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..

I'm doing good cancer free since 1995 first cancer, and 2012 second cancer. Couldn't have done it without God and family support. I'm now having problems from surgeries but getting help for it. God is Good. My mom was one of the biggest supporters and now that I've got over this last cancer when we talk or see each other we say a verse to remind us what God did. God does not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. My grandkids who are 13, 11 and 10 can say the verse. My oldest granddaughter got a rock and some markers and put the verse on it, decorated it and it's going to be late Christmas present haven't seen my mom to giver her presents.

Welcome!

Christmas 2022

2 Corinthians 12:
12 I have to brag. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I must brag about the visions and other things that the Lord has shown me. 2 I know about one of Christ's followers who was taken up into the third heaven 14 years ago. I don't know if the man was still in his body when it happened, but God certainly knows.

3 As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time. 4 But he was taken up into paradise,[a] where he heard things too wonderful to tell. 5 I will brag about that man, but not about myself, except to say how weak I am.

6 Yet even if I did brag, I would not be foolish. I would simply be speaking the truth. But I will try not to say too much. That way, none of you will think more highly of me than you should because of what you have seen me do and say. 7 Of course, I am now referring to the wonderful things I saw. One of Satan's angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel too proud.[b]

8 Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. 9 But he replied, “My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. 10 Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong.

Paul's Concern for the Lord's Followers at Corinth
11 I have been making a fool of myself. But you forced me to do it, when you should have been speaking up for me. I may be nothing at all, but I am as good as those super apostles. 12 When I was with you, I was patient and worked all the powerful miracles and signs and wonders of a true apostle. 13 You missed out on only one blessing the other churches received. That is, you didn't have to support me. Forgive me for doing you wrong.

I have a rediculously high IQ, and extermly well tained. I experience suffering daily. It keeps me humble and helps me to keep my gaze on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.

2 Peter 1
Contemporary English Version
1 From Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ.

To everyone who shares with us in the privilege of believing that our God and Savior Jesus Christ will do what is just and fair.[a]

2 I pray that God will be kind to you and will let you live in perfect peace! May you keep learning more and more about God and our Lord Jesus.

Living as the Lord's Followers
3 We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 4 God made great and marvelous promises, so his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.

5 Do your best to improve your faith by adding goodness, understanding, 6 self-control, patience, devotion to God, 7 concern for others, and love. 8 If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. 9 But if you don't grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven.

10 My friends, you must do all you can to show God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on doing this, you won't stumble and fall. 11 Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you a glorious welcome into his kingdom that will last forever.

12 You are holding firmly to the truth you were given. But I am still going to remind you of these things. 13 In fact, I think I should keep on reminding you until I leave this body. 14 And our Lord Jesus Christ has already told me that I will soon leave it behind. 15 This is why I am doing my best to make sure that each of you remembers all of this after I am gone.

The Message about the Glory of Christ
16 When we told you about the power and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling clever stories someone had made up. But with our own eyes we saw his true greatness. 17 God, our great and wonderful Father, truly honored him by saying, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.” 18 We were there with Jesus on the holy mountain and heard this voice speak from heaven.

19 All of this makes us even more certain that what the prophets said is true. So you should pay close attention to their message, as you would to a lamp shining in some dark place. You must keep on paying attention until daylight comes and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 But you need to realize that no one alone can understand any of the prophecies in the Scriptures. 21 The prophets did not think these things up on their own, but they were guided by the Spirit of God.

Footnotes
1.1 To everyone who … just and fair: Or “To everyone whose faith in the justice and fairness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ is as precious as our own faith.”

In my opinion, God doesn't cause suffering. He created a perfect world for us, and He loved us so much that He gave us the greatest gift ever; free will to choose: To choose good or bad, right or wrong, love or hate. Most (maybe all) suffering comes from human interference in life. This includes our own influence over our peace, our own choices, or our own prejudices. Almost all, if not all, bad things man does can be traced back to pride, an unfortunate consequence of free will. Why does God allow it? Because the only way to fix it, to remove free will, and without that, we would never know if we are following Him because we want to, or because of how we are programmed.

Fallible, fallen humans have made this world almost unbearable, but the beauty is in the good news. We have a promise that no matter how bad life is, and no matter how long each miserable day feels, compared to an eternity in paradise with Christ, it will seem like a mere speck of time.

But this is, again, only my opinion.
Peace!!

Sister peacefully, boy I sure understand that question!!!! Biblically here is why sis. (2 Tim 2:8-10,2 Cor 4:7-18, 1 Peter 3:13-17) these scriptures and many other explain to us why Sis, I not a fan of it either!! BUT!!! I understand why!! I have had so many things happen to me, one day in a place called Williamsburg Kentucky, I was walking back home with 5 dollars in my pocket I was going to buy some bread to eat, I bought it and was walking home when I saw a strange man by a river, he looked like hell!!! Inside Holy Spirit said take him home with you and feed him!! WHAT!!!!

I am broke Lord!! OK I will do it, so I did, he did not speak much sis, I made a bed for him to sleep in, and fed him. I asked his name, but he would not answer, he was about 35, 6 foot 1 and for some reason he had this glow on him?? Anyway, I went to sleep and woke up about 5:30am and he was gone, did not even sleep on the cot, but there was a note Sis, I picked up the note and read what it said, it read Hebrews 13:2!!! Which reads " Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for some have entertained angels without knowing it!!!!!!

