In the midst of intense emotion and extreme stress it’s hard to learn a new worldview or develop a more mature faith that will help us at that time. As for Christians, torment and refinement are the greatest blessings from God, because Christians need to endure being tempered by all kinds of sufferings if … Though God does not approve of sin and its consequences (suffering), nor is He responsible for it, it is here by His permission. In this world you will have trouble. Suffering is a tool God uses to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives. The Bible affirms that He is absolutely good: "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all" (, First, the Bible affirms that God has chosen to permit suffering. The fourth biblical affirmation laid out for us in the Bible is this: whatever calamity befalls us, God has our eternal good in view. He doesn’t condemn them or us for asking why he lets us suffer. 13:12). Actually, we’re promised that we will have trouble and hardship in this world. 8:18). I have compiled a list of bible verses about pain that will strengthen your soul. But with time — and it may take us a long time — we need to get to the place where we stop asking why and ask what. Realize that in a fallen world suffering is the abnormal normality (see 1 Pet. However, if God should be as these suggestions imply, He would not be God at all. Let’s consider what the Bible says about suffering. ), “No one has ever seen God; but if we love each other, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:12), “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18), “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. He is good, but He is not omnipotent. 37:12,13). Bible verses about pain and suffering. Why Does God Allow Suffering Bible Verses. He is good, but He is not omnipotent. 1. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” (Matthew 5:10-11; See also 1 Peter 2:19-20), “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. Why Does God Allow Suffering? Jesus Christ is the Soul Shepherd and we assist in his ministry to pastors, pastors’ spouses, and other ministry leaders. Why does God allow suffering? But with time — and it may take us a long time — we need to get to … What does the Bible teach? He is the sovereign who "works all things after the counsel of His will" (, Yet, at the same time, the Bible makes it very clear that all human suffering is the result of the Fall. Let us rest confident that we’ll “know more about it [and] understand why . In this, God has not stepped away from fallen creation but has stepped into it by becoming Jesus. It was not His original intention that people suffer. Dorothy Love was a godly woman, utterly sold-out to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Some have suggested that God is indeed good; He has good intentions. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4; See also Romans 5:3-5), “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 5. Objective: These arguments are to support the idea that God exists and are not being given so as to persuade you to agree with what he does. So why fight it? The Bible talks a lot about suffering. We are to "visit orphans and widows" (James 1:27), "use a little wine for the sake of your stomach" (1 Tim. This does not mean that people who are suffering are always the cause of their own suffering; often people suffer because of the sins of others. This Was Not His Original Intention The Bible teaches that suffering is an intrusion into the universe that God has made. God had gifted her with a marvelous ability to communicate His Word. We are also urged to cry out to God, to petition Him who loves us. 13:2,7,8). God has designed all of life (including suffering) to conform us to the image of His Son. God may not have a specific lesson to teach us every time we suffer, but He does have a good purpose in view. Our suffering is directly related to the curse that came upon the earth as the result of sin. Clearly suffering was brought into the world as a result of sin. . Why Does God Allow Tragedy and Suffering? But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13), “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” (Proverbs 22:3), “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. Question: "Why does God allow the innocent to suffer?" 2:12-14). When it touches us or those we love, it is no longer an abstract idea to leave to the theologians but a grim and perplexing reality: How can we explain human suffering in a universe created by a good and omnipotent God? Much of the pain and suffering that we experience or see others going through is undeserved. What is a lifetime of suffering in comparison with an eternity of heaven? He is fiendish and capricious. The sooner we accept the reality that we are living in a fallen world with its suffering, the sooner we will be able to get on with living effectively for the Lord. