a plea to Job for prayer on their behalf. The scripture says, “and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer” (Job 42:9). Job’s three friends were swept under the smile of God to enjoy his full pleasure and favor. Job is a good reminder and foreshadowing of our mediator, Jesus, who offered his own body and prayers that we might be reconciled to God.  

The Saints under the Smile of God

How can we now enter seasons of suffering and process them biblically? A key is to ask the right questions and not ask the wrong ones. 

Let’s not ask, “What have I done?” in seasons of suffering. This assumes that God is punishing us for sin or is angry with us. This is sin-focused suffering. 

Smile-focused suffering asks these three questions—

1. What is God doing? (Rightly ascribes ownership and responsibility to suffering under God’s sovereign and smiling purposes.)

2. What does He have for me in this? (Rightly acknowledges that God is doing something for me to learn and love, not loathe and languish in.)

3. How would God have me respond? (Rightly acknowledges that God wants worship and trust.)

May we have hope and assurance that if we are in God’s son, Jesus Christ, we have his smiling and soothing look upon us! It is unchanging and constant. When we suffer poorly, we come back to him and repent in dust and ashes over our failures to view our God as a smiler and not a scowler (though we have had his smile all along in our suffering). May we enjoy his Smile! It’s the smile he has for his Son. And if you do not have God’s smile, you can have it—put your faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and your standing of righteousness before God. Once you have God’s smile, you can never lose it!