responding to injury

For one of my classes (Basic Christian Doctrine), we were assigned to respond to fictional John and Mary Smith's doubts about God and His goodness because of their son's paralysis from a football injury. It's a little lengthy, and not written in dialogue style, like my friend Chris did (go read his - it's great), which would be a more natural form of interaction of this type for me. However, when I began writing, it just flowed out, so I left it the way it was rather than forcing dialogue for the sake of dialogue. What avenue would you approach this tough subject from? What are some things you would say?

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John, Mary – First, let me thank you for sharing this deep question with me. Most people have a hard time admitting doubts or questioning God’s character because of fear of God’s reaction. I assume that this thought isn’t brand new to you and that you have kept it inside for many reasons. I want you to know that God is not upset at You for having honest doubts or questions. In fact, there is a man in the Bible named Job who had many devastating things happen to him… His children died, his possessions were destroyed, he became deathly ill, and his wife even told him to just curse God and die. Job had several friends come and sit with him for days and they talked about why this was happening. His friends said it was because Job had sinned. Job denied this claiming his innocence before God and still clung to His faith in God. However, at times, he questioned God’s justice in this situation (Job 19:7-12) and cried out for explanation. After the discussion was almost complete, God spoke to all present and praised Job out of all of the people there for His faith in God and “speaking what is right” about Him (Job 42:8), even with Job’s questions. God is big enough to handle our doubts, hurts, and fears – and I think He’s glad that you brought it to Him so that He can show you His love for you and begin to bring peace and resolution to your situation. I won’t promise you that all your questions will be answered because God does not always give specific reasons why things happen. He never answered Job’s questions about the reasons for disaster, though He did reveal much about His care and concern for Job and us throughout
Scripture.

I think a beginning to our answer lies in the story of Adam and Eve. And no, I do not think that God uses devastation and personal injury as vindictive revenge for sin, however, I do think that part of the problem lies with sin in general. When God created Adam and Eve, He created them to live eternally and without pain, disease, or possible injury. He also made Adam and Eve like Him in that they had free will, they could follow God’s commands or disobey. By making humans with free will, a true relationship was also possible. As you know, Adam and Eve committed evil by eating the fruit of the tree God told them not to eat. God then removed Adam and Eve from the perfect and eternal state of living they were in (Gen. 3:22-24), otherwise they would live eternally in guilt, shame, and hope for any kind of restoration to the relationship with God. And as they were removed from Eden, death entered the picture, and it was not just the finality of life, but the frailty of the human body, such as what we’ve seen happen in Mark. While this doesn’t answer the question why Mark specifically was injured and how God let that one act happen, it does show us why the world works the way it does. God could override the laws of nature and this world, but that would infringe upon our freedom, the possibility of relationship with God, and possible full
restoration of all things.

Thankfully, God doesn’t end His interaction with humanity there. Because God is free and loves all His people, He made Himself a human. A human touched by the same death, and injuries, and frailties that we have. He became human so that He could restore humanity’s place in eternity and perfection. He experienced willing death at the hands of those He came to save and then conquered death by rising from the grave. He is now in Heaven, in His own words “preparing a place for you” (John 14:1-3). In the meantime, His plan for the world must continue and the world must work the way He set it up, even with the consequences of sin and death. But, it is not final. Heaven waits for those who place their faith and trust in Him. Every time I come across a situation with injury, disease, natural disaster, or anything I cannot understand, I am reminded of the story in Mark 9. A man had a son who was demon possessed and was violently hurting the son through fire and bashing into objects for most of the boy’s life. The father brings the son to Jesus hoping that He will heal him and in the process cries out to Jesus, “I believe, help my unbelief!” In the end, Jesus does heal the boy, and we will pray for Jesus to heal Mark also. However, I think you are asking something much deeper, as this father was. Can you trust in Jesus? Maybe, you would like to pray with me right now this simple prayer. It acknowledges the doubts, the questions, and the pain that are real and probably will not leave for a long time. Yet, it also acknowledges that God is in control, has a plan for you, Mary, and you, John, and even Mark. And He is going to restore all of us and this fallen world to eternity, to perfection, and to a full relationship with Him. It asks Jesus to help us even in our areas of unbelief. Will you pray with me?