Living in the Parallel

The Living in the Parallel: A Biblical Perspective on Suffering and Sovereignty graphic offers a powerful visual of what every human being experiences—living in the parallel of God’s oversight and guidance and human fallenness. Thus, the parallel reality presents two distinct influences that press upon the human soul:

1. Sovereign-Centered Living (Higher Reality)
2. Suffering-Centered Living (Lower Reality)

These two realities are never mutually exclusive. Everyone faces suffering in various forms—betrayal, abuse, loss, disappointment, sickness, or injustice. Yet, above that suffering stands another reality—the sovereign hand of God, orchestrating His good purposes even through the darkest circumstances (Romans 8:28). The key is not whether you live in the parallel, but how you interpret and respond to it.

Suffering-Centered Living: Managed by Pain

In the diagram, the lower line labeled “Suffering-Centered” represents the person who is ruled by their pain. This person interprets life, God, and others through the lens of their suffering. They are held captive by questions like:

• “Why did this happen to me?”
• “Where was God when I needed Him?”
• “Will I ever experience restoration from this?”
• “Why should I trust again?”

While these questions are natural, they become life-dominating when suffering overshadows God’s sovereignty. The person becomes stuck in a loop of bitterness, fear, blame, or despair.

Sovereign-Centered Living: Managed by God’s Goodness

Above the person in the graphic is the “Sovereign-Centered” line, symbolizing those who interpret their suffering through the lens of God’s character and plan. They don’t deny their pain, but they elevate God’s purpose above the offense. This is exactly what Joseph did in Genesis 50:20: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Joseph’s story shows us that we must shift the accent mark from what others meant for evil to what God means for good. This is not denial but a reorientation of the heart toward God’s redemptive purposes.

The Tension of Remembering Without Being Controlled

It’s important to notice that Joseph didn’t erase his memory of what happened. In fact, he spoke about it openly: “What you meant for evil…” Joseph remembered the betrayal, the pit, the slavery, and the prison. Yet, his memory was not his master. Instead, his remembrance became a tool of testimony, showing that even in the darkest places, God was present: “The Lord was with Joseph…” (Genesis 39:2). The purpose of remembering is not to stay stuck in bitterness or fear, but to testify of God’s sustaining grace. In this way, past suffering strengthens us and equips us to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). The memory is not erased but redeemed.

Case Study: Mable’s Journey from Suffering to Sovereignty

Mable’s Background: Mable grew up in an dysfunctional home. Her father was verbally evil and relationally neglectful. By the time she was a teenager, she had experienced multiple incidents of sexual sin from an uncle who lived with their family. These experiences shaped her entire worldview. She grew up believing:

• “I am worthless.”
• “I cannot trust anyone.”
• “God is absent or powerless.”

Though she professed faith in Christ later in life, her heart was still ruled by the narrative of her pain. Every relationship was filtered through suspicion. Every sermon about God’s goodness felt hollow. She carried shame, fear, and anger, all while trying to manage life through self-protective behaviors like isolation, control, and perfectionism.

The Impact of Suffering-Centered Living

Mable’s suffering hovered above God’s sovereignty. She lived daily with mental flashbacks, hyper-vigilance, and a deep sense of betrayal—not only from her family but, in her mind, from God Himself. She knew the theology of God’s sovereignty, but her heart was dominated by the question, “If God is good and sovereign, why did He allow that to happen?” Her suffering had become her master. It affected her marriage, friendships, church involvement, and personal peace. She often found herself cycling through seasons of anger toward God and complete mental shutdown.

The Turning Point: Through biblical counseling, Mable was slowly invited to live in the parallel with her eyes fixed higher. Her counselor did not dismiss her suffering or rush her toward simplistic answers. Instead, they spent months:

• Naming the evil that was done to her,
• Affirming her suffering as real and unjust,
• Pointing to the nearness of God even in her suffering (Genesis 39:2),
• Reframing her suffering through the lens of God’s redemptive purposes (Genesis 50:20),
• Exploring the cross, where Jesus bore both her sin and her suffering,
• Teaching her to minister to others from her story of redemption (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

Mable’s Shift to Sovereign-Centered Living

Over time, Mable began to see that the her uncle’s sin—though grievous and evil—was not the end of her story. She learned that God was present in her suffering, sustaining her, shaping her, and equipping her with a deeper capacity for:

• Compassion toward other hurting women,
• Patience in the process of healing,
• Perseverance when life felt overwhelming,
• Endurance when her emotions raged against God’s goodness.

Mable began to remember her past redemptively, using it as a platform to share how God met her in the darkness and brought her into deeper trust and worship. She no longer lived managed by her suffering, but by the sovereign care of her Lord.

Key Biblical Takeaways

1. You Will Live in the Parallel: Life is a tension between what people meant for evil and what God means for good. You can’t avoid it, but you can choose which side dominates your heart and mind.
2. Suffering Is Real, But Not Ultimate: Like Joseph, acknowledge the suffering, but do not stop there. Move the accent mark to God’s greater purpose.
3. God Is With You in the Darkness: God does not abandon His children in their suffering. He is present (Genesis 39:2), working good (Genesis 50:20), and equipping you (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
4. Your Memory Can Become Redemptive: You don’t have to forget your past, but you must interpret it through God’s sovereignty, allowing it to strengthen you and equip you to minister to others.
5. Living Sovereign-Centered Is a Daily Choice: Every day you are faced with the question: “Will I live managed by my suffering or by my sovereign Lord?”

Practical Steps to Help Someone Like Mable

1. Create a Safe Place to Talk: Let them share their story without minimizing or spiritualizing their pain too quickly.
2. Point Them to God’s Presence: Walk through biblical accounts (like Joseph, Job, or Jesus) to show that God is present in suffering.
3. Teach Them to Reframe Their Story: Help them move the accent mark from what happened to them to what God is doing through it.
4. Equip Them to Minister to Others: Encourage them to use their experiences as a testimony of God’s faithfulness.
5. Practice Patience and Perseverance: Restoration is often slow. Be a consistent, patient presence as God works over time.

Conclusion: The Transformational Power of Living in the Parallel

Everyone lives in the parallel. The difference between bondage and freedom is which side manages your heart. Like Joseph, like Mable, and like all of us—you have a choice. Will you be suffering-centered or sovereign-centered? Let us live in such a way that God’s sovereignty manages our suffering, turning our suffering into testimonies, our tears into worship, and our past into a platform for redemptive ministry.

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Peace,
Rick