So, what do we know about why does God allow suffering? To mature from a teen to an adult? Evil words and actions have left great marks on our hearts, minds and bodies. I remember early in my life when my mother walked out on our family. to learn more. Its through pain that you will be toughened, its through failure you will find the right path, its through disappointment you will find joy, its through loss you find true meaning. God wants us to realize that and freely do what is good and right by our own choice, not because He is forcing us to. I want you to go to heaven. But you must respond to Him. Billy Graham The Bible teaches that Satan is the author of sin. People often hold only one view of suffering; however, the Bible does not have one approach to suffering but many. Thousands of years later He would give up His one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for us to be saved from sin and be restored to Him who loved us so much (see John 3:16). The gift of free will was given to the first human parents, Adam and Eve. Easter Greeting from Reasons for Hope* Jesus. The examples provided below dont constitute an exhaustive list for all possible purposes. Please click here to learn how. "Savior" is a vital name of Christ for dealing with the . The comfort of God that we can extend to others isnt limited to the church and is not limited to shared experience. Whats been your experience wrestling through this question, why does God allow suffering? We may hurt so badly that even those who try to bring comfort feel the pain. 52:13-53:12). Want articles like this one delivered straight to your email? All of our problems and our suffering, including death itself, are a result of mans rebellion against God. Man stayed awake by day and slept at night, and had a full day to rest at the end of the week. This answers the question, 'Why didn't God create a world where people don't suffer?' "The answer is He did. God sometimes allows pain in the lives of believers, including as a consequence of their own choices, in order to discipline them. The Bible should always be our first stop in understanding God and the world around us. Rather, Satan questioned Jehovah's right to rule. There is sweetness and there is suffering. While that might sound like a good thing, its not, its more like hell living in this world without pain. We get to choose. Will we turn from God because we think Hes not good, not loving, not trustworthy because of our pain? What mentality should believers have toward pain? To Kill Sin and Grow Godliness. Just pray more. Husband. For humans, there is a mystery as to why God created the earth. Well, the believer can turn right around and challenge the atheist: "In your worldview, by what standard do you define good or bad things?" He confirms that the world is fallen because we are out of the relationship with God that we are meant to live in. First, He uses pain and suffering to draw us to Himself so that we will cling to Him. But before you decide just consider that God didnt spare Himself, He entered into suffering Himself. In an interview, Governor Robert List talked about the good times at the MGM only 24 hours before. Theres also pain and suffering that occurs from the consequences of our sin or when we are a victim of anothers sinful actions. I remember asking God why He allowed pain and suffering on two occasions in my life. The cause of suffering on earth When God created the earth, His intention was that it would be an extension of the peace and harmony of heaven. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affliliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links. You can check it out here: Lee Strobel Reflecting On A Mass Shooting. Check out these great resources! But thats exactly what God is in the business of doing. We rebelled against God, and still do. Sometimes it's simply for his glory and our good. Paul writes, This light of momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look to the things that are not seen but the things that are unseen. Thats why Christ died on the cross. [12] Suffering seems meaningless and cruel when not taken in the context of faith. Explore this snippet Tye Tribbett's sermon about pain and why God allows it! Our response to the two should be different. Third, our attitude in suffering should glorify God. But God has provided a rescue in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Some day, for all of you, if you dont know God, the music will stop. Dont forget to leave a comment! That's the way I usually think about trying to come to terms with why I or somebody else might be suffering. The people surveyed reported that pain limits their activity three days per week on average. At the time there was no chaos, no pain, no suffering. We often casually throw out the words "Lord and Savior," but these should not just be empty words that we say at church. But would that really be good? Why does God allow suffering? It's common to wonder if our suffering is God's Will. And the Bible teaches us to bring this message to those in the midst of suffering. These stories liter our feeds on social media and are in almost every movie Hollywood makes. The more acutely we see our need, the more likely we are to seek His face. That is not at all who He is. The closest he ever came was when he said, Show me why You contend with me (Job 10:2). What Im about to say will be of little, or maybe no, help/comfort to those currently suffering. We decide where we move too. C.S. If there was no sin in the world there would be no suffering. To pick up one theme of suffering in Scripture is to miss the entire picture. Do Gods children experience pain? I know it almost never seems that way. