That includes the curses of pain, disease, sorrow, and death that attend the consequences of wickedness. God allowed Satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him, and Satan did his worst. Paul was doing God’s will, yet he found himself in a Roman prison. Clearly suffering was brought into the world as a result of sin. Is it good to suffer? Question: "Why does God allow the innocent to suffer?" 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. ~ Brennan Manning, And His name will be the hope of all the world. Photo by Ian Keefe on Unsplash. In fact, it might mean you’re right in the centre of His will. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. Why does God allow suffering? But as we do, keep in mind that the most question is not why! God wants people to follow the example of Jesus and help those who are suffering. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. If this life on Earth was all humans had to look forward to, then it might be said that God should not allow suffering. To answer that we must first ask, “Would a good god eliminate pain and suffering?” C. S. Lewis addressed this very question in his book The Problem of Pain. How can a good God allow a teen girl to be sexually violated by multiple men multiple times? Invading problems promote spiritual maturity. This is not how God created things but it is God who is allowing them to continue for his divine plan. Suffering is a tool God uses to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives. Romans 8:17, We can’t, and we should not, compare sufferings. 5 Pastors, priests, and religious teachers often say that it is God’s will that people suffer. Suffering makes us remember that, if we know the Lord Jesus, we’re citizens of a far better, future world, where every tear will be wiped away, and all pain and sorrow will be removed. One day, our suffering will end. Every life is filled with trouble no matter who we are. The first is God made us with free will and we turned away from him. The Bible should always be our first stop in understanding God and the world around us. Why does God allow suffering? Can there be some suffering and God is still real? Nov 13, 2018 - It's a question that gets asked every day. A great deal of the suffering in the world is as a result of us having mortal bodies. 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). ~ C.S.Lewis, Praise the Lord, all you who fear Him! Having offered those initial comments, Lewis presented at least three key purposes for suffering, the first of which I’ll address here: Suffering can lead us to humility. Your email address will not be published. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. I was raped twice. Maybe the answer to the question does the bible explain why God allows suffering is found here in the person of Jesus Christ. Many argue, "Why would an all-powerful, all-loving God allow pain and suffering?" Why Does God Allow Tragedy and Suffering? … Please visit About Blessing Counting and Deb at the top of the page, and don't forget to leave a comment and subscribe before you go. There will come a time when God will punish evil and injustice. Suffering is something that affects all of us at one time or another in our life. – For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help. Every trial we face, difficult as it may be, comes from the hand of God, who loves us and wants us to grow. RELATED: Sex Addiction . All people encounter tragedy. To answer that, we'll build on last week's episode and explore what it means to live sacrificially. All verses are taken from the New Living Translation unless otherwise stated. Even a quick look at the Bible bears witness to the fact that we aren’t the first to walk down the difficult roads of disappointment, persecution, and bitterness. Why does God allow evil? Psalm 119:76, Even if we may not always understand why God allows certain things to happen to us, we can know He is able to bring good out of evil, and triumph out of suffering. Oftentimes, God allows you to go through something not because you’ve done something wrong, but because when you come out on the other side, your story will hold the key to help someone else. What do many religious teachers say about suffering? I'm so glad you're here! Suffering forces us to turn from trust in our own resources to living by faith in God’s resources. ~Joni Eareckson Tada,  I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! People have struggled with theodicy (the problem of evil and suffering) for centuries. And then together coming and standing upon the promises of God, knowing that no matter who you are, no matter what you’re going through, that God knows it, He is with you, He is going to pull you through. Psalm 22:23a&24, Sometimes God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves. 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. I’m not sure if you mean the sidebar Pinterest box, that’s a WP plugin. He doesn’t condemn them or us for asking why he lets us suffer. –Corrie Ten Boom, He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. Why does God allow suffering? Your email address will not be published. Current Issue January-February 2021 Subscribe. Before we speak to the question of why God allows children to suffer, we need to ask the bigger question: Why does God allow suffering to happen to any person, whether he’s two years old, two months old, or twenty years old? It Reminds Us of the Reality of Sin. God … How to Start the Year with Faith and Hope, How to Fight Spiritual Battles for the People You Love, Jesus Has What You Need to Change Your Life, How to Have Contagious Joy This Christmas. Gumbel speaks of how for the most part suffering is caused by sin. I'm Deb Wolf, a recovering “good little church girl” who has been transformed by grace into a joy-filled blessing counter crazy in love with Jesus. No man will learn from the suffering of another; he must suffer himself.” ~ James H. Aughey #9 “When you suffer and lose, that does not mean you are being disobedient to God. Good parents discipline their children, and God is a Good Father. Plenty of useful information here. ~ Augustine, Your promise revives me; it comfits me in all my troubles. Yesterday, I answered the question – Why does God allow suffering? (I employed “can” here because suffering can also lead to rebellion. Suffering Is A Result Of Sin Suffering entered into God's universe as a result of sin. