Why do people suffer?

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Heavenian

Active member
Jun 18, 2020
236
129
43
#1
Why do people suffer?
Let your answer comes from the Word of GOD.
Thanks.
JESUS is LORD..
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
4,451
113
#2
Why do people suffer?
Let your answer comes from the Word of GOD.
Thanks.
JESUS is LORD..
James 1:12 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Suffering, trials, disease, the aftermath of sin, is often the one question that either liberates or enslaves the individual on the journey to enlightenment.

We examine the suffering in the world and you have two outcomes. Either a faith so strong and so thankful that praise for God can go out even from the most darkest places on Earth. While the other half can only see from the perspective of the world or a worldless God. No hope or really no reason to live other than survival to pro long life until they return forever back to the Earth.

Why do people suffer? Suffering began after the first rebellion through Adam and Eve as sin entered the world. Pride, jealousy, coveting, murder, natural disasters, decay, disease, the forces of Satan, and yes some events of trials are God in a active position to grow your faith. But equally God is still in control and works amidst the trials of the Earth. If God rescued us every single time then we wouldn't need faith or seek God in a closer type of relationship.

To remain steadfast is the crown of legitimate faith. A true believer who knows and believes God's promises who even in suffering we should take the stance below.

Daniel 3:16-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

God can deliver us but if not we will still stand for God because in life or death our lives are still in the hands of God. We will still face eternity regardless if we come to understand the suffering from a Biblical perspective.

Another great example would be Paul who experienced beating, harassment, mob violence, stunning, ship wreaks, snake bite, imprisonment, betrayal, death threats, and ultimately death by execution.

All through out the scriptures, Paul can be seen praising, thanking, preaching, worshipping and working amidst his circumstances to reach the lost or encourage the believers.

No doubt that the Spirit is a major factor as emotionally we as humans often fail but if we hold close to God, the Spirit can do wonders within us.
 

AndyMaleh

Well-known member
Jun 26, 2020
863
531
93
43
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
#3
Because this life is obviously not the real deal that’s in heaven. It is meant as a test to see if we qualify for heaven.

I just shared this in the Random Bible Verses thread today on the same subject:

Phl 1:29 (NET)
"For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him,"
 
Jul 20, 2019
1,228
882
113
#4
Love always stands firm, no matter the cost involved. I have experienced this in real life.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,247
25,715
113
#5
Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult. Proverbs 13:15

Blessed be 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 Cor 1:3-4

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials so that the authenticity of your faith— more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire— may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-9
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,247
25,715
113
#6
See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10



Romans 8:28 :)
 
Jul 11, 2020
539
97
28
#7
Heavenian asked,

Why do people suffer?
Let your answer comes from the Word of GOD.
Thanks.
JESUS is LORD..

Just like the question above, I have heard people ask, if God is in control of the Universe, why are there so much chaos in the world? why so much suffering?

1. The chaos, pain and sufferings are man made and God has nothing to do with them than to ensure that man's wickedness does not disrupt the equilibrium of the universe which he created for the collective good of all. The chaos are as a result of man's failure to walk with God in righteousness and allow him guide his feet to peace. God gave man a choice --- to choose between life and death and man chose death by committing evil continually and walking away from the life of peace and harmony which he can only have in God. His pride, greed and covetousness drives him to monstrous outcomes. The scripture says that evil shall slay the wicked and the wicked is snared in the works of their hands (Psalm 34:21, 19:16). Therefore these sufferings exist in part for the wicked to reap what they have sown. They sow evil, they reap same evil.

I watched a viral video involving a Barber and one of his customers which gives more insight to this discourse. Their conversation went thus:

Barber --- I do not believe God exists
Customer---- why do you say so?
Barber ---- God does not exist, that is why everywhere you go, you realize that there are so many people in pain, so many people suffering. If God really exist, why does he allow these things to happen?

