April 16, 2021 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. Ask God to help you have a trusting, patient attitude, and flee from bitterness. Thats a different topic that you can read here: Why Does God Allow Suffering? My guess is that what caused the most growth in your life was some kind of pain. When we grow wise through experience, we can become a people able and willing to choose what pleases the Lord. 2023 BGEA Pain and suffering can can be a blessing. At least not to the end of why does God allow suffering. Jesus requires the pain of dying to our self-interests to follow up. Now we ask: what's the role of God in the coming of death and pain in the world? [1] Some people take pain medication once a day; others take it multiple times per day. Its a common question that is used to argue that either God is not all-good or He is not all-powerful. And it is the Cross, more than anything else, that has called me inexorably to Christ.. The Enigma of Suicide: Answers From Billy Graham. As a spiritual advice columnist, I am frequently asked why God allows suffering. Some suffering is due to our sinful and wrong choices, but some is due simply to the world being fallen. The Bible says, Great is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16). Im not saying every time you stub your toe you become a better person. God's wrath is righteous. And thats the way we ought to be as Christians, one in Christ. For to this you have been called, because Christ also . Why God Allows Suffering One of the most brutal truths to understand about God is why He allows pain and suffering. We can only see whats right in front of us. Human suffering remains meaningless and barren unless we have some assurance that God is sympathetic to our pain, and can somehow heal the pain. Father. When the dross floats to the surface, God skims it off; he purifies and refines us to be the radiant bride of Christ. What significance do colors have in the Bible? But pain isnt our enemy. Hope is not lost. Almost all of which contain some kind of message that the pain they encountered ended up being a blessing, something they wouldnt trade. So they were created with perfect bodies and godly minds capable of directing their desires and will, and reflecting Gods nature and His glory. You are brothers and sisters. God is not only the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Sometimes the emotional or physical pain of suffering is prolonged. "Savior" is a vital name of Christ for dealing with the . 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? Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. The Bible clearly teaches that isnt true. Satan did not call into question Jehovah's power. Sin lurks at each of our doors. In the midst of suffering, facts and truth bring little comfort. Believers are saved but not fully sanctified. They just make the suffering worse. In fact, our suffering is a sign of God's love. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee;he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. Pain stimulates the development of certain virtues in a Christians life. When someone in the church is in need, we are to come alongside them to help them through their suffering. But there is evil in the world. In other words, deny yourself what you want, and then follow me. I've been there. God allows struggle and difficult times because we are sinners and we all come short of the glory of God. While God grows our faith through pain, it is not His foremost reason for allowing us to hurt. The lives we live are a starch contrast to the stories we are drawn too. Reasons God allows pain in the life of unbelievers include showing them their need for God and as judgment for sin. Which I think is why God rarely responds to our demands for answers when we are suffering. Here are two possible answers: It's God's job to keep human beings happy, comfortable and pain-free. Again the question not so quietly arises. God does not exist for the sake of man. The closest he ever came was when he said, Show me why You contend with me (Job 10:2). Consider what God told Paul when he was in pain: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." In other words, Christians still sin. But thats exactly what God is in the business of doing. It will shed some light on the question we are asking. Twice in the verse below Paul states that the reason for his thorn in the flesh was to keep him from becoming conceited. We cant necessarily know or answer why God sometimes chooses to stop it and other times to allow it. So lets dive a little deeper into why does God allow suffering? Thats why He rose from the dead. Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. Here's the unalterable fact: Pain is often a central part of God's purpose in this world. God allows evil that leads to pain and suffering, but he is not the source of evil. Just because He hasnt, doesnt mean He wont. Pastor and author Alister Begg writes, How did Paul handle his sufferings and encourage the church to face theirs? To be honest about it, I've asked that question myself. Harm that was brought upon us by another human. But the God of the Bible charts a different course. This verse doesnt mean that God wont give you more than you can handle. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Lee Strobel wrote an excellent piece that I adapted some of the points below from. We might not like the pain, but it does serve a purpose. Compounding the pain of suffering are the answers often given by Christians. We know that pain and suffering was not part of Gods plan. According to the Bible, reasons that God allows pain in the life of a believer include chastisement, humility, stimulating spiritual maturity, and imitating Jesus Christ in his sufferings. Many agnostics believe that God is a punishing, vengeful being indifferent to our pains and suffering. Is it possible that maybe something bigger is unfolding? God Has Experienced Suffering and Understands Your Pain God's Will and Human Suffering A World Without Suffering God's Plan to End Suffering God Cares About Your Suffering Jesus Shows How Much God Cares God Cares About Suffering: Big or Small How God Shows His Goodness Amid Suffering You Can Turn to God in Your Suffering Suffering as a Christian The suffering we experience we see as too harmful, the damage too extreme, to be repaired much less be used for something good. Even Satan knows that there is no limit to Jehovah's power. However, God allows Christians to suffer for reasons that go beyond the curse. But until then, we are told to trust in His plan. One of the most common arguments atheists challenge Christians with is the so-called "problem of pain." If there's an all-powerful, loving God, why do bad things happen? Whatever its source, nature, and prognosis, pain sometimes leads people to question God. Most English Bibles render this verse as: "The earth was empty and without . We all too often try to understand and explain pain and suffering as being a consequence of our behavior and sometimes it is. Which is a selective reading of the Bible at its best. Our free will has created suffering and God is restoring us. Anne Graham Lotz: What Impossible Situation Are You Facing? If there was no sin in the world there would be no suffering. Why is there pain in the world? Thats why Christ died on the cross. Moody. Some of the most faithful believers in the Bible experienced pain. Billy Graham I know that. I saw compassion in action. But reason and facts do little in bringing peace and comfort in the midst of suffering. These stories liter our feeds on social media and are in almost every movie Hollywood makes. Taking the bad of this world and redeeming for something good. I know we dont like it, but for just a minute we need to sit in our pain. Job never asked why those things were happening to him. Yes, God the Father remained good through it all. 