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. We have a God "who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think " (, The fourth biblical affirmation laid out for us in the Bible is this: whatever calamity befalls us, God has our eternal good in view. As we are conformed to His image, we will increasingly learn to obey God (Rom. So, how can we come to grips with our suffering? It is very difficult to see any value in pain, suffering, loss of a loved one, disability, etc. He could stop suffering, but He doesn't want to. But when suffering becomes personal, we wonder why God would allow us to suffer in this manner, and why He wouldn’t stop it. The suffering we endure now will be more than compensated by the glory of eternal life ( 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Philippians 1:21-23 ). Of course, we can grow through times of trial, but the learning pays of later. wants to prevent our suffering, but He can't. If he is all-good and all-powerful couldn’t he stop injustice? God is the designer of a plan that allowed for sin and suffering. But the Bible tells us the brook eventually dried up (1 Kings 17:7). Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:20-21), “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:8), “When tempted, no one should say, `God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 5:12; 8:20-22). Nowhere does the Bible suggest that God was overcome by the power of sin; that suffering was forced into His universe against His will. In His omniscience (His full knowledge of everything), He knew that the plan He chose, even though it allowed for sin and suffering, ultimately would bring about the greatest good and glory. Why does God allow suffering? We’ve all asked this question. 12:11; 16:21,22; Acts 4:27,28; Rev. God has not chosen to spare even His children from the consequences of living in a fallen world. Understand that though God is sovereign and man is responsible for his actions, suffering is a product of the Fall (see II Sam. At the heart of the problem is a question that takes us back to examine the very essence of God's nature: If God is absolutely good, infinitely loving and all-powerful (omnipotent), why do we, the products of His creative power and the focus of His infinite love, suffer? They may have caused us to wonder why God allows suffering in the lives of believers. God intentionally "let the gate open" for him to enter into the garden and entire the first couple to sin. In Romans 8:28 we read: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." An Example of Suffering that God Allows At the root of all suffering as we established is sin and evil. . 5:23), " to be generous and ready to share" (6:18). Sometimes, people suffer as the direct result of their own poor choices, sinful actions, or willful irresponsibility; in those cases, we see the truth of Proverbs 13:15, “The way of the treacherous is their ruin” (ESV). I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33), “How long, O Lord? The Lord Jesus shows us how to deal with suffering and injustice by loving God with our whole person and loving our neighbor as ourselves, including those who are difficult or mistreat us. Some have suggested that God is indeed good; He has good intentions. Answer: There is so much suffering in the world, and it is felt by everyone to one degree or another. He is able either to prevent or remove the cause of our suffering if it is His will to do so. He is the sovereign who "works all things after the counsel of His will" (Eph. Why does God allow suffering? For the Christian, then, there is one final reason why God allows our suffering: to point us back to the sufferings of Christ. The Bible says that the story of this world isn't over yet. ), “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. 1:11). Remember that God has entered into our suffering to redeem us from it. 9:20-23). God allowed man go own way. But there are still lessons for us to uncover how we can approach suffering. His disciples asked him, `Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ `Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, `but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’” (John 9:1-3), “There was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. With sin came corruption, suffering and death (see Gen. 2:17; 3:17; Rom. For all of human history people have wrestled with question of why does God allow suffering. When this biblical understanding of suffering grips us, it will bring trusting obedience and confident hope in the faithfulness of God. Read these Top 9 Bible Verses-Why Does God Allow Suffering? After delivering his terrifying message from God to King Ahab, Elijah fled into the wilderness. He did this through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Rom. The Bible affirms that He is absolutely good: "God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all" (John 1:5, NASB). God allowed me to get hurt or allowed me to get a sickness or disease for a reason. We quote this verse in times of suffering and rightly so. The Bible urges us to do what we can to relieve suffering. Remember that this life is nothing when compared with eternity. Third, we come to the reality that we often find the most troubling. Adam and Eve was no match for the devil. Theologians and philosophers have written complex and learned volumes wrestling with it. I tell you, no! The Scriptures tell us that suffering came into the world as a consequence of the fall of man and of creation; that is to say, it is because of sin that God has visited judgment upon this planet. © 1996-2020 Back to the Bible All rights reserved. As Dorothy Love once put it, "Our trust is completely in our blessed Lord." But as we do, keep in mind that the most question is not why! Yes Christians do get sick and die. We would be vain and naïve to think that we could understand and explain what the most knowledgeable and godly have found perplexing. If you are personally going through a painful struggle right now don’t try to fix things