Temporary suffering is the result of the fallen sinful world we live in; but is limited to this life. 16:4) God’s wrath is righteous. Is it possible that the pain you experience and the knowledge of God’s faithfulness you obtain through it has a purpose? And there is hope for today and tomorrow. Our loving and merciful God has a perfect plan to use that suffering to accomplish His threefold purpose. – Genesis 50:19-20. by Dr. David Jeremiah. Suffering is the result of mankind’s sin and rebellion against God (Genesis 3). God Permits Suffering First, the Bible affirms that God has chosen to permit suffering. If there were two words or ideas that don’t belong in the same sentence these would qualify. There is comfort we never thought was possible. And not only that, He is a God who actually addresses the issues that are responsible for our pain and our suffering. And that’s the way we ought to be as Christians, one in Christ. If you remember the story of Joseph in Genesis, look at some of the conditions of his story. 5 Pastors, priests, and religious teachers often say that it is God’s will that people suffer. Follow the Steps to Peace online to learn about Jesus or recommit your life to Him. Share: Our pain is real. If there is anything that doesn’t make sense and is hard to come to terms with, it’s the idea of a loving God and suffering. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. When it is all said and done he will ultimately fulfill his promise and wipe away every one of your tears. Once you clear that hurdle, we can now look more intently at the question: does the bible explain why God allows suffering? Why does God allow abuse and torture of innocent children? We are all under the curse of Adam’s sin, which means you will experience pain, hardship, and tears in this life—and one day you will experience death. 1. Suffering reminds us … Yet the story doesn’t end with his suffering. You can feel for them in that suffering situation. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Yet within that sin and evil God has the ability to turn the most difficult pain and suffering into something that becomes good and blesses many people. Home Why are we here? However, I want you to be careful not to automatically equate any suffering you may be going through right now with some specific sin you have committed. That’s why Christ died on the cross. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”. At the root of all suffering as we established is sin and evil. Can you imagine the pain and suffering Joseph went through during this 13-year period of his life? There are many promises throughout Scripture of God bringing us through trial and pain. The closest he ever came was when he said, “Show me why You contend with me” (Job 10:2). Give me grace to endure and wisdom to understand the purpose behind what you are doing. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might – 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9. Will Graham Q&A: What Good Can Possibly Come from COVID-19? It may be to bless someone else. If you are suffering, as difficult as it may be, when compared to eternity, your current suffering is only for a little while. In this, God has not stepped away from fallen creation but has stepped into it by becoming Jesus. In Buddhism, to reach divinity is precisely to move beyond the possibility of suffering. There are great Christian apologists and scholars who tackle this question. God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. The Bible teaches that Satan is the author of sin. In Joseph’s case, God allowed the suffering because it would bring about deliverance for someone else. God allows the suffering, then comforts you and brings you through it, so then you can in turn comfort someone else. They will ask, “How is it that Christ is so in control of his or her life that he or she was able to help others?”. Billy Graham’s Answers for Hard Times. I have called you by name; you are mine. “But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. He allows trials and suffering because He hopes that it will purify our … 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 receive from God. God allows the suffering, then comforts you and brings you through it, so then you can in turn comfort someone else. Delivered Sunday, July 22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. It is not an easy thing to go through, but if you understand the positive effects of suffering it will help you endure until the end of your trial. What do you have to do to be ready? However, it does point to a truth that we sometimes forget. I know it’s hard when you go through suffering, but God will use that suffering to lift someone else who may be going through something similar. Suffering draws us closer to God Ultimately, God is glorified through Job’s suffering, however, that still does not explain why God allowed Job, or why he allows anyone else, to suffer. Sometimes in the midst of trial and pain, we have to look forward. Am I in the place of God? Privacy Certain narratives during Jesus’ life, however, give us guidance. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. I want to forgive you. Yet, even though we can understand what evil is, we can define and see what suffering is, it’s very difficult to understand why God allows it to continue. And he will supply deliverance. Man said, “I don’t need You, God. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. You can! 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. The question, “why does God allow pain and suffering,” is always asked of pain and suffering experienced by those we deem to be innocent or undeserving of such affliction. Why does God make people suffer? Suffering is a total mystery,” instead of saying, “No. November 30, 2007 All rights reserved. The reality of the fallen world we live in is that people are going to suffer (see John 16:33). Virtually every passage on suffering in the New Testament deflects the emphasis from cause to response. If God is a God of love, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world? 