하나님의 이중적 이미지: 무력한 하나님, 힘 있는 하나님

The Dual Image of God: Powerful and yet Powerless －Pastoral Theological Reflections on Human Suffering－

The existence of human suffering is an undeniable part of our lives. If God is good, why does he allow terrible things such as sickness, disaster,violence, terrorism, and death to happen to his people? If God loves us really, why does he allow his people’s suffering? However, we can understand God’s will and the meaning of suffering. Many people may have thought that either suffering can bring us a good benefit such as spiritual and personal growth, or suffering can move us in an ungodly direction. Certainly, suffering does not mean that God does not care or that God is powerless. Suffering shows us that we have human frailty. Such a revelation is intended to cause people to seek hope beyond suffering. For Christians,there are many purpose of suffering. First of all, God wants Christians to learn to rely on him and to trust him in times of suffering. The existence of the faithfulness of God that strengthens our faith and characters were able to bring our faith’s maturity. In fact, a godly response to suffering involves trusting that God is sovereign, loving and faithful. It involves responding to this with faithfulness that the Christian must not reject God when suffering occurs in his or her circumstances, Rather, we have to petition God in order to seek for help. This is an appropriate response. If we know it, we can endure and enjoy in suffering. We can believe that God washes away our tears and heals our hurt inner mind. God doesn’t stand afar, aloof, unable or unwilling to get involved. God is in the life’s context where his people suffer so that he comforts them and gives strength in order to endure and overcome suffering. Above all, God is with us when we suffer. In the mystery of incarnation, we may realize the dual image of God, powerful and yet powerless. The first approach is that we should make people in suffering realize the true meaning of suffering that they confront. If they know the real purpose of suffering while suffering, on the contrary, the suffering can change to benefits and obtain as ability to overcome it. Another approach is a good opportunity that people can be mature in their faith and personal character through suffering. We should help and comfort people in suffering in order to reach a mature faith that praises and thanks God in any circumstances. Therefore, pastoral counselors or pastors can help and comfort people in suffering in order to take a positive viewpoint to suffering and reach a mature faith. it is certain that our sufferings rather change to the spiritual advancement and the blessed life. In this respect, human suffering is one of the blessings from God.