How to Solve the Unsolvable Problem

Have you ever had a problem you were unable to solve? X plus Y did not equal Z. The paycheck did not cover the rent. Your emotional umbrella was not strong enough to withstand the downpour of pain. The worry was more persistent than the faith needed to extinguish it. Dear Friend, take heart. The problem may seem unsolvable but there is hope.

I watched a video update today from a friend who has undergone tremendous pain in recent years. Jennifer Shannon and her husband, Eric, exemplify strength and courage in the face of adversity. In the course of 7 years they lost their son, Cole—shortly after he was born—and their second son, Caleb, in the womb. Jennifer never speaks of her boys without tears.

Jennifer said, “Even though it’s been a really hard journey, having and losing Cole and then losing Caleb, we trust God. We have learned more and more to trust Him because we have seen his faithfulness in our lives. He has never deserted us. God is good.”

The puzzle of losing a child is not one easily solved. Those who have walked this particular path of pain can attest to the questions that sprout around ones feet from the rocky soil. “What if?” thistles scratch at the ankles. “Why me?” thorns grab at unsuspecting pant legs. “God, where were you?” limbs fall from the sky and knock us to our knees. Sometimes we can do nothing but lie down and weep. But I would propose there is courage even in that. Facing our problems with tears is a very brave place to start.

How can God be good when there is so much pain?

The finality of death casts a dark shadow over those who are left behind. Death is frequently not only the end of a life, but the end of hope. We stop praying for healing for the patient who was fighting cancer because we know that humanly speaking, once air has left the lungs, there is nothing else to be done. God has answered our prayer, just not the way we wanted him to. So what do we pray next? What do we pray when the pain is, well, unsolvable?

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! – Psalm 27:7 ESV

When faced with unsolvable pain, King David made a choice to seek the face of the Lord. Why? Because God is beautiful. He said, “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 ESV

This seems like a strange request. Shouldn’t he be angry at God for the pain in his life? Shouldn’t he curse the God who has allowed so much suffering? But he does not. He says, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” Psalm 27:13-14 ESV

Now maybe you are thinking King David was a crazy person, but if you take the time to read about him in the bible (beginning in 1 Samuel 15) you will find a man of strong character. He was just a young boy when he faced a giant on the battlefield and killed him with a slingshot and a stone. He was anointed King over Israel when that nation was yet ruled by another King (Saul) whom God had rejected. David and Saul spent years in a game of cat and mouse while Saul tried to kill David even though he had done nothing worthy of his hatred. But David experienced the faithfulness (and beauty) of God over and over again. Some examples of this were his friendship with Saul’s son, Jonathan, and through various victories on the battlefield against incredible odds. David learned that every good thing comes from God. He learned that it might not come immediately, but it will come eventually. David learned through suffering that he just needed to wait for it.

How does God’s beauty solve our problems?

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3 ESV

Have you ever been into a cave on a tour? Our family visited Mark Twain Cave in Hannibal, Missouri a few years ago. It was fun to see the lights on the rock formations and to hear all of the stories about Samuel Clemons adventures there as a boy. But there is a moment during the tour when they give you an idea of how heavy the darkness is when they turn out the lights. The one comfort you have is that they will turn the lights back on so you can see, but during those few minutes of darkness, you come to realize you have never experienced a darkness so deep in your whole life. In that brief window of time you may even ask yourself, what would I do if the lights never came back on? How would I escape?

Death is like that. Death is a terrible darkness. It is darkness devoid of hope. But the bible makes clear that God has defeated death forever through Jesus death on the cross. Jesus died for the sins of the world and then rose from the dead to conquer death forever. Isn’t that beautiful? Why is it beautiful? Because it is true, and truth is always beautiful.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 ESV

Jennifer and Eric Shannon believe that Jesus has power to raise the dead. This means He has power to raise their two boys. They believe this so fiercely that they can say, “God is good” even though they cannot hold their boys in their arms at this moment in time. They have joy in hope that one day they will be reunited with their children because of the promises. And they know God never breaks his promises.

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. John 16:22-23 ESV

We live in a world of seemingly unsolvable problems. Down Syndrome. Gastroparesis. Autism. Chronic fatigue. Amputation. Still birth. Depression. Anxiety. Murder. Rape. Human trafficking. Starvation. Slavery. Death. Our bodies ache and mourn in this terrible in-between place. But this moment is not the end of the story. This moment is only the middle of the story. But, Dear Friend, the light has come into the world and the darkness has not overcome it. You can take hold of his beauty now if you cry out for help. The promise is that you will always be heard and comforted.

Jennifer and Eric Shannon are heroes of mine. I wrote about them today because I was despairing over some unsolvable problems in my own life and, when I saw their video and heard their words, “God is good,” I took heart. Our stories matter—especially the painful middle parts. But the good news is we know the end of the story. Then, we shall see Him and experience the fullness of this beauty that we can now only imagine. Pain is a problem that can only be solved by our beautiful God who is the light that shines into the darkness. Take hold of Him, Dear Friend, and you will find peace for your soul.

On August 17, 2018   /   The Journey   /   1 Comment