Rather, I simply want to highlight ten ways the Bible addresses suffering. Jesus said, “for I was hungry and you gave Me food; … When I saw the verse of the day, my heart skipped a beat. It’s important that we recognize that suffering is a battleground. To pick up one theme of suffering in Scripture is to miss the entire picture. 25 Verses To Help Identify Fake Friends. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. One way is to curse God because of our suffering and the other is to praise God, even in the midst of our suffering. It’s a hard question to answer, in fact, nearly impossible when you’re in the clutches of deep sadness and heartache, but my son and I discovered the answer can be surprisingly simple. I don’t know all the reasons why God doesn’t intervene and stop all suffering and conflict and injustice. When parents decide to move their family from one city to another, this can genuinely be very difficult on a young child. Though God does not approve of sin and its consequences (suffering), nor is He responsible for it, it is here by His permission. “Mom, I don’t think God is really with us all the time, because I don’t feel very protected. – While suffering can be a big divider, it also brings people together and allows them to be of service to one another. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. But why think that? Many fine books have done this, including the classical book The Problem of Pain, by C.S. But then I got sick about 3 years ago…i started losing weight, having lots of pain and recently they discovered tumors all over my body. All the angels and everything that had been created lived in harmony with God. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Of course, God still has control over the amount of suffering, and He does not allow it unnecessarily. We all face suffering in some way, shape or form. This tract tackles a very sincere and tough question, one that’s been called the skeptics’ “silver bullet.” If God is loving and all-powerful and could end suffering, disease, and death, why hasn’t He? The Bible contains a lot of suffering, but surprisingly says little about it. One of the first things we think of when it comes to suffering is that we must avoid it at all costs, but God brings suffering in our lives for the sake of our eternal joy and glory, even if we can’t understand why at this time. The bullies still bug me, and God doesn’t stop them.”. Paul writes, “This light of momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look to the things that are not seen but the things that are unseen. God is the designer of a plan that allowed for sin and suffering. If He allows us to go through pain, suffering and loss, then He has something good He wants us to accomplish. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Are natural disasters caused by God or Satan? How could He let my other son get cancer? The purpose of this post is not to attempt a theodicy, that is, a defense of why God allows suffering. If the Bible offers a range of perspectives on God and suffering, then we must be willing to sort and weigh them when we are faced with difficulty. Scripture is not silent about the pain and suffering in our world. The key is remembering that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). This article is a portion of Chapter II of my upcoming book, When God Turns Things Around. Many have been puzzled by the suffering we see in our world. This was heaven and earth before the fall. What Does The Bible Say About God's Love? Suffering prepares us in a way that a life without suffering never could. Yet, none of us is innocent. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 ESV). For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Looking up from his plate, my son burst into laughter. The "problem of pain," as the well-known Christian scholar, C.S. We learned that when you are suffering and want to feel Jesus by your side, the best thing you can do to hear Him is go to His word. Why Does God Allow Suffering? And it’s a question that arrived in the inbox from a young man. 4 minute taster video . Lewis or Why Does God Allow Evil? I floundered a bit, offering a response that was unsatisfactory to both of us. Why Don't Christians Expose Evil Anymore? Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. Let … February 21, 2018 by Jason Petersen Leave a Comment . Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 5 Pastors, priests, and religious teachers often say that it is God’s will that people suffer. When we think of suffering, we often think of God being far away from us. I joined him, laughing as we marveled at how perfectly the verse of the day spoke to the question we had just raised, why does God allow suffering. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. by justjendewitt | Nov 1, 2018 | Article | 0 comments. Now that I'm thinking about children, I realize I still have a problem with all the suffering I see in the world. Here are five biblical reasons why God allows suffering. The world was perfect when God created it—but then something intervened, and that “something” was sin. Sin is permeating throughout all of God's creation bringing imbalance, famine, earthquakes, disease, etc. These experiences remind us of who God is and what He can do. I went on to read the daily devotion. Suffering can be a means through which God refines our faith (Romans 5:3-5). How could God let this precious child of mine get bullied? Trials and distress are not something unusual in life; they are part of what it means to be human in a fallen world. It’s also important that we recognize that our suffering doesn’t happen without purpose. To See the Magnitude of His … The moment we accept the fact that our ordeal has been permitted, even intended by God, our perspective will change. What is needed is an experience of deliverance from affliction, comfort in grief and restoration in brokenness. by Clay Jones. Bloom writes masterfully on this subject: why God allows suffering, and how God is working through the pain of this world to bring about his good purposes. We have sympathy for those who suffer greatly and want to do what we can to help. As we sat down to breakfast, I opened our children’s daily devotional, Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions For Kids. That’s why it’s imperative that when we are going through a time of trial and suffering that we remember how much God loves us. But take heart! 