The customer stepped out of the barber shop and came back with a man with a very long hair and their conversation continued

Customer ---- I do not believe barbers exist.
Barber --- why do you say that?
Customer-----if barbers exist, men will not go about with long hair hanging on their shoulders.
Barber ------ they have long hair because they refuse to go to the barber to cut their hair. it is their choice.
Customer ---- in the same way people suffer and are in pain because they refuse to go to God to have peace. It is their choice. Some fail to understand and obey the word of God.
Barber -- could not utter another word because he understood clearly the analogy of his customer.

We wonder what is happening to our earth environment. We hear about climate change - ozone depletion and ozone hole and other unexpected natural catastrophes brought about by the activities of mankind. Today, Nations go overboard to compete with one another and waste enormous resources on Space Programs, Nuclear and chemical weapons while our immediate environment weeps for attention and care. There are pollution everywhere. Soon, the rich will plan their vacations to Space and probably wish one day to relocate there permanently to escape the pollution and "enjoy" life, all at the expense of our environment and its poor inhabitants. We celebrate ostentatious living, ill -gotten wealth and power, ostracism, racism, inequality to mention but a few and close our eyes and ears to the plight of the poor. There are pollution from idols set up in our hearts and evil works everywhere which put stumbling blocks in our face.
The society in ignorance gives its consent and approve of these doings with its members reveling in the ego of being the richest and most powerful nations or among the clique of the richest persons in the world. Some who oppose do so not necessarily for godly purposes but for the sake of party affiliations or allegiance to a particular clique or group to the detriment of the others. They affiliate themselves only where it will benefit them, having men''s persons in admiration because of advantage. The few good ones tend to loose their voices in a society where there is no principled leadership or social cohesion. These atrocities go on from generation to generation and the woes continue to occur from generation to generation. We ask, where is God? Why should God allow these to occur? Why do we suffer? Man has a duty of care to the earth environment which God handed over to us as our abode. As we lay our bed, we shall lie on it. God continues to ensure that man''s inhumanity to man and to the earth environment does not destroy the collective good of all and overall system he has put in place.

The Lord said, woe unto you for you build the sepulchers of the prophets and your fathers killed them. Truly you bear witness that you allow the deeds of your fathers for they indeed killed them and you build their sepulchers. Therefore, said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles and some of them they shall slay and persecute that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation. So, when we allow the atrocities of others either by encouragement, outright support, utterances, actions, even thoughts , no matter how subtle these may be, we will partake in the consequences of such atrocities. We will be held accountable as well. Even when we are neutral in situations of injustice, we have chosen the side of the oppressor and will pay for our lukewarmness. It pays to speak up against injustice. it pays more to do something about it in whatever capacity we can no matter how small that action may be.

The sufferings, tribulations, pains that befall us do not necessarily equate or show the degree of unrighteousness in us. It does not follow that the one suffering is worse than him that suffers not or him who is suffering most is a worse sinner than he who suffers less. Jesus puts it succinctly when told of the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices. He answered, suppose you that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things? I tell you Nay except you repent you shall all perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and slew them, think you that they were sinners above all men that dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you Nay, except you repent you shall all perish {Luke 13:1). We must return and prepare our heart to do the will of God and only then shall we find peace.

2. We should be aware that trials and temptations exist in form of suffering, tribulations, reproach ,persecution, pain etc to prove the integrity of our heart towards God, to prove our faith. Jesus went through his temptations victoriously and was celebrated by the angels. If we go through our temptations and overcome them the right way, if we suffer towards godliness, it enables us to grow in grace and we receive the glory of God. But, when we fail to overcome by allowing them to drive us to ungodliness, we suffer the outcome of our failure as a way of chastening us to do right.

In the midst of the chaos pain and suffering, however, is peace for the righteous, for the children of God who truly worship him in truth and spirit. This is so because the love of God is shed in their hearts by the Holy Spirit which he has given them that with his assurances and guidance, they feel safe amidst the chaos and false evidences of the physical senses. And when they, on their part, feel the pain and suffering, they know that it is for their spiritual growth, knowing that all things work out for good for everyone that loves God. Moreover, they know that what is happening is a phase that passes away and works for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory ( 2 Corinthians 4:17), Hence, for one on the righteous path, suffering genders perfection for even if the outward man perishes, the inward man is renewed day by day by the experiences gathered through the help of the Holy Spirit. Suffering is not a bad thing if we sorrow to godliness as St Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 4:16. We learn obedience by the things we suffer. God will not allow us suffer for more than we can cope with but we can perish for lack of knowledge especially for refusing to learn from these experiences.

