“And his disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'” – John 9:2
What a HORRIBLE question! The disciples of Jesus were thoroughly soaked in the prevailing cultural mindset of their day, which taught that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. Therefore, if a child was born blind, they assumed it must be God’s punishment for some specific sin(s). Jesus clearly corrects this false thinking which so radically misunderstands earthly life in a fallen world. Jesus explained that the man was blind so God’s glory could shine through his life.
Nonetheless, this “prosperity gospel” mindset remains all too familiar in our own time. It continues to thrive because of false teachers, including many who call themselves Christians. Even though the Bible is very clear that we live in a fallen world that’s been utterly corrupted by sin since Adam and Eve. Injury, illness, injustice, poverty, disability, and death all exist and someone’s experience of those things isn’t necessarily because of anything they did.
Every person, regardless of their faith or spiritual condition, will experience some hardship if they live long enough in this world. Some amount of suffering is normal for everyone. Furthermore, followers of Jesus are taught in the Bible to expect more suffering than normal, not less. Our faith in Christ doesn’t mean bad things won’t ever happen to us. Just ask Jesus (nailed to a cross) or Paul (persecutions, a thorn in the flesh).
Their suffering wasn’t a result of their sin or a lack of faith on their part. You will inevitably go through valleys of your life. Sometimes it’s your own fault, but often it isn’t. The Gospel isn’t about helping you name and claim your way out of those valleys. It’s reassuring you that God’s love, strength, power, and presence in your life are a steady gift of grace available to carry you through long seasons of suffering. The good news is that your Savior, Jesus, fully understands your suffering and is walking with you through it so that God may be glorified in it. #FollowJesus