That way they can benefit from it as you have. This pain can be intense. The problem is often in our world pain can quickly move to suffering. We think theres no way something good could come from our suffering. Which we will get to in just a minute. While that might sound like a good thing, its not, its more like hell living in this world without pain. 1. Pain promotes humility. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, we are all fallen creatures living in a fallen worldand we are all subject to the consequences of our sin and that of others. But God has provided a rescue in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. As a necessary part of this life. To mature from a teen to an adult? In other words, Christians still sin. As a spiritual advice columnist, I am frequently asked why God allows suffering. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; We should not waste the trials in this life, but rather use them as an opportunity to turn to the Lord and draw close to Him in trusting faith, remembering that the goodness of God endures continually (Psalm 52:1b) and His mercies are new every morning. Nevertheless, the examples provided are clearly taught in Scripture. My guess is that what caused the most growth in your life was some kind of pain. At that time, man's diet consisted of fruits, but he didn't complain because that was how it used to be (see Genesis 2:15-17). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 We know that pain and suffering was not part of Gods plan. Husband. Jesus is the prime example of this. Because we have been comforted through the Word of God, we in turn may be able to comfort others. In the beginning, all of creation reflected Gods glory. A better spouse? Why is there pain in the world? Abraham's Bosom? One way is to curse God because of our suffering and the other is to praise God, even in the midst of our suffering. You are brothers and sisters. This doesnt mean that the Bible doesnt tell us how to think about our suffering now, it actually equips us. But man disobeyed, and in came death and suffering. "Savior" is a vital name of Christ for dealing with the . (why its more than missing the mark), The POWERFUL Truth From The 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Meaning (pray without ceasing), What Train Up A Child In The Way He Should Go REALLY Means (Proverbs 22:6 Meaning), 4 Life Giving Ways To Not Grow Weary In Doing Good (Galatians 6:9 Meaning). God loves us, but because of our sinful nature, He allows these things to happen. God came to earth and suffered with us in His pursuit of us. It doesnt allow us to stay in neutral. Instead, he responds with, Im with you. Church Planter. All of our problems and our suffering, including death itself, are a result of mans rebellion against God. (see Genesis 3). April 16, 2021 Also see Where Is God When Im Scared? It was not in His original plan that suffering would take place. We know that pain and suffering was not part of Gods plan. We, like Cain must battle our fear, insecurity, shame, resentment and anger. Taking the bad of this world and redeeming for something good. The pain is a defense mechanism that keeps you from further harm. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All content on this site is copyrighted. All suffering includes pain, but not all pain is suffering. Trying to be more like Jesus each day. For now, we must hold onto the hope that our suffering is temporary. 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. We often casually throw out the words "Lord and Savior," but these should not just be empty words that we say at church. The first thing we must recognize is that God sees the larger picture and is orchestrating everything for His glory, which is to our benefit. So, will you let your pain teach you? If God is good, the thinking goes, he would eliminate pain and suffering. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. We are obsessed with stories of people overcoming pain. Why does God allow suffering?". (Rom. If you want more about Gods response to the pain we face check out: Why Did Jesus Weep. Pain, in part, is an opportunity to follow in the steps of Christ, imitate his righteousness, resolve, and faithfulness to the Father. Im not saying every time you stub your toe you become a better person. God allows struggle and difficult times because we are sinners and we all come short of the glory of God. God does not exist for the sake of man. Can Gods children avoid pain? Pain is part of the program. Because of love. The POWERFUL Truth From The 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Meaning (pray without ceasing), What Train Up A Child In The Way He Should Go REALLY Means (Proverbs 22:6 Meaning), 4 Life Giving Ways To Not Grow Weary In Doing Good (Galatians 6:9 Meaning). They are a silent testimony of healing and wholeness that enable one to invite God to be present in the pain of another. For God, love is a higher priority than comfort, enjoyment, and even happiness. But it was humans, to whom he gave free will, who allowed the devil to turn them away from God, resulting in an imperfect world with sin and evil as a part of it. The Bible clearly teaches that isnt true. Its through pain that we will grow and develop into who God has created us to be. There is sweetness and there is suffering. One day it will all make sense. Church Planter. The last chapter of the Bible makes it clear that there is a happy ending to what is NOT a fairy tale. We dont know the answer. And we may never know until God explains all things to us. Its not by Gods design, its by our sin. When we encounter a difficult, or painful, situation our first reaction often is to run. Challenges as something to be avoided. Pain stimulates the development of certain virtues in a Christians life. Jesus encourages pain. The suffering we experience we see as too harmful, the damage too extreme, to be repaired much less be used for something good. Thats the hardest thing of all, to be patient, to have songs in the night. 