Sufferings, pains, and woes could therefore come as a trial of the righteous or chastisement of the sinner to redirect his feet to the way of salvation or as punishment to the wicked.

culled from the book: SOLVING THE MATRIX OF BEING (Understanding who we are in relation to God Almighty) by Eucharia Nonyelum Unegbu, which can be bought at Amazon.com. Just search by the tittle of the book or author's name. It is in both digital and paperback.
[
 

Blik

Senior Member
Dec 6, 2016
7,312
2,424
113
#8
i once was in the presence of two angels who were helping with the birth of a baby, and one asked the other why humans cry. Why do we think of the things we feel is wrong and ignore the blessings we have.

I think by listening carefully to the Lord we can handle our life situations without tears. We can choose to ignore the blessings we have and let our "ain't it AWFUL" thoughts take over. God tells us we have control of our thoughts and God lists acceptable thoughts in Phil. 4:8.

I got caught in a terrible situation as a child so a parent I trusted told me I was all wrong and that I had to change. I wasn't told how to change except to tell me the Lord gave me fear, so I must live more cautiously. I was over 50 when I finally listened to the Lord to hear that God created me and I had a right to be as I was created.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,095
6,479
113
#9
Because we are imperfect beings living in a fallen Creation
 
Aug 14, 2019
1,374
307
83
#10
Gen 2
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Suffering in paradise?

Adam was alone and that was not good. I think Adam's search was a response to suffering loneliness
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
113
#11
Why do people suffer?
Let your answer comes from the Word of GOD.
Thanks.
JESUS is LORD..
Romans 8 is the relevant truth of us now in the Body of Christ.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

In summary, we are groaning in our present sufferings, but our hope is in the rapture.
 

SoulWeaver

Senior Member
Oct 25, 2014
4,889
2,534
113
#12
People suffer because joy and suffering cannot be known apart one from another. Notice I said "cannot be known", rather than "cannot exist".

When Adam and Eve tasted the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, this gave them the ability not to only discern and know moral good vs moral evil, but a much broader understanding. They also understood then what was better vs worse, joy vs suffering, deep vs shallow, high vs low, wide vs narrow, and through this awareness they were now able to discern and judge these things, the knowledge of good and evil was the ability to judge/discern the world around them. The first thing that came into their awareness to be judged was their own conscience. They immediately knew that the condition they had with God was glory, and discerned their newfound condition as shameful.

The coupling "good & evil" isn't Biblically used only to indicate moral good and evil, but also to indicate diverse contrasts between benefit vs affliction and similar opposites, see per example: Joshua 23:15, 1 Kings 22:8, 22:18, Job 30:26.

Job 2:10 - maybe the most illustrative - says, "shall we receive good from the Lord but not receive evil"? "Evil" in this context is also not moral evil, but refers to human suffering. Even Job says here that good (blessing) and evil (suffering) cannot be received apart from one another, because it works together, if you know one you will know the other. The mankind's eyes unfortunately had been "opened" "like God" in knowing the difference between good and evil.

Prov 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Whoever is living, their eyes are also open to good and evil. (This is why we had to become dead to the law, Romans 7)
This same ability for judging, residing as the Word of the law of life inside of our hearts, also sadly gave us the ability to condemn ourselves in the newfound autonomy:
Job 9:20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Luke 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant.
Job 15:6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: (...)

So, we suffer because we asked for a knowledge and an autonomy, the weight of which we weren't fit to carry. But it was also the only way that the mankind would ever understand their place, and rest, and have peace for the rest of eternity. They had to probe, had to freely explore that option because that's what a living creature does. Take even a kitten, and it wants to climb every shelf, even where it shouldn't go. Humans had to lose freedom to realize what freedom was, when they discerned the good of being free vs evil of being stuck in a fallen world, with their newfound ability to discern good and evil, or they couldn't have wanted to be free, they would have been like a sleeping baby in a womb. So in that sense, the fall of man was bad but it couldn't have been any different, it was bound to play out.
 