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. Of course, its not just physical pain that brings about suffering. Pain will mold you and shape you into who God is creating you to be. What were the catalysts that caused you to grow? God is restoring creation to His original design. God is not the creator of evil, pain, and suffering. Ultimately God's plan will put an end to murder, cancer, tragic accidents, loneliness, sadness, depression, and grief. Then we will be able to see the whole story and how masterfully it was written and how much love God has for us. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble" ( John 16:33 ). Jesus sees pain as an avenue for growth. Think about your life. My guess is that what caused the most growth in your life was some kind of pain. Sin lurks at each of our doors. God allows pain in the life of an unbeliever so that they will become a believer. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. In other words, deny yourself what you want, and then follow me. But until then, we are told to trust in His plan. Am I being punished? But love requires a choice. Some of the most faithful believers in the Bible experienced pain. The book of Job offers great insight on the two ways we can choose to respond to suffering. He is also the foundation for morality. Yet, God will carry us through some of the darkest seasons of our lives to show His incredible love for us. Our free will has created suffering and God is restoring us. (Rom. Also see How Can You Get Right With God? God allows for suffering, but He did not create it. Suffering was the cost to God of forgiveness. Job 1:11-12). Where was that? Its not by Gods design, its by our sin. Church Planter. Thankfully the Bible offers a better answer to the question: why does God allow suffering? But what we don't usually look for is God's purpose for our weaknesses in the lives of others. When will this end? One day it will all make sense. Why God Allows Suffering One of the most brutal truths to understand about God is why He allows pain and suffering. 3 Reasons God Is Allowing You to Emotionally Suffer by Mark Ballenger 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Here are 3 possible reason God is allowing you to go through emotional suffering and pain in your life. Many agnostics believe that God is a punishing, vengeful being indifferent to our pains and suffering. We know that pain and suffering was not part of Gods plan. Second, we can offer real and practical help to those in need. The Bible spends much its time reminding us that our suffering is not meaningless, there is hope. Or more pointedly, how can a good God allow suffering? Pain is not a danger to avoid. Have You Read Jesus Last Will and Testament? Everything we see and experience, from illnesses and injuries to grievous injustices and moral decay, are the result of a fallen world. It's an unavoidable chance you take if you want to experience love. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. God does not put you through pain, but rather the pain you go through comes as a result of disobedience or wrong choices you make, or sometimes from the wickedness in the world. God took the initiative in giving His Son, Jesus Christ. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, we are all fallen creatures living in a fallen worldand we are all subject to the consequences of our sin and that of others. Pain and suffering was not present. Whether someone is a life-long follower of Jesus or just curious about Christianity's beliefs, followers, history, and practices, Christianity FAQ aims to offer trustworthy information that is easy to understand. Therefore God lacks either goodness, or power, or both." 3. His promise is that one day it will end, but until then He will be with us. Those who have been abused wear scars that seemingly never heal. A disease that ravages our body. Or God may know a danger lurking in the job . Instead, He forewarned the man and allowed him to decide for himself. Whatever the reasons behind pain and suffering, we all experience it because of sin having entered the world. Hope is not lost. Thats why its so important to not run away from failures, challenges, difficulties, and pain so fast. Something we cannot see or even understand? But then sin entered the world. Time stamps below. Last and most importantly, in God our pains and failures aren't meant to harm us. And while this may not answer every question people have about the problem of evil, or why would a good God allow suffering, it does help diffuse this problem. We dont know the answer. And we may never know until God explains all things to us. We can only see whats right in front of us. We do know that His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9), and we can nevercompletely understand the mind or will of God (Romans 11:33-34). That's what a lot of people assume is meant by God being 'loving'. When a member is down and discouraged, the