Why does God Allow suffering. I am a Christian and I read the Bible but sometimes I do not or understand the point. Especially constant suffering..
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Beginning about 18 years ago, I went through a two-year period of suffering due to a family situation. It was an emotional roller coaster. I couldn't understand at the time why God would allow all that junk to happen. However, through it I learned that God is good. I have never doubted that since, though I have been through even greater trials. I suspect that although He is not the author of suffering, He can and will use it to refine you and increase your faith in Him.
I've posted a selection of relevant passages. Perhaps the Lord will encourage you through some of them. May He bless you and give you the grace to endure.
Psalm 22:24 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
Psalm 119:50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
James 5:7-11 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Romans 8:22-28 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
1 Peter 1:4b-7 This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
I've posted a selection of relevant passages. Perhaps the Lord will encourage you through some of them. May He bless you and give you the grace to endure.
Psalm 22:24 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
Psalm 119:50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
James 5:7-11 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Romans 8:22-28 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
1 Peter 1:4b-7 This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
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This question, in some form or another, I believe to be the most asked question of God. And the reason is because we all suffer in this world and we know God could relieve our suffering at any time He chooses.
The simple answer is that since God is good and loving, then somehow our suffering must in some way be a reflection of this. But this answer seems so unsatisfying because while we can give cognitive assent to this, it just doesn't feel like it.
And as hard as it is to hear, the answer lies in the fact that some of our ideas about God are misguided and many of our desires are contrary to God's.
There are 2 books in the Bible that helped me understand the value of suffering from God's perspective: Habakkuk and Job.
From Habakkuk I learned that the just will walk by faith and not by sight and this makes it possible to worship and enjoy God regardless of our circumstances. From Job I learned that God is worthy of worship under any circumstances, that God can be trusted even in death, and that the ultimate goal of suffering is that God allows it to reveal Himself to us in more extensive and intimate ways.
Hope this helps. Will be praying for you.
The simple answer is that since God is good and loving, then somehow our suffering must in some way be a reflection of this. But this answer seems so unsatisfying because while we can give cognitive assent to this, it just doesn't feel like it.
And as hard as it is to hear, the answer lies in the fact that some of our ideas about God are misguided and many of our desires are contrary to God's.
There are 2 books in the Bible that helped me understand the value of suffering from God's perspective: Habakkuk and Job.
From Habakkuk I learned that the just will walk by faith and not by sight and this makes it possible to worship and enjoy God regardless of our circumstances. From Job I learned that God is worthy of worship under any circumstances, that God can be trusted even in death, and that the ultimate goal of suffering is that God allows it to reveal Himself to us in more extensive and intimate ways.
Hope this helps. Will be praying for you.
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When I was 8 years old I found my Mother dead and my Dad died from lung cancer when I was 12. When I was younger I would think and wonder Why me? For many years I wondered that and even at one point thought about writing a book titled Why Me? Even started handwriting it on paper getting to a certain point and then stopped.
I heard someone else say why me one time and then followed it up with Why not me? What would make me so special that this situation shouldn't happen to me? God in his wisdom knows each of us more than we know ourselves. I may never know the reason for the why my parents were taken from me at a young age here I will have to learn the reason in heaven, but maybe it was for my own good. Maybe I wouldn't have gotten as close to God or learned to depend more on him if they had lived.
I do know that God is in the business of character building and doing all that is in his power to insure that we are saved and with him someday. We all see the tremendous amount of suffering in this world and have a hard time understanding it but God will explain it all to us when he returns and we will agree that it had to happen the way it did to insure that sin will never raise it's ugly head again.
I look forward to heaven where there will be no pain or suffering, no temptation or sinning ever again and we will live in the perfect world that God intended us to live in the first place. It is something to look forward to we have this hope and promise of His soon return.
I heard someone else say why me one time and then followed it up with Why not me? What would make me so special that this situation shouldn't happen to me? God in his wisdom knows each of us more than we know ourselves. I may never know the reason for the why my parents were taken from me at a young age here I will have to learn the reason in heaven, but maybe it was for my own good. Maybe I wouldn't have gotten as close to God or learned to depend more on him if they had lived.
I do know that God is in the business of character building and doing all that is in his power to insure that we are saved and with him someday. We all see the tremendous amount of suffering in this world and have a hard time understanding it but God will explain it all to us when he returns and we will agree that it had to happen the way it did to insure that sin will never raise it's ugly head again.
I look forward to heaven where there will be no pain or suffering, no temptation or sinning ever again and we will live in the perfect world that God intended us to live in the first place. It is something to look forward to we have this hope and promise of His soon return.
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What are you suffering with exactly or do you mean just people in general?
There’s a cause and effect for everything, but cause and effect don’t necessarily exist in the world we construct in our mind.
Many sufferings are just a problem of perception and often the solution is to simply stop thinking a certain way. That’s what’s in the Bible.
There’s a cause and effect for everything, but cause and effect don’t necessarily exist in the world we construct in our mind.
Many sufferings are just a problem of perception and often the solution is to simply stop thinking a certain way. That’s what’s in the Bible.
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I think a lot of the suffering is caused by the sins of the world (sin, decaying body, etc.). All we have to do is watch local news. God gives us free will, and allows domino effect consequences to happen.
Also another way to look at this question is, have we caused suffering to others? Is it our fault or God's fault?
Also another way to look at this question is, have we caused suffering to others? Is it our fault or God's fault?
