The Bible contains a lot of suffering, but surprisingly says little about it. Want articles like this one delivered straight to your email? Hebrews 5:14 tells us, "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.". You are suffering due to a lack of faith. Failure as the end. We rebelled against God, and still do. So, what do we know about why does God allow suffering? First, it should be one of worship. And the Bible teaches us to bring this message to those in the midst of suffering. Praise the Lord that He provided forgiveness of sin to all who repent and trust in Christ. You can feel for them in that suffering situation. Sin is sin, and will always have dire consequences. When I was asked to explain the tragedy of the fire at the MGM Grand Hotel, I had to say, Theres a mystery to tragedies like this. In Second Corinthians we read: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. The pain is a defense mechanism that keeps you from further harm. What it does mean is that in his providential will (when He causes something to happen) or in His permissive will (when He allows something to happen),andwhen we areunable to handle, ifwe turn to God He will provide us what we need to go through it. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. Suffering spurs us to action. Reasons God allows pain in the life of unbelievers include showing them their need for God and as judgment for sin. The gift of free will was given to the first human parents, Adam and Eve. We might not like it, but it protects us and produces good things in us. If we run from our pain we are missing out on growth opportunities. Feeling pain leads many people to have compassion toward others who are having the same experience. Check out these great resources! I saw compassion in action. The church is also meant to be a refuge for those who are suffering. The problem is our culture sees pain as the enemy. It may be broad or acute, temporary or chronic, self-imposed or not. Actually theres a fundamental flaw in that question. Although we cannot grasp the master plan of the universe, which allows for so much evil and pain (the Why? Therefore He never gives us anything for which He does not provide what we need to deal with it. So, will you let your pain teach you? God can still use that for good, but I would hesitate to call suffering good. Or will we turn to God trusting that while things dont make sense now, one day God will reveal the grandeur picture? This is not an extensive list, rather the top four things I think we should recognize. They will ask, How is it that Christ is so in control of his or her life that he or she was able to help others?. And the list could go on and on and on. Thus insisting to be at the center. Pain and a loving God can co-exist. Have You Read Jesus Last Will and Testament? The problem is our culture sees pain as the enemy. Reasons for Hope* Jesus exists to glorify God by equipping you to know Jesus better, to love Jesus more & to share your faith. 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? The loving, omnipotent God of our imagination would move swiftly from creation to new creation, from the garden of Eden of Genesis to the heavenly Jerusalem of Revelation. Our unwillingness to face our pain is a far greater danger than the pain itself. Reason no. If you have been born into the family of God, you are a child of God. God sometimes allows pain in the lives of believers, including as a consequence of their own choices, in order to discipline them. But let's look at four specific biblical reasons why God ordains suffering for his people. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Pain promotes humility. - The Bible tells us that while it's not always clear why He allows suffering and pain to happen in this earthly life, we know for certain that Yeshua can heal you spiritually when your faith (and physical health) wavers. Those who have been abused wear scars that seemingly never heal. Reconciling how a good and loving God could allow such pain in their lives (or someone close) is difficult. Thats why its so important to not run away from failures, challenges, difficulties, and pain so fast. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. People. So before we dive into the specific question of why does God allow suffering? The Bibles approach to the problem of suffering makes it clear that discernment is necessary every step of the way. Abraham's Bosom? So why does God allow suffering? Lets dive into the question, Why does God allow suffering? Theres a larger story unfolding that you and I are not privy too. Theres also pain and suffering that occurs from the consequences of our sin or when we are a victim of anothers sinful actions. Jesus himself never answers the question of why bad things happen in this world, other than to confirm that they will continue to happen. Want articles like this one delivered straight to your email? Its a painful picture of what we must give up to follow Jesus. Yet God doesn't always demonstrate his power and the Bible Long before people in the twenty-first century asked questions about God and suffering, faithful men and women in the Bible had been wrestling with them. People are going to watch us as Christians. The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Saviors Grace, by James Smith (1802-1862). And the list goes on. Trying to be more like Jesus each day. Well we cant fully answer that question on this side of heaven. Anything at all. God allows and sometimes even causes pain in our lives. Do Gods children experience pain? Pain alerts us something is wrong and we need to stop or seek help. Yes, the innocent suffer (see Job 1-2 ), but God can redeem that suffering. "It is safe to say that both skeptic and believer alike share one opinion in common: The question of pain and suffering provides the greatest challenge to belief in God." In WHY SUFFERING?, Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale provide the 10 primary reasons why a loving God might allow suffering --- why the existence of suffering does not negate . Betrayal leaves many wondering if they will ever be whole again. While this may be a hard truth to understand, suffering is that it prepares Christians for more glory. What do you have to do to be ready? And I get that. The POWERFUL Truth From The 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Meaning (pray without ceasing), What Train Up A Child In The Way He Should Go REALLY Means (Proverbs 22:6 Meaning), 4 Life Giving Ways To Not Grow Weary In Doing Good (Galatians 6:9 Meaning). Its pain that will grow you. He was a pastor for 10 years. Writer. That's why Christ died on the cross. Use PayPal or a Credit Card for safe, secure giving. Their pain may be the result of their own choices, which God allows them to experience, or it may be a judgment upon them that is independent of a specific choice they made. If you're wondering why God allows us to experience pain and failures, let me encourage you: He loves you, that's why He allows them to happen. Unbelievers sometimes experience pain because of sin in their life. The last chapter of the Bible makes it clear that there is a happy ending to what is NOT a fairy tale. The hope and peace we so desperately seek is not found in stopping every bad thing from . They're actually meant to make us see our grave need for Him. After Adam and Eve sinned, after the infection and sickness of sin came . 