Heavenian

Active member
Jun 18, 2020
236
129
43
#13
Heavenian asked,

Why do people suffer?
Let your answer comes from the Word of GOD.
Thanks.
JESUS is LORD..

Just like the question above, I have heard people ask, if God is in control of the Universe, why are there so much chaos in the world? why so much suffering?

1. The chaos, pain and sufferings are man made and God has nothing to do with them than to ensure that man's wickedness does not disrupt the equilibrium of the universe which he created for the collective good of all. The chaos are as a result of man's failure to walk with God in righteousness and allow him guide his feet to peace. God gave man a choice --- to choose between life and death and man chose death by committing evil continually and walking away from the life of peace and harmony which he can only have in God. His pride, greed and covetousness drives him to monstrous outcomes. The scripture says that evil shall slay the wicked and the wicked is snared in the works of their hands (Psalm 34:21, 19:16). Therefore these sufferings exist in part for the wicked to reap what they have sown. They sow evil, they reap same evil.

I watched a viral video involving a Barber and one of his customers which gives more insight to this discourse. Their conversation went thus:

Barber --- I do not believe God exists
Customer---- why do you say so?
Barber ---- God does not exist, that is why everywhere you go, you realize that there are so many people in pain, so many people suffering. If God really exist, why does he allow these things to happen?

The customer stepped out of the barber shop and came back with a man with a very long hair and their conversation continued

Customer ---- I do not believe barbers exist.
Barber --- why do you say that?
Customer-----if barbers exist, men will not go about with long hair hanging on their shoulders.
Barber ------ they have long hair because they refuse to go to the barber to cut their hair. it is their choice.
Customer ---- in the same way people suffer and are in pain because they refuse to go to God to have peace. It is their choice. Some fail to understand and obey the word of God.
Barber -- could not utter another word because he understood clearly the analogy of his customer.

We wonder what is happening to our earth environment. We hear about climate change - ozone depletion and ozone hole and other unexpected natural catastrophes brought about by the activities of mankind. Today, Nations go overboard to compete with one another and waste enormous resources on Space Programs, Nuclear and chemical weapons while our immediate environment weeps for attention and care. There are pollution everywhere. Soon, the rich will plan their vacations to Space and probably wish one day to relocate there permanently to escape the pollution and "enjoy" life, all at the expense of our environment and its poor inhabitants. We celebrate ostentatious living, ill -gotten wealth and power, ostracism, racism, inequality to mention but a few and close our eyes and ears to the plight of the poor. There are pollution from idols set up in our hearts and evil works everywhere which put stumbling blocks in our face.
The society in ignorance gives its consent and approve of these doings with its members reveling in the ego of being the richest and most powerful nations or among the clique of the richest persons in the world. Some who oppose do so not necessarily for godly purposes but for the sake of party affiliations or allegiance to a particular clique or group to the detriment of the others. They affiliate themselves only where it will benefit them, having men''s persons in admiration because of advantage. The few good ones tend to loose their voices in a society where there is no principled leadership or social cohesion. These atrocities go on from generation to generation and the woes continue to occur from generation to generation. We ask, where is God? Why should God allow these to occur? Why do we suffer? Man has a duty of care to the earth environment which God handed over to us as our abode. As we lay our bed, we shall lie on it. God continues to ensure that man''s inhumanity to man and to the earth environment does not destroy the collective good of all and overall system he has put in place.

The Lord said, woe unto you for you build the sepulchers of the prophets and your fathers killed them. Truly you bear witness that you allow the deeds of your fathers for they indeed killed them and you build their sepulchers. Therefore, said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles and some of them they shall slay and persecute that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation. So, when we allow the atrocities of others either by encouragement, outright support, utterances, actions, even thoughts , no matter how subtle these may be, we will partake in the consequences of such atrocities. We will be held accountable as well. Even when we are neutral in situations of injustice, we have chosen the side of the oppressor and will pay for our lukewarmness. It pays to speak up against injustice. it pays more to do something about it in whatever capacity we can no matter how small that action may be.