church is called to lift that person up. Adam and Eves bodies were created to be perfect in all ways no illness or injury. Jesus told his followers, "Go and make disciples of all nations.". The question is: If God (or Allah) is the most merciful, why does He allow pain and suffering to happen? All suffering includes pain, but not all pain is suffering. We should recognize that, but theres a larger point I want to make. In the midst of suffering, facts and truth bring little comfort. Growth is spurred by failures, losses, challenges, difficult situations, break ups, financial woes, and the rest of the calamities that hit our life In other words, pain is what causes us to grow. And our actions brought evil and suffering into the world. If we seek God, He is faithful and He will provide. But there is evil in the world. Life is not simple. Pain and suffering are realities in our everyday life. I can build my world without You. God said, If you take that position, you will suffer and die. Man took that position, and he began to suffer, and he has been dying ever since. @ 2021-2023 Copyright | All Right Reserved. 1. In these verses, Paul is referring to multiple types of suffering mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. For example, you might be passed over for a seemingly great job opportunity, only to get a better one later. The Bible doesnt diminish our experience of suffering. When God created everything, He said it was all "good." On Nov. 21, 1980, when the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas burned, survivors were brought into the Convention Center, where our Crusade meetings were being held. These are questions central to the Christian faith, and questions that have not gone unexplored in the cannon of Christian philosophy. Lewis asserts "the problem of pain, in its simplest form": "If God were good, He would wish to make His creatures perfectly happy, and if God were almighty He would be able to do what He wished. But first we need to understand what suffering is and isnt. Pain is a blessing. Those who have been abused wear scars that seemingly never heal. The meaning of this verse makes it clear that pain and suffering have a way of bringing our strengths and weaknesses to the surface. The Bible teaches that Satan is the author of sin. An expensive speeding ticket is a result of breaking a traffic law. And thats the Gospel, right? He never allows Satan, nor circumstances, nor any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. Again, let me reiterate Im not talking about suffering. Dont forget to share your thoughts! But there are pains that cause us to grow. But the creatures are not happy. He will give us the comfort, peace, patience and strength we need. But one-day suffering will end and the final chapter will be written. Our first reaction to pain is to run from it, dull it, or to avoid it. Isa. Weve established why pain and suffering exists, but we also know that God has the power to stop pain and suffering. God is working all things, even the bad things, for our benefit. Paul writes, We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose, (Romans 8:28). When we grow wise through experience, we can become a people able and willing to choose what pleases the Lord. He didnt avoid it, he used it. When the complexity of suffering rears us its head, we will find ourselves ill-equipped to deal with the ramifications. But the God of the Bible charts a different course. Failure as the end. We give up too easily. Of course, we knew the consequences of free will. Jeffery Curtis Poor | March 1, 2022May 17, 2021 | Featured, Following Jesus (Practical Faith), What Does the Bible Say About Why would a good God, a loving God, allow suffering to exist in this world? God is loving and merciful, kind and good, all-knowing and perfect in all His ways. 20. Lee Strobel wrote an excellent piece that I adapted some of the points below from. The logic being: If God is all powerful, then He cannot be loving and allow human suffering, because a loving God would not tolerate pain. They just make the suffering worse. Where you were a year ago, 5 years ago, 10 years ago. Suffering will force us to move, we dont get to decide that. God is redeeming all things for His good and our benefit. The problem of reconciling human suffering with the existence of a God who loves, is only insoluble so long as we attach a trivial meaning to the word love, and look on things as if man were the centre of them. And it is the Cross, more than anything else, that has called me inexorably to Christ.. 10 To find out why God allows suffering, we need to think back to the time when suffering began. Read this: When it feels like God has forgotten about you. Scripture tells us, We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Jesus Christ now sits at the right hand of God the Father, and He sees our suffering. 1:18-19) The debased minds of the wicked are evidence of human rebellion . It's important to make this distinction. In a polytheistic worldview, as noted above, pain and suffering are simply factors caused by malevolent gods. Points below from the creator of evil, pain and suffering are simply factors caused by malevolent Gods is vital! Discouraged, the church is called to lift that person up design, its more hell. 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