3 Reasons God Is Allowing You to Emotionally Suffer by Mark Ballenger 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Here are 3 possible reason God is allowing you to go through emotional suffering and pain in your life. There is joy and there is misery. And the list could go on and on and on. We demand answers and that God fixes our problem(s). But first we need to understand what suffering is and isnt. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. Jesus was using pain to grow maturity in his disciples. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. In John 15:20 Jesus promises his followers that others will cause them pain. Hope is not lost. In Matthew 10 Jesus sent his disciples out to heal the sick and cast out demons. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee;he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. The pain is a defense mechanism that keeps you from further harm. Paul writes, We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose, (Romans 8:28). Grief causes ones life to halt and become devoid of meaning. Not only can pain and love co-exist but when you choose to love you risk pain. As mentioned above, when Adam and Eve sinned, their bodies began the dying process and they became susceptible to disease and death; and their minds and wills were no longer governed by being in perfect communion with their Creator. Harm that was brought upon us by another human. It's as much a cry as a question; a wound; a shout of betrayal of all the rules of life and fairness as you knew them. When God created mankind, He intended for us to live in perfect harmony with Him, without pain, suffering or evil. The more acutely we see our need, the more likely we are to seek His face. We avoid pain at all costs. This is not an extensive list, rather the top four things I think we should recognize. Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. Pain, suffering, and evil come into the ultimately because of sin. Many have walked away from their faith because of the suffering they've experienced. But God wasnt taken aback or surprised. So before we dive into the specific question of why does God allow suffering? (Deuteronomy 31:8). Leave a comment! 5:21) yet experienced indescribable pain and suffering (e.g. We all face suffering in some way, shape or form. lets look at what the Bible says about suffering. Suffering spurs us to action. Again, let me reiterate Im not talking about suffering. He will set all things right in the end. Permissions Home Hebrews 5:14 tells us, "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.". Some people mistakenly believe that Gods children wont (or shouldnt) experience pain. The Bible teaches that we are to be patient in suffering. Because He allows us to have free choiceto be humans and not preprogrammed robots. God's wrath is righteous. It will all be over. All suffering is the result of sin which ultimately produces evil. Cancer Patient's Pain and Suffering show their faith in action to you. Pain alerts us something is wrong and we need to stop or seek help. Bearing these facts in mind, sometimes God permits suffering to keep us from a greater suffering later or to preserve us for a greater good. Moral evil is the immorality and pain and suffering and tragedy that come because we choose to be selfish, arrogant, uncaring, hateful and abusive. Whats been your experience wrestling through this question, why does God allow suffering? Or will we turn to God trusting that while things dont make sense now, one day God will reveal the grandeur picture? At the time there was no chaos, no pain, no suffering. If you touch a hot stove your body reacts with pain that causes you to quickly move your hand. So, what do we know about why does God allow suffering? Yes, life was simple, but there was no suffering. Romans 3:23 says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.". Topics: Suffering. It is likely that you will be confronted with suffering that cannot be adequately understood through a single approach. Again the question not so quietly arises. In Genesis 1:31 God looks over His creation and declares it VERY good. He can bring good out of evil. However, God allows Christians to suffer for reasons that go beyond the curse. There could be no "bad, worse, and unconscionable.". God uses pain to conform us more into the image of his Son. We give up too easily. We need your help to keep our site ad-free. He is a God of love, hope, and peace. Suffering can show up in many ways. Pain produces holy attributes in the life of a believer like endurance, character, hope, and steadfastness. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble" ( John 16:33 ). Which is a selective reading of the Bible at its best. Easter Greeting from Reasons for Hope* Jesus. Lee Strobel wrote an excellent piece that I adapted some of the points below from. 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