The next day I went to work, and on my lunch break I went to a store to buy a KitKat candy bar, the store was giving away 1000.00 on a card which was free to receive, got my card and inside of me Holy Spirit said you have won 1000,00 it was a scratch off card all patrons received, I scratch off the first two rows nothing matched except the top, bar, bar, I showed the card to the cashier and told her the Holy Spirit just told me I won 1000.00 dollars, she laughed!!!!

I said you undo the last to lines for me, she did, and she said," Oh my God!!!" You did win!!! This is not a boast sister!! What I found is to always no matter what stay thankful for what you do have and help others because the Lord will reward you!!(1 Thess 5:14-24) Sister I am 70 years old; we do not preform things to get something, we help others because we are believers in Christ Jesus!!

And we understand in time, by being a doer of the Word (James 1:22) We stay faithful to Jeus!! May every blessing always find you sister and find you most well through and in our Lord Jesus!!

I'm doing good cancer free since 1995 first cancer, and 2012 second cancer. Couldn't have done it without God and family support. I'm now having problems from surgeries but getting help for it. God is Good. My mom was one of the biggest supporters and now that I've got over this last cancer when we talk or see each other we say a verse to remind us what God did. God does not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. My grandkids who are 13, 11 and 10 can say the verse. My oldest granddaughter got a rock and some markers and put the verse on it, decorated it and it's going to be late Christmas present haven't seen my mom to giver her presents.

Suffering is our lot in this world.

Jesus said,

"24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

Matthew Chapter 16: 24-25.

I can't speak for everyone here. But some days, I feel very bad. Then again. We worry and carry the burden thinking that we solve our problems and we will win over adversity and adversaries by ourselves.

We have to realise that this responsibility is God's. What we can't do, God has already done.

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. - John 16:33.

It's not for us as Jesus' followers to worry. We must surrender our worries to God and trust that He will take care of us. It is in that surrender we can find peace. God will do what we cannot do. Peace be with you.

So we can be closer to God?

I was thinking on this when someone random rang my phone and asked if I would take part in a survey to win $500 but I said no as I was busy and could I call them back. They said no we only do outbound calls.

Dang, I will never know if I won $500. Or had the chance to. wHats $500 though, when God has given me everything already. Gods grace is sufficent for me.

Suffering is an important experience for our human and Christian lives. Yes, it hurts and most of us are not to the point in our lives where we "rejoice in sufferings" like the apostle Paul. Nevertheless, character is built and more importantly, we develop a deeper relationship with our awesome Savior, Jesus!

There is no purpose of suffering. God uses all things for our benefit, including suffering, so in that way, your suffering has meaning, but inherently there is not reason for suffering to exist.

As for why God allows it, I have thought about this as well. The first sin was like taking out the RAM from a computer - it broke the universe, and now things don't work properly anymore. Why God did not abandon the entire Earth experiment and start over I don't know. But I have faith that He has a good reason(s).

For the Christian, yes.
Romans 8:28
“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.”
Suffering came in with sin and the curse at the "Fall" in the Garden.
He came very close on more than one occasion.
Amen.
Isaiah 55:9
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

1 Corinthians 2:16

New International Version

“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ."

What a gift. Thank you Lord!

There is suffering and there is abuse....

They aren't the same thing.

One is good in a backhanded sort of fashion as it is for purification and faith strengthening and for fellowship with Jesus.

Then there is abuse.
Nope, nada, neight goot, null, empty set, division by zero, error. Danger Will Robinson DANGER!

Enduring hardships because of the Faith you hold dear is one thing.
Suffering because you made a donkey out of yourself using your faith to license Karen-type behavior is a whole nudder cridder.
And putting yourself under the power of someone who delights in abusing others....You are not your own. You belong to God and you do not misuse God's stuff....including putting yourself in abusive relationships.

Amen brother!!!

WHERE is the rest fo this thread?

we mostly learn thru adversity. when everything is going great even Christians may veer from God. the trying of our faith works patience. tribulations work patience, patience works experience, experience works hope! failings are a superb way to learn from mistakes, ask any scientist. sometimes our failings aren't what God allows but what we allow. remember that thoughts & speakings can be sinful, not just an act of sin. disobedience to God allows failings brought on by the person. Ecclesiastes in the O.T. is perfect for learning about sufferings. at times, there is absolutely no explanation for suffering because this world is a fallen place. dealing with failings wearing a smile, owning a proper attitude, execution of proper response without complaining, doubting, pouting, comments, critical negative spirit, judgements & comparisons will always advance you in growth to mature Christian.

Um, my guess go to the bottom of the posts and press the little button marked 1, it will take you back to the first page.

Luke 13:7-9 KJV
Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
[8] And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it : [9] And if it bear fruit, well : and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Sometimes during the Christian walk, we feel like we are surrounded by totally negative situations.
God knows how to prune us, that we might bear much fruit.
we don’t always see the fruit. God knows exactly what He is doing.
In a storm/trial you cannot always see the reason, like we hear the children say “but why,”
We can only see heavy rain/fog/wind.
Above that storm the sun is still shining.
God is trying us, testing us, making us stronger in him.
Numbers 14:9 KJV
Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not

Trials will come, especially when we go in our own wisdom and strength.

God never promised to answer every problem of life but has commanded us to live joyfully, wisely & responsibly. Here is a challenge & strategy for people who think they're tough: NEVER again complain, swear, yell, or allow yourself to be defeated for the rest of your life!!! It just may be that problems are the number 1 tool to teach to see THRU the issue & find success.

What button, it does not appear on my computer.