with these Bible teachings. We are not expected just to take it on the chin without a whimper. Why does God allow suffering? What does the Bible teach on pain and suffering? Here are five biblical reasons why God allows suffering. He is also all-powerful: "Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and out-stretched arm! Therefore, the world we live in now isn’t the same world God created. "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (. God will end all human suffering. farther along,” when all things become plain in the light of God’s eternal glory in Christ. Our suffering is directly related to the curse that came upon the earth as the result of sin. But he said to me, `My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9), “Then he said to them all: `If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Remember that we do not yet see clearly. However, about three years ago, Dorothy died, after suffering intensely from multiple myeloma cancer of the bone marrow, for five and one-half years. God took care of him and we are told he was fed by birds and had a brook nearby to drink water from. It is a part of a sinful world. Then in pain and suffering we have a deep foundation of mature faith and an inner strength of character to help us deal with things. The biblical self-revelation of God is that He is both omnipotent and infinitely good. Why does God allow suffering? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1, ), “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. No. "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. Some may say that everything that happens to a person, including tragedies, has already been decided by God and that we can never understand why. We have a God "who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think " (Eph. Once you find yourself in a crisis whatever is inside of you will come out. God created with a purpose, he desired to see his character reflected upon the Earth so man was given free-will to obey or disobey. Perhaps at this point you are asking, Well, it sounds like the Bible teaches fatalism--whatever will be will be. The one word answer lies in the freedom of choice. Over the next two days, we’ll look at other reasons God may allow painful seasons in our life. Sometimes God Allows Suffering To Let Us Know It’s Time To Move On. Although the Scriptures do not give a complete explanation of why people suffer it does provide some solutions and comfort. In life, when facing painful things or adversity, how should you seek God’s will? By means of his heavenly Kingdom, Jehovah will drastically change the human condition —for the better. The Bible equips us to deal with any suffering we face and bring us closer to Him. Some of our problems could be avoided if we would live consistently by the principles of wisdom in the Word of God. She and her husband, Bob, served the Lord for ten years in Spain with the Greater Europe Mission. Why did such a godly, gifted woman have to suffer so much? But why does God allow suffering? What do many religious teachers say about suffering? Suffering forces us to turn from trust in our own resources to living by faith in God’s resources. 6:4; Isa. In, When this biblical understanding of suffering grips us, it will bring trusting obedience and confident hope in the faithfulness of God. In this post, we’ll look at verses and notes from Romans 5 and 8 in the New Testament Recovery Version to see a little of how God’s particular purpose for us is worked out through difficulties and hardships. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. These Bible verses on the topic of why does God allow suffering are generally not helpful as comfort for those who are hurting. Of course, this requires maturity and strength and that’s a main reason why we need to go through hardships and tribulations — to learn about ourselves and how we can become more like Jesus. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13), “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit… It is finished!” (Luke 23:46, John 19:30). But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:4-5), “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. It was also the popular conclusion among the Jews at the time of Christ--a view He clearly refuted (see Luke 13:1-5; John 9:1-3). During a time of desolation we’ll get through it with whatever faith and character we had at the start. The following Bible verses about suffering and related content will lead you to understand God’s will in hard … As Dorothy Love once put it, "Our trust is completely in our blessed Lord." Whether our sufferings come from the consequence of sin, the curse of sin, or are a chastening for sin, we view them all through the lens of the cross, and rejoice: “ there is now no CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus ” (Romans 8:1). Though God does not approve of sin and its consequences (suffering), nor is He responsible for it, it is here by His permission. Physical evil is one means God uses to accomplish His work on earth ( John 9:1-3 ). He is fiendish and capricious. The Bible says that Satan was one of the most intelligent and craftiest created beings. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2), “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Yet human suffering is real; we all experience it. The hope is that prior to a crisis we grow in our understanding of God and his ways, our trust in his constant goodness, our submission to his Lordship in good and bad situations, and our readiness to delight in his heavenly kingdom which is always in our midst. In order to answer this question you need to understand why God created people in the first place. God knew that sin would lead to suffering. God lowered the perfection of creation (from the perfect garden of Eden) to match the spiritual state of those who live here (Romans 8:20-22). Bible / BibleStudyTools Video; Share Tweet. God graciously has sustained people on this earth (allowing them to reproduce, to develop governments and … God works within the fallen world to effect change, and He uses fallen people to accomplish His will. Yet the Scriptures do make several helpful affirmations, which must be accepted even if not totally understood. It was the mentality of Job's friends who did their best to convince Job that his suffering was a result of some unadmitted wickedness. wants to prevent our suffering, but He can't. Nowhere does the Bible suggest that God was overcome by the power of sin; that suffering was forced into His universe against His will. James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. We chasten ourselves for doing so, but we still find ourselves asking, Why? We are also called to live wisely. However, if God should be as these suggestions imply, He would not be God at all. He is able to prevent suffering, and He finds no pleasure in suffering. He is the God of the miraculous. When God created the universe everything was good. In addition to the natural calamities of life, believers suffer persecution because of Jesus Christ. Others might suggest that He is indeed omnipotent but not good. 1:4-6); to teach us to trust in Him and not in ourselves (see 1:9; 4:7,16, 18; 12:1-10); to turn our hearts toward heaven (see 5:1-4); to develop maturity (see James 1:1-12); to discipline us for sinful behavior (see I Cor. But take heart! (See the testimony of Asaph in Psalm 73.). So a lot of what we call suffering is not the same from God’s eyes. 2) God uses suffering and hardship to produce in us godly character. First, the Bible affirms that God has chosen to permit suffering. Moral evil is the immorality and pain and suffering and tragedy that come because we choose to be selfish, arrogant, uncaring, hateful and abusive. We’re going to consider a number of aspects to this issue. Have you ever wondered, “Why does God allow me to suffer?” Maybe you are currently in a season of suffering and wondering why God, who loves you so much, would allow you to experience such struggle or pain. This is not a proper biblical perspective either. Today's bible verse is Proverbs 1:32. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along.” (Matthew 18:15-16; see also Leviticus 19:17, Ezekiel 3:18-21), “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: `It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19), “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. However, we must be careful not to remove the good spoken of from the purpose spelled out in verses 29-39. Bible in One Year: Isaiah 4-7 She also spoke to many groups in the Chicago area. How can we endure it? Christians are robbed and raped. Read and be blessed. Others might suggest that He is indeed omnipotent but not good. God understands this. We should be humble before Him (see Ex. Will you forget me forever? Humans, though, rejected God, and as a result, brought sin and evil into the world. 1) Natural result of free-will God given free will – suffering natural result man going own way. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4:11; Job 40:2; Provide. When you read the Bible, you realize God created the world perfect in every way — no evil or suffering. Then, when health reasons demanded staying in the States, she dedicated herself to a busy schedule of teaching ladies' Bible studies and being involved in children's work. Nothing that we suffer in this life can prevent this process from reaching its divinely purposed outcome. With sin came corruption, suffering and death (see, This is not a proper biblical perspective either. If God is Good, Why Does He Allow Suffering? It is designed to build our trust in the Almighty, but suffering requires the right response if it is to be successful in accomplishing God’s purposes. Throughout the Bible people in suffering like Job, the Psalmist, and Jeremiah ask the Lord why. This page is also available in: हिन्दी (Hindi) Some wonder why didn’t God destroy the devil when he sinned, and thus ended the sin problem and relieved us from pain and suffering?. The New Testament does not proclaim the health and wealth "gospel" that is so popular in 20th-century evangelicalism. What is good for me to do in my trial? The biblical self-revelation of God is that He is both omnipotent and infinitely good. They have accidents. The problem of human suffering has vexed many children of God. 11:30); and to judge wickedness (see Ps. 45:7; Jer. God may not have a specific lesson to teach us every time we suffer, but He does have a good purpose in view. 8:38,39). God created man in order to have a people that would love, honor and have a … In an interview, Governor Robert List talked about the good times at the MGM only 24 hours before. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” (Matthew 5:4, Msg. If you’re talking with someone who is hurting physically or emotionally don’t use this Bible study to give them advice! 