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. As Christians, we're anointed by God for eternal life with Him. Rain falls upon every life. Not necessarily your own sin but the sin of others. The fallenness of the world brings suffering. No. And God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good (Genesis 1:31). To know the value of the good. Principle #1: Suffering Teaches Us to Trust God. How can a good God allow something so terrible to happen? A deep devotion to the Lord never excuses us from pain and trial. God Permits Suffering First, the Bible affirms that God has chosen to permit suffering. Everybody struggles through hardship—not just Christians. Why is there so much suffering in the world? To start off with, God did create a world without suffering. Because it was his suffering that brought about our salvation. But I do know two very important truths. Thank you so much for visiting CMB. But as we learned in Chapter 3, the real ruler of the world is Satan the Devil. But God has provided a rescue in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. We sometimes ask, “If there is a loving God, why does He stand back and do nothing while the world is full of suffering?” Suffering in our own lives can be a big problem. Suffering is the result of mankind’s sin and rebellion against God (Genesis 3). We have sympathy for those who suffer greatly and want to do what we can to help. 6 Many people blame God for all the suffering in the world because they think that God rules the world. Pain and suffering cause us to run to God with our need. … Here are sixteen Bible passages that help us understand why God allows the presence of evil and suffering in the … This is a question that has baffled people for generations and I am going to give you a great theological answer right now: I don’t know. Lewis asserted that pain is God’s “megaphone to rouse a deaf world,” but was quick to add, God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way. It … Refresh and try again. R.C.Sproul, Now let Your unfailing love comfort me, just as You promised me, Your servant. An assumption that God or a god exists is implicit in this discussion. God using suffering to draw us to Christ. 5. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help. Pastor Greg Laurie shares a message entitled "Why Does God Allow Suffering, Part 1" from Job 1. It is an offense against a holy God. Many have been puzzled by the suffering we see in our world. Why does God allow suffering? Error rating book. Pin 11. Why do bad things happen even to good people? In fact, the Bible promises it. The Bible is insistent we not try to answer that question. That’s not an easy question to answer, but certain Bible passages tell us that God may display his works or deepen our belief in him during times of suffering. Ultimately, we can’t know all the reasons why God allows suffering, we just know that He does. The presence of evil and suffering in the universe is certainly consistent with there not being an omnipotent, omniscience, and omnibenevolent god. We shouldn’t, however, rule out the possibility. Why does God allow suffering? So before we dive into the specific question of why does God allow suffering, let’s look at what the Bible says about suffering.. Why Does God Allow So Much Suffering in the World? 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. In other words: your suffering is not for you; it’s for the testimony that will be birthed through your suffering that will reveal the glory of God to others. Hebrews 12:10-11 states, “God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. This occurred when Adam and Eve disobeyed God at the prompting of the devil. Suffering and adversity remind us not to allow ourselves to become overly comfortable here. Why does your god allow suffering? I think of … And His name will be the hope of all the world. Why do many people blame God for all the suffering in the world? In order to understand some of the big questions that surround this topic we have to look at God’s plan as a whole. Why does God allow bad things to happen? Did God create evil, or does He just allow it? There are different reasons why God would allow suffering. ~ Billy Graham,  Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for you. Remember the verse I cited earlier—Hebrews 5:8? What The Bible Says About Suffering . This was heaven and earth before the fall. Each of us knows firsthand what it means to suffer as a result of … God uses suffering to build our character. But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. Hi! I have overcome the world. ~Jesus in John 16:33, You may never know that JESUS is all you need, until JESUS is all you have. Various answers have been given but permanently settling the issue is impossible (this side of heaven) because so many of our answers raise further questions. If God is all-powerful and all-loving, then why does He allow evil and suffering in the world? Share 2K. As will be seen, there are several reasons why God would allow suffering to occur in the world, but all of them, according to the Christian view, would have to be linked to the advancement of love – the free appropriation of love. ~ C.S.Lewis Praise the Lord, all you who fear Him! Why does God allow suffering? 7, 8. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 3- Suffering through hardship and adversity is also a reminder for people who tend to take God's blessings for granted. The Bible doesn’t address the particular situation of each person. Welcome back. Why does God allow suffering? Thanks Barb – I use Jetpack on my site and it is one of their options for social media. Why does God allow abuse and torture of innocent children? The only way to begin answering this question is to view our fallen world from God's perspective. Reframing the Question. God must have a reason for allowing evil and suffering but the reason is beyond human understanding. What verse do you turn to when life is hard? 2 Corinthians 1:4, When you and I hurt deeply, what we really need is not an explanation from God but a revelation of God. Mankind chose to … Why not nip the entire suffering business in the bud – at the beginning of the world? The moment we accept the fact that our ordeal has been permitted, even intended by God, our perspective will change. Though He is able to stop it, He often doesn’t. If God was real, then He would not allow children to die, He would not allow people to starve, He would not allow good people to die, He would not allow bad people to hurt others, etc… At what point does suffering disprove there is a God? can be a means that God uses to remove the person from further suffering, worse suffering, or future suffering. Why Does God Allow Suffering? Just how and why? There are no accidents in the life of the believer.” ― Greg Laurie, Why Does God Allow Suffering? I was impregnated as a teen and had a miscarriage 1. Why would a good God allow so much pain and suffering- or for that matter, why would a good God allow any pain and suffering at all? It's our choice whether to accept God's free ticket to eternal life in paradise (Acts 4:12). Suffering and death in this corrupted world are guaranteed for each of us.  Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for you. The Bible contains a lot of suffering, but surprisingly says little about it. I don’t know all the reasons why God doesn’t intervene and stop all suffering and conflict and injustice. It’s God’s great reminder that this world is not our real home. God is the designer of a plan that allowed for sin and suffering. © CountingMyBlessings, 2020. Throughout the Bible people in suffering like Job, the Psalmist, and Jeremiah ask the Lord why. Our pain is real. 2K Shares. Someday we will know—but not yet. Just how and why? Why Does God Allow Suffering? ~ A.W.Tozer, And since we are His children, we are His heirs. GOD ORDAINS SUFFERING TO DISCIPLINE HIS CHILDREN The book of Job forces us to pump the brakes on automatically assuming God is disciplining someone for their sin when they experience suffering. How can a good God allow something so terrible to happen? God understands this. How much? God doesn’t remove us from pain and suffering, but ultimately, the Bible promises that God has and will finally defeat evil. God does not merely perform some kind of demonstration ("Hey, look, I am innocent, and I am also suffering because of your suffering"). There are many people who cling to the belief that God does not punish, but this depends on what you mean by punishment. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Counting My Blessings  – at the Intersection of Faith and Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. It's our choice whether to accept God's free ticket to eternal life in paradise (Acts 4:12). Though God does not approve of sin and its consequences (suffering), nor is He responsible for it, it is here by His permission. All that we suffer … builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven …” 6 A little reminder in the shape of hardship or adversity may hopefully remind the human not to take God's blessings for granted: The path of obedience is often marked by times of suffering … When A Word Is Worth A Thousand Complaints (and When It Isn’t) Why … Why does God allow suffering? Despite all the blessings given to the human by God, the human being is unappreciative. Answer: There is so much suffering in the world, and it is felt by everyone to one degree or another. July 23, 2019; Share Tuesday 23. Wow, I love all of these, Deb. The only way to begin answering this question is to view our fallen world from God's perspective. Like many others right now, I am going through a tough time as we near the end of 2020. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, “Suffering is a part of every life. 🙂. In God’s Word, we find hope for stormy times. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Suffering and death in this corrupted world are guaranteed for each of us. But for the believer, for the child of God, whatever comes into our life first comes through the grid of God’s plan and purpose for our lives. But I do know two very important truths. Why does God allow suffering? We’re going to consider a number of aspects to this issue. The curious, as well as the critics of Christianity, ask this question. Why Does God Allow Suffering? Read This Issue. First, this world is not the way God intended for it to be. Psalm 119:50, God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn in no other way. 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. 6. Some suffering is not the result of the sufferer's sin, such as in the case of children. Job was a righteous man (Job 1:1), yet he suffered in ways that are almost beyond belief. We come together as a family of God, hand in hand. Pain and suffering are an unavoidable part of our lives. First, this world is not the way God intended for it to be. Amazing grace is no longer amazing to us. I was wondering – how do you put that little text box on your pinterest pin? ~ Nick Vujicic, Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. There are no accidents in the life of the believer.” ― Greg Laurie, Why Does God Allow Suffering? Tweet. Every trial we face, difficult as it may be, comes from the hand of God, who loves us and wants us to grow. 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