Abstract
In this dissertation a study was conducted about the tension that
develops between God and man during suffering, by discussing the
following topics:
· The understanding and topicality of suffering
It stands to reason that in this broken world sooner or later
everyone is subjected to suffering. The assumption is that
Christians are not adequately prepared for this process. The
results of suffering can therefore be very destructive for
Christians and may consequently lead to a situation where God's
power, goodness and love are questioned. The sufferer may ask
why God allowed this to happen to him/her. He/she can
experience tension as a result of an internal conflict between
God’s power and promises, on the one hand, and his/her own
inability to understand and cope with th e situation on the other. If
this tension is not relieved, it leads to a crisis of faith in God's
power and the truth of the biblical teachings and promises on
suffering.
· The realization of the promises of God during suffering
During suffering a person may not only question the truth of
God's promises but also their realization. He/she could feel
therefore totally abandoned and betrayed in times of God’s
silence. This could again result in a breakdown in the
relationship between the sufferer and God. There may of course,
be many reasons for this breakdown, but the misunderstanding
of the realization of God’s promises plays a very important role in
this process. Fact is that promises are mostly conditional and if a
promise is not understood and the condition is not fulfilled, the
sufferer cannot expect the promise to realize. Many of the questions asked by sufferers have to do with one or more of
these promises and, therefore, it is important to know how one
should apply or claim a specific promise. One of the most
important facts about promises is that God cannot lie. He will
keep His word and He is true to every word that He has ever
spoken.
· Handling and coping with suffering - recommendations and
conclusions
The sufferer goes through certain stages of suffering and it is
necessary to note these stages when help is offered. People
often try to help, but in doing so, their words may inadvertently
cause more damage than good. During certain stages, specific
answers or advice will not assist in the sufferer’s experience.
There is a need for people to be better informed in this regard. It
further means that the sufferer should realize that there are no
quick-fix answers, but even so, he/she can be assured that God
has the power to use suffering to accomplish positive things in
his/her life and to help the sufferer to become more like Christ.
This study has identified the tension during chronic suffering that leads
to a crisis in faith between God who is powerful and the sufferer who
feels powerless in his/her situation. It has also identified specific
problems in this regard, and stated certain guide lines in the process of
suffering.
Dr. F.P. Moller