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. On the other hand, eternal suffering is the worst of both worlds. But man rebelled against God. Now that I have thoroughly depressed you, let me explain why you don’t have to be. As challenging as this life can be, there is one experience of suffering you and I will never have to experience. Jesus suffered and died for us on the cross, but God raised Him from the dead. Job never asked why those things were happening to him. For humans, there is a mystery as to why God created the earth. However, just understand there are things that will happen in this life that you won’t be able to explain, and to which you will never get an explanation. That’s because God wants to be in a relationship with us. If you have ever struggled trying to find God’s will, this book will help you discover the different ways God leads you into his perfect will. “Our suffering may be intended by God to draw out of others something they wouldn’t otherwise have experienced.” The Bible doesn’t address the particular situation of each person. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. Lord help me in my place of suffering. Suffering as an offering of self in the imitation of Jesus. Because tragedy happened to you, it gives you a greater sense of oneness with others who experience tragedy. Two of the biggest are suffering and death. The loving parent is not the one who never allows suffering … God’s ways and purposes are higher than ours, and we won’t always figure them out. There is a mystery as to why He put people on this earth. – Romans 5:18-19. He has loved you from the beginning and he will continue to love you through every difficult challenge in life. We don’t know the answer.” And we may never know until God explains all things to us. What do many religious teachers say about suffering? Jesus Christ is the perfect model of humility, servanthood and suffering ( Romans 5:8 ). I know that doesn’t offer much comfort, especially if you are suffering right now. Read these Top 9 Bible Verses-Why Does God Allow Suffering? Mankind chose to reject God’s one command, the world became corrupted by sin, and humans have suffered ever since. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). In order to understand some of the big questions that surround this topic we have to look at God’s plan as a whole. Before we even dive into the topic, I want to say that this is not easy. Where Are You, God? BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their … God allowed evil and suffering in the world to bring His Son to the cross so that we might have the opportunity to obtain eternal life. This framework is important. 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. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Suzanne D Williams. First, it should be one of worship. That’s the hardest thing of all, to be patient, to have songs in the night. When I was asked to explain the tragedy of the fire at the MGM Grand Hotel, I had to say, “There’s a mystery to tragedies like this. I would encourage you today in your suffering to know that God has neither forgotten you, nor rejected you, and he is not mad at you. That’s why He rose from the dead. First, He uses pain and suffering to draw us to Himself so that we will cling to Him. Will Graham: A Story on Social Distancing from the Old Testament, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 This is a difficult question and also a very common one. What does the Bible teach? The Bible contains a lot of suffering, but surprisingly says little about it. Job was sharing his agony of spirit with the very God he could not understand. Why Does God Allow Suffering? At least not to the end of why God allows suffering. In the Bible you will find the answers to the questions and the problems of your life. In suffering there is also a message of compassion. 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. 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. God incarnate came into this world and became a man of sorrows acquainted with grief - our suffering Saviour. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Why does God allow suffering? It wasn’t fair. I want you to go to heaven.” But you must respond to Him. But God has provided a rescue in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. God has a purpose even for evil and suffering. Help me to never lose sight of your great love for me even as I walk through some of life’s most difficult challenges. Previous article The Death of Christendom. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. Second, we should ask God to teach us all He would have us learn about Him, about ourselves, about others and how we can minister to those who are suffering. Why Does God Allow Suffering? What I have discovered is that there are some questions that just won’t get answered in this life. He didn’t deserve that. Satan claimed that no one would serve Jehovah out of unselfish love. If we turn to Him, there is strength we never thought we had. What Should I Expect From Myself in 2021? Yet God never promised that he would wipe away all tears and pain in this life. Why God Allows Suffering. Remember what Joseph said to his brothers at the end of Genesis: But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Suffering holds a message of comfort. What I do know is that in spite of the pains of life, God is still faithful. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we begin the process of sanctification. But why does God allow suffering? Bible Study Resources - Tips, Online Bible Search, Devotions. One of the most pressing challenges to Christianity is the problem of evil. Local: 704-401-2432 No. All of our problems and our suffering, including death itself, are a result of man’s rebellion against God. Only in Christ do we have a God who is loving enough to suffer with us. I don’t understand all the things that are happening in my life, but, O God, I trust in You.” And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. When the Bible speaks of suffering, if you sum them all up, there are really two types that matter most: temporary suffering and eternal suffering. You are brothers and sisters. He was: - thrown in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Jesus suffering on our behalf has brought this full circle. 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