3 Reasons Why God Allows Pain And Failure In Our Lives, Virginia Gov. Why do Christians experience pain? (Ask Dr. Stanley) In Touch Ministries 979K subscribers 502K views 10 years ago God has the power to prevent suffering and calamity--so why. Here are five biblical reasons why God allows suffering. And thats the Gospel, right? How has pain caused growth in your life? It either drives us closer to God or makes us bitter at God. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? All suffering is the result of sin which ultimately produces evil. God uses pain, in part, to refine the hearts and minds of people. What makes this experience complex is the fact that when suffering comes, several of these types of suffering are often involved which can take a major toll on our spirit. Trials take our minds off of things of the world and put them back on the Lord. You just need to believe more. [1] Some people take pain medication once a day; others take it multiple times per day. Paul alludes this in Galatians 6:2, when he writes, Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. The church is not meant to be an association of loosely bound individuals but a community of individuals bound together. 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. Giving People a Theology of Suffering. Suffering prepares us in a way that a life without suffering never could. Pain is, in most cases, a good thing. It is the ability for us humans to make our own choices. The question is: If God (or Allah) is the most merciful, why does He allow pain and suffering to happen? To pick up one theme of suffering in Scripture is to miss the entire picture. We will get to why does God allow suffering? Pain is a form of physical suffering that may be the result of injury, illness, genetics, or something else. And our actions brought evil and suffering into the world. Jesus was using pain to grow maturity in his disciples. 1. We also know that God created man with a free will giving Adam and Eve the ability to make choices. When will this end? We demand answers and that God fixes our problem(s). God allows for suffering, but He did not create it. Explore this snippet Tye Tribbett's sermon about pain and why God allows it! Will Graham Devotion: 3 Reminders in Your Suffering, Will Graham Devotion: Suffering for Jesus. Because tragedy happened to you, it gives you a greater sense of oneness with others who experience tragedy. His newest Walking with God through Pain and Suffering is a wise, Christ-centered, comforting book for readers who hurt, and offers counsel to readers who anticipate future suffering. It's through pain that we will grow and develop into who God has created us to be. Harm that was brought upon us by another human. Nevertheless, Satan was allowed access to the earth, and he tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. Dont forget to leave a comment! Consider what God told Paul when he was in pain: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." One of our cultural values is freedom. Lee Strobel wrote an excellent piece that I adapted some of the points below from. We give up too easily. Human experience also argues against this false idea, as followers of Christ suffer at the same rate as non-believers. The comfort of God that we can extend to others isnt limited to the church and is not limited to shared experience. But thats how we are acting, isnt it? Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions.. Evil words and actions have left great marks on our hearts, minds and bodies. I know it almost never seems that way. Thanks for reading! Pain is meant to be a blessing. But one-day suffering will end and the final chapter will be written. Reasons for Hope* Jesus, Yes, send me answers to interesting and challenging questions about Jesus and the Bible. We see people dying from storms, earthquakes, floods, drought, and famine. Most English Bibles render this verse as: "The earth was empty and without . We are missing out on something that God wants to teach us, grow in us, or mature us in. Some respondents said their pain was the result of their own choices, while others said it wasnt. As mentioned above, when Adam and Eve sinned, their bodies began the dying process and they became susceptible to disease and death; and their minds and wills were no longer governed by being in perfect communion with their Creator. But man disobeyed, and in came death and suffering. But in a monotheistic worldview, why would God allow pain and suffering? The Bible actually does the opposite, it promises that we will experience pain in this life. Father. But in the meantime, we do not suffer alone. Compounding the pain of suffering are the answers often given by Christians. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.. He will always do what will be good for us (see Romans 8:28-30). Pain, in part, is an opportunity to follow in the steps of Christ, imitate his righteousness, resolve, and faithfulness to the Father. Man said, I dont need You, God. Easter Greeting from Reasons for Hope* Jesus. You are brothers and sisters. Or the millions that have no access to basic human needs. Personal Pain. link to Is There Anything Too Hard for God. We grow the most in the hard seasons of life. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. It's common to wonder if our suffering is God's Will. question), we can nevertheless respond in two important ways. God may use physical evil to chastise individuals or nations and lead them to repent ( Isaiah 45:7, Genesis 6:13, Acts 13:9-11 ). Because of this, some people will get angry with God, believing He did nothing to stop the sin that unfolded. God sees the larger picture. The answer to this question is that none of us are truly innocent or undeserving. Thats a different topic that you can read here: Why Does God Allow Suffering? According to a recent report, 1 in 3 Americans take pain medication every day. 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.

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