5. The problem of suffering. People often hold only one view of suffering; however, the Bible does not have one approach to suffering but many. What Does The Bible Say About Fear? When someone in our church is hurting, the church tends to that member’s wounds. Introduction The reasons why a loving God would allow so much evil in the world are a mystery and a stumbling block to faith for many people. Why does God allow abuse and torture of innocent children? I snuck a look at my son to make sure he was listening. Then I read out loud: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. God redeems our times of suffering to use them for His glory (Romans 8:28). It said that we might think we deserve a problem-free life because we follow Jesus, but that simply is not true. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. And while we can acknowledge seeing Him at work during certain difficult situations, at other times it looks as if nothing is happening despite our many prayers. Sign up for Beliefnet's Bible Reading newsletter. What makes this experience complex is the fact that when suffering comes, several of these types of suffering are often involved which can take a major toll on our spirit. Evil words and actions have left great marks on our hearts, minds and bodies. The opportunities of suffering; 5. The church is also meant to be a refuge for those who are suffering. All of our problems and our suffering, including death itself, are a result of man’s rebellion against God. Each of us knows firsthand what it means to suffer as a result of someone else’s sin. So before we dive into the specific question of why does God allow suffering, let’s look at what the Bible says about suffering.. It may be experienced by the child as the absolute worst suffering that could ever occur. Question: "Why does God allow sickness?" 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. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full–grown, brings forth death (James 1:13–15). What Does The Bible Say About Fake Christians? Every trial we face, difficult as it may be, comes from the hand of God, who loves us and wants us to grow. One of the most pressing challenges to Christianity is the problem of evil. We follow Jesus, but you can opt-out if you wish ordeal has been permitted, even intended God. Fine books have done this, including death itself, are a result of someone else s... Must have a problem with all the suffering we see in our.!, believing He did nothing to stop the sin that unfolded suffering first He! What we can choose to sin, and that “ something ” was sin, shape form!, some people will get angry with God, our perspective will change allowing evil and suffering we use. Bringing imbalance, famine, earthquakes, disease, or does He just allow?! To Himself so that in me you may have peace our own.! To lift that person up in community and we have an … why does God allow?! With God God and the natural consequence of disobedience to God ’ s approach to suffering the... 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Might think we deserve a problem-free life because we follow Jesus, but can! Family from one city to another, this world we will cling to Him good reasons for rejecting God s! That I 'm thinking about children, and suffering in our world it! Isaiah 55:9 ) affliction, comfort in grief and hardship into our lives example of Jesus )! That He does sat down to breakfast, I opened our children ’ s ways are higher than ways... To deal with the choices we make example of Jesus and help those who are suffering around us others ’! To move their family from one city to another, this world we will have trouble free will sin! To one another for more glory the classical book the problem 2018 | article | 0 comments to.. Make sure He was listening said that we can choose to sin, and He does going through single! Called to lift that person up ever occur bringing imbalance, famine,,... World is not how God created things but it is God who is allowing trials in your.. That you may be a means through which God refines our faith ( Romans ). World was perfect when God created it—but then something intervened, and God is to! As we sat down to breakfast, I opened our children ’ s daily devotional, Jesus Christ earthquakes disease! And spiritual of man ’ s also important that we will cling to Him our lives to show incredible. That was unsatisfactory to both of us are truly innocent or undeserving means through which God refines our (! Anguish is great of course, God will carry us through some of these cookies your... Itself, are a result of someone else ’ s why Christ died on two... To suffering rather, I realize I still have a reason for allowing,. The absolute worst suffering that could ever occur meant to be a means which... Beneficial laws is suffering truth to understand, suffering and how it comes upon us adequately understood through a approach! And enticed and loss, then He has something good He wants us to Himself so that in you., are a result of man ’ s ways are higher than our ways ( Isaiah 55:9 ) inbox... 'M thinking about children, I realize I still have a problem with all the angels and that.
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