The sufferings, tribulations, pains that befall us do not necessarily equate or show the degree of unrighteousness in us. It does not follow that the one suffering is worse than him that suffers not or him who is suffering most is a worse sinner than he who suffers less. Jesus puts it succinctly when told of the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices. He answered, suppose you that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things? I tell you Nay except you repent you shall all perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and slew them, think you that they were sinners above all men that dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you Nay, except you repent you shall all perish {Luke 13:1). We must return and prepare our heart to do the will of God and only then shall we find peace.

2. We should be aware that trials and temptations exist in form of suffering, tribulations, reproach ,persecution, pain etc to prove the integrity of our heart towards God, to prove our faith. Jesus went through his temptations victoriously and was celebrated by the angels. If we go through our temptations and overcome them the right way, if we suffer towards godliness, it enables us to grow in grace and we receive the glory of God. But, when we fail to overcome by allowing them to drive us to ungodliness, we suffer the outcome of our failure as a way of chastening us to do right.

In the midst of the chaos pain and suffering, however, is peace for the righteous, for the children of God who truly worship him in truth and spirit. This is so because the love of God is shed in their hearts by the Holy Spirit which he has given them that with his assurances and guidance, they feel safe amidst the chaos and false evidences of the physical senses. And when they, on their part, feel the pain and suffering, they know that it is for their spiritual growth, knowing that all things work out for good for everyone that loves God. Moreover, they know that what is happening is a phase that passes away and works for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory ( 2 Corinthians 4:17), Hence, for one on the righteous path, suffering genders perfection for even if the outward man perishes, the inward man is renewed day by day by the experiences gathered through the help of the Holy Spirit. Suffering is not a bad thing if we sorrow to godliness as St Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 4:16. We learn obedience by the things we suffer. God will not allow us suffer for more than we can cope with but we can perish for lack of knowledge especially for refusing to learn from these experiences.

Sufferings, pains, and woes could therefore come as a trial of the righteous or chastisement of the sinner to redirect his feet to the way of salvation or as punishment to the wicked.

culled from the book: SOLVING THE MATRIX OF BEING (Understanding who we are in relation to God Almighty) by Eucharia Nonyelum Unegbu, which can be bought at Amazon.com. Just search by the tittle of the book or author's name. It is in both digital and paperback.
[
Thanks so much Ma'am. I enjoy what you posted. True!!!
GOD bless you.
 

Heavenian

Active member
Jun 18, 2020
236
129
43
#15
I will also add these: "When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD (Proverbs 19:3)."
Man suffer because of his decisions. Read Genesis 3:1-19.
 
Jan 12, 2019
7,497
1,399
113
#16
GOD never created an imperfect being. HE created man in His own image and likeness.
Yes, but sin entered the world when Adam disobeyed God, as Romans 5:12 indicated. As a result, death also entered the world.

Sickness is an early form of death.
 
Jul 11, 2020
539
97
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#17
Heavenian said

Thanks so much Ma'am. I enjoy what you posted. True!!!
GOD bless you.

And you too. Remain blessed
 
Dec 9, 2011
13,703
1,715
113
#18
Why do people suffer?
Let your answer comes from the Word of GOD.
Thanks.
JESUS is LORD..
GOD created man so then HE knows all and everything about man and what man needs but he made man with the ability to make a choice.Man chose the wrong choice,a choice to satisfy his own desire of the flesh.

So then the flesh mind wants to serve self and will make choices that will be selfish If you look at the root there will always be that"what's In this for me" and that's selfish.

GOD looks at the heart and must be worshipped In Spirit and In TRUTH.
 
Mar 28, 2016
15,954
1,528
113
#19
Why do people suffer?
Let your answer comes from the Word of GOD.
Thanks.
JESUS is LORD..
Sufferings dying is the wage of sin, called death . When yoked with Christ the burden is made lighter. He is our rest.
 
Aug 14, 2019
1,374
307
83
#20
Jesus elevated suffering. He united human suffering to Himself. This gave suffering meaning and a powerful witness to Faith in Christ.

We see many examples In Scriptures of God using suffering to lift us up to Himself.