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. Thus insisting to be at the center. So much of the world's suffering results from the sinful action or inaction of ourselves and others. Praise the Lord that He provided forgiveness of sin to all who repent and trust in Christ. Jesus himself never answers the question of why bad things happen in this world, other than to confirm that they will continue to happen. He is a God of love, hope, and peace. 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. Moral evil is the immorality and pain and suffering and tragedy that come because we choose to be selfish, arrogant, uncaring, hateful and abusive. 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). Can Gods children avoid pain? 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). Anything at all. Want articles like this one delivered straight to your email? These experiences remind us of who God is and what He can do. Its important that we recognize that suffering is a battleground. Mathew Henry writes, Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces. Those are two very different responses. Sometimes it's simply for his glory and our good. Which we will get to in just a minute. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; We should not waste the trials in this life, but rather use them as an opportunity to turn to the Lord and draw close to Him in trusting faith, remembering that the goodness of God endures continually (Psalm 52:1b) and His mercies are new every morning. Its through pain that we will grow and develop into who God has created us to be. God gave us free will and wants us to exercise it. In an interview, Governor Robert List talked about the good times at the MGM only 24 hours before. This attitude leads to a lack of growth. Social sharing is permitted. But we can understand what God has spoken to us through His Word. Not only is He in control, Hes a good God that is working things for His glory and our benefit. When Satan led Adam and Eve into disobeying Jehovah, an important question was raised. Why is there pain in the world? to learn more. So even in the sorrow you feel right now, you can look forward with hope to the fulfillment of this plan. We often casually throw out the words "Lord and Savior," but these should not just be empty words that we say at church. 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. There is a mystery as to why He put people on this earth. That's what a lot of people assume is meant by God being 'loving'. Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? Ultimately God's plan will put an end to murder, cancer, tragic accidents, loneliness, sadness, depression, and grief. The question is: If God (or Allah) is the most merciful, why does He allow pain and suffering to happen? The Bible spends much its time reminding us that our suffering is not meaningless, there is hope. All content on this site is copyrighted. But God wasnt taken aback or surprised. Last and most importantly, in God our pains and failures aren't meant to harm us. Philip Yancey in The Question that Never Goes Awa, What Is Sin? But God sees the bigger picture and one day He will reveal it to us. God allows and sometimes even causes pain in our lives. None. The Bible contains a lot of suffering, but surprisingly says little about it. Suffering spurs us to action. Instead, He forewarned the man and allowed him to decide for himself. He created the earth, and all that is in it, to be in perfect harmony with His character and nature. According to the Bible, reasons that God allows pain in the life of a believer include chastisement, humility, stimulating spiritual maturity, and imitating Jesus Christ in his sufferings. God is causing your suffering because ______. True followers of Jesus are spared from suffering. The Purpose of Pain. Sometimes pain increases a persons dependence on God, leads them to draw near to him more, and causes them to study the Bible and pray more. To become better at your job? The problem is our culture sees pain as the enemy. God is all-powerful. Put your email in the box below! #christianyoutubechannel #viral #tyetribbett #pain Although I was only two years old, this pain resurfaced as I grew older. Because we have been comforted through the Word of God, we in turn may be able to comfort others. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. God sometimes allows pain in the lives of believers, including as a consequence of their own choices, in order to discipline them. He created the earth, and all that is in it, to be in perfect harmony with His character and nature. 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. The Bible teaches that God is omnipotent and that no other being, whether a human or even Satan himself, can match or surpass his strength. Pain is not a danger to avoid. A disease that ravages our body. Why is God letting this happen? In contrast, in our personal lives, we cant stand even the smallest pain. Because of love. The pain is a defense mechanism that keeps you from further harm. When the complexity of suffering rears us its head, we will find ourselves ill-equipped to deal with the ramifications. Jesus said, for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me (Matthew 25:35-36). It will all be over. Pain isnt something we need to get rid of. Lewis wrote, But pain insists upon being attended to. Topics: Suffering. Writer. Theres also pain and suffering that occurs from the consequences of our sin or when we are a victim of anothers sinful actions. If you want more about Gods response to the pain we face check out: Why Did Jesus Weep. Husband. Because He allows us to have free choiceto be humans and not preprogrammed robots. Our loving and merciful God has a perfect plan to use that suffering to accomplish His threefold purpose. Thats the hardest thing of all, to be patient, to have songs in the night. One way is to curse God because of our suffering and the other is to praise God, even in the midst of our suffering. In the Bible you will find the answers to the questions and the problems of your life. Am I being punished? God is redeeming all things for His good and our benefit. Some illnesses are a result of not taking care of ones body. - 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. 1. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his . He might not keep usfrompain and suffering but He will keep us (hold us and care for us)inour pain and suffering. What Does it Mean to Taste and See that the Lord is Good? It either drives us closer to God or makes us bitter at God. The Bibles approach to the problem of suffering makes it clear that discernment is necessary every step of the way. There are a few things that are important things on the topic of suffering we should know. When a member is down and discouraged, the church is called to lift that person up. If we seek God, He is faithful and He will provide. 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. God allows for suffering, but He did not create it. Our unwillingness to face our pain is a far greater danger than the pain itself. Or God may know a danger lurking in the job . If you listen pain will tell you something. This idea is false. You see, God is working miracles through them to reach others who need to see and hear God's power working in the lives of others. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. One day "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4). But then sin entered the world. Not even someone as important to Gods work as the Apostle Paul escaped pain and suffering. In Jesus, we have that assurance.". 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