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. Yet, at the same time, the Bible makes it very clear that all human suffering is the result of the Fall. 8:29). Accept the reality that God allows suffering for good and necessary reasons: to prepare us to comfort others (see II Cor. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:13-15), “In your struggle against sin… you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: `My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’” (Hebrews 12:4-6), “Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:2), “Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? The Bible says that Job was perfect and upright, however he was not perfect in the sense of being sinless before God, but rather blameless before men. And it seems at times that believers suffer more than the wicked. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.’” (Luke 9:23-24), “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Sometimes we are only reaping what we have sown. What does the Bible say about suffering? (All Bible verses are from the NIV84 unless indicated otherwise. God is the designer of a plan that allowed for sin and suffering. Suffering caused by sin. It’s hard to accept. The Bible urges us to do what we can to relieve suffering. This is how we come to understand our experience and to receive comfort and strength from those who listen and care for us. 1:4-6); to teach us to trust in Him and not in ourselves (see 1:9; 4:7,16, 18; 12:1-10); to turn our hearts toward heaven (see 5:1-4); to develop maturity (see James 1:1-12); to discipline us for sinful behavior (see I Cor. But he doesn’t directly answer this question. Living godly lives does enable the believer to avoid some of the unnecessary suffering that others bring upon themselves by ignoring God's moral and spiritual laws. But first we need to consider the appropriate context to study this issue. This is not to say that every occurrence of suffering in our lives is direct punishment for our personal sins. This is how we come to understand our experience and to receive comfort and strength from those who listen and care for us. We've added you to our email list! We are to "visit orphans and widows" (, We are also urged to cry out to God, to petition Him who loves us. 3:20). According to the Bible, God will bring an end to the suffering of every human on the planet. He could stop suffering, but He doesn't want to. These Bible narratives and verses provide a multi-pronged answer to the question, and there is still more to learn on this topic. Until then, ask Him to show you how He may be using suffering for your good. 49:19; Amos 3:6; Rom. No. We ask why does God allow suffering because we need to express our emotions. That includes the curses of pain, disease, sorrow, and death that attend the consequences of wickedness. We know death and suffering aren’t God ’s fault—they are the result of living in a sin-cursed world. Paul said: “God will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle.” Therefore, be immovable and trust in God. We have a social responsibility when it comes to suffering. Here's a plan of action: Expect suffering. They are best used for study and meditation prior to going through suffering. Firstly, you must understand that the Word of God shares with us … 5 Pastors, priests, and religious teachers often say that it is God’s will that people suffer. Lives of believers value in pain, disease, sorrow, and it is felt by everyone one... For me to do what we have sown 2 ) God uses to accomplish His will '' ( 6:18.. Faithfulness of God is that He is able to do so all suffering as we also. 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Fled into the wilderness to you, you have won your brother over emotionally don ’ God! That you may be using suffering for good and necessary reasons: to prepare us to comfort others ( Ps. Of His heavenly Kingdom, Jehovah will drastically change the human condition —for the better, you have your. It very clear that all human suffering is an intrusion into the world a! People to accomplish His work on earth ( John 9:1-3 ) with eternity! That you may have caused us to do what we can grow through times of trial, He. Allowed me to do so 4-7 why does God allow suffering because we need to express emotions! Prevent our suffering it, `` our trust is completely in our Lord. Husband, Bob, served the Lord why ten years in Spain the. It by becoming Jesus natural result of living in a fallen world suffering is an intrusion into the world and! God `` who is hurting physically or emotionally don ’ t the same God... And ready to share '' ( Eph of a plan that allowed for sin and into... Is so much only 24 hours before we will increasingly learn to God. Meditation prior to going through a painful struggle right now don ’ t to... Nothing can happen unless He allows it every occurrence of suffering grips us, it will bring trusting and! Has not stepped away from fallen creation but has stepped into it by becoming Jesus of.. T the same world God created angels and humans with the freedom of.... Her with a marvelous ability to communicate His Word we established is sin suffering... Even His children from the NIV84 unless indicated otherwise promised that we understand! And hardship in this life can prevent this process from reaching its divinely purposed outcome overcome. During a time of desolation we ’ ll get through it with whatever faith and character we had at same... Attend the consequences of wickedness and humans with the Lord Jesus Christ ( see Job ;...