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If we had a perfect life with no problems or suffering we wouldn't need to depend on God. God doesn't want to see us suffer but it brings us closer to him. Believe me I know fought two cancers and many treatments and procedures and doctors that don't know what they are doing or don't care. For example I was told that you couldn't have pain with cancer I pretty much told the person she was a liar. Not sure where she came from but she needs to learn more. I sure didn't go back to her. Trust God first and everything will fall in place with suffering and all.
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N
That depends upon what type of sufferings you're referring to.
When I'm going through intense trials or sufferings, which is pretty often, btw, Peter's first epistle is one place that I turn to because that seems to be the main theme of that epistle.
Here are some examples:
1Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Peter 1:4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Peter 1:5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Peter 1:6
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Peter 1:9
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
I think that the key words here are "if need be". In other words, God may need to bring or allow fiery trials into our lives at times in order to purify us in a way that is similar to gold being refined by fire. The fiery trials, in essence, expose the "dross" in our lives that God wants removed. It's been said that "if you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen", but I'd recommend that nobody runs from the fiery trials that God brings or allows our ways. If we refuse to be purified, then I fully believe that God will continue to bring or allow more fiery trials until we finally deal with whatever God is seeking to expose and remove from our lives.
1Peter 2:18
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
1Peter 2:19
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Peter 2:20
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Peter 2:22
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Peter 2:23
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Here, we're told that we've been called to suffer as Christ suffered or to suffer wrongfully. According to Peter, this is both thankworthy and acceptable with God. Peter knew a thing or two about suffering wrongfully.
Acts 5:40
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Acts 5:41
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
If you go back and read the account, then you will see that Peter was one of the apostles who was beaten and who rejoiced that he was counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's name.
1Peter 3:14
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Peter 3:16
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Peter 3:17
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
1Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Once more, we see that there may be times that it is God's will that we suffer for well doing or for righteousness' sake. During those times, we need to always be ready to give an answer to those who ask us for a reason for the hope that is in us with meekness and fear. Our hope must always extend beyond this life and towards the life that is yet to come.
1Peter 4:1
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Peter 4:2
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1Peter 4:3
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
1Peter 4:4
Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
1Peter 4:5
Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
Here, Peter not only tells us to arm ourselves with a mindset that expects sufferings to come, but sufferings which are directly related to our ceasing from sin. In other words, we should fully expect to be shunned by others when we no longer live the type of rebellious lives that they are living. I don't know about anybody else reading this, but I've been shunned by a lot of people for this very reason.
1Peter 4:12
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Peter 4:13
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Peter 4:14
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1Peter 4:15
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
1Peter 4;16
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
It took me a while to get there, but I can honestly say that I'm "happy" when I suffer as a Christian or when I am reproached for the name of Christ. In fact, I get worried when I'm not suffering some sort of persecution because that normally means that I'm hiding my light under a bushel at that time.
As far as suffering for righteousness' sake is concerned, it's impossible not to...unless we're not living righteously.
Sorry for such a long post, but, like I said, suffering seems to be the main theme of Peter's first epistle, and it's helped to get me through many a rough time.
When I'm going through intense trials or sufferings, which is pretty often, btw, Peter's first epistle is one place that I turn to because that seems to be the main theme of that epistle.
Here are some examples:
1Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Peter 1:4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Peter 1:5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Peter 1:6
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1Peter 1:9
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
I think that the key words here are "if need be". In other words, God may need to bring or allow fiery trials into our lives at times in order to purify us in a way that is similar to gold being refined by fire. The fiery trials, in essence, expose the "dross" in our lives that God wants removed. It's been said that "if you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen", but I'd recommend that nobody runs from the fiery trials that God brings or allows our ways. If we refuse to be purified, then I fully believe that God will continue to bring or allow more fiery trials until we finally deal with whatever God is seeking to expose and remove from our lives.
1Peter 2:18
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
1Peter 2:19
For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Peter 2:20
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1Peter 2:22
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1Peter 2:23
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Here, we're told that we've been called to suffer as Christ suffered or to suffer wrongfully. According to Peter, this is both thankworthy and acceptable with God. Peter knew a thing or two about suffering wrongfully.
Acts 5:40
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Acts 5:41
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
If you go back and read the account, then you will see that Peter was one of the apostles who was beaten and who rejoiced that he was counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's name.
1Peter 3:14
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Peter 3:16
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Peter 3:17
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
1Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Once more, we see that there may be times that it is God's will that we suffer for well doing or for righteousness' sake. During those times, we need to always be ready to give an answer to those who ask us for a reason for the hope that is in us with meekness and fear. Our hope must always extend beyond this life and towards the life that is yet to come.
1Peter 4:1
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Peter 4:2
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1Peter 4:3
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
1Peter 4:4
Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
1Peter 4:5
Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
Here, Peter not only tells us to arm ourselves with a mindset that expects sufferings to come, but sufferings which are directly related to our ceasing from sin. In other words, we should fully expect to be shunned by others when we no longer live the type of rebellious lives that they are living. I don't know about anybody else reading this, but I've been shunned by a lot of people for this very reason.
1Peter 4:12
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Peter 4:13
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Peter 4:14
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1Peter 4:15
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
1Peter 4;16
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
It took me a while to get there, but I can honestly say that I'm "happy" when I suffer as a Christian or when I am reproached for the name of Christ. In fact, I get worried when I'm not suffering some sort of persecution because that normally means that I'm hiding my light under a bushel at that time.
As far as suffering for righteousness' sake is concerned, it's impossible not to...unless we're not living righteously.
Sorry for such a long post, but, like I said, suffering seems to be the main theme of Peter's first epistle, and it's helped to get me through many a rough time.
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