why does god allow pain

Colossians 4:2 "Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.". Human experience also argues against this false idea, as followers of Christ suffer at the same rate as non-believers. But the God of the Bible charts a different course. Our free will has created suffering and God is restoring us. Lewis in A Mind Awake. Scripture tells us, We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Yes, the innocent suffer (see Job 1-2 ), but God can redeem that suffering. (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). It is the ability for us humans to make our own choices. And it is the Cross, more than anything else, that has called me inexorably to Christ.. Is Leonard Cohens Hallelujah a Christian Song? Here are five biblical reasons why God allows suffering. If youre going through a tough time, take heart. God took the initiative in giving His Son, Jesus Christ. Pain and suffering are realities in our everyday life. We see that God actually comes to the planet, he actually lives among us so that he understands our suffering, our hurt, our pain. Father. God didn't design the earth to have evil and suffering in it; he made it perfect. What we go through might be because of what we choose, but God always has a good plan for us (see Jeremiah 29:11). When the dross floats to the surface, God skims it off; he purifies and refines us to be the radiant bride of Christ. But then sin entered the world. In Jesus, we have that assurance.". Nehemiah 9:6 You alonearethe LORD; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, Exodus 20:11 In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all thatisin them, Genesis 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeedit wasvery good. Suffering holds a message of comfort. The devil said to God, If You take all those possessions away from him, hell curse You and turn from You. But God replied, You can do anything to him, except you cant kill him, and then well see (Cf. We give up too easily. Believe that in your pain and suffering, God is ever present. But God sees the bigger picture and one day He will reveal it to us. This means that they still make mistakes, have shortcomings, and say and do regretful things. To be honest about it, I've asked that question myself. What do you have to do to be ready? One way is to curse God because of our suffering and the other is to praise God, even in the midst of our suffering. Why does God allow suffering? Leave a comment! We all face suffering in some way, shape or form. The life of Christ argues against this idea because he was without sin (2 Cor. Our unwillingness to face our pain is a far greater danger than the pain itself. If He's good, why allow pain and suffering? We might not like it, but it protects us and produces good things in us. To Kill Sin and Grow Godliness. The Lord is sovereign and He controls all adversity in our lives. A failing grade on a test is a result of not effectively or sufficiently studying. There has to be something more than just something we have to bear. When we experience pain we need to pause and ask ourselves, what is this pain telling me? We, like Cain must battle our fear, insecurity, shame, resentment and anger. An accident that leads to lifelong pain. This verse doesnt mean that God wont give you more than you can handle. The problem is often in our world pain can quickly move to suffering. 2023 BGEA Sign up for Rethink Updates and youll also get access to 3 exclusive articles! God May Be Allowing This Emotional Suffering in Your Life Because He Wants a Deeper Relationship with You The Bible teaches that Satan is the author of sin. He sees our life every day and knows exactly where we stand. When God created mankind, He intended for us to live in perfect harmony with Him, without pain, suffering or evil. 1. God allows pain so people can serve others well. Sin is sin, and will always have dire consequences. Actually theres a fundamental flaw in that question. When we encounter a difficult, or painful, situation our first reaction often is to run. His desire is that no one would perish, but that everyone would be reunited with Him (1 Peter 3:9). Still, what did God do after Adam and Eve fell? He is also the foundation for morality. Pain is a blessing. The people surveyed reported that pain limits their activity three days per week on average. Writer. Without it, we cannot truly experience love. Sometimes it's simply for his glory and our good. Sign up for Rethink Updates and youll also get access to 3 exclusive articles! Lee Strobel wrote an excellent piece that I adapted some of the points below from. Although we cannot grasp the master plan of the universe, which allows for so much evil and pain (the Why? Whatever the reasons behind pain and suffering, we all experience it because of sin having entered the world. While this may be a hard truth to understand, suffering is that it prepares Christians for more glory. To grow in you something and to mature you into who he is creating you to be. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. 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. If you want more about Gods response to the pain we face check out: Why Did Jesus Weep. But we can understand what God has spoken to us through His Word. Man stayed awake by day and slept at night, and had a full day to rest at the end of the week. And the Bible teaches us to bring this message to those in the midst of suffering. You and I are not the center. In our pain, we long to know why God allows grief and hardship into our lives. According to a recent report, 1 in 3 Americans take pain medication every day. Why is He allowing these bad things to happen to me? God is working all things, even the bad things, for our benefit. It was at this point that evil, sickness, disease, and death entered the world and along with it pain and suffering. - The Bible tells us that while it's not always clear why He allows suffering and pain to happen in this earthly life, we know for certain that Yeshua can heal you spiritually when your faith (and physical health) wavers. Let me explain. All suffering includes pain, but not all pain is suffering. In fact, our suffering is a sign of God's love. The Bible chooses to focus more on the response to suffering rather than the causation. So, what do we know about why does God allow suffering? Its easy to see this in someone else life and doubt in our own life. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). This aspect of suffering should drive us to long for a better world, a world redeemed and freed from sin, a world that God will one day come again to establish (Romans 8:19-23). Pain is what causes us to grow. God is loving and merciful, kind and good, all-knowing and perfect in all His ways. Sometimes Gods people experience pain and the reasons arent known. God says, I love you. And our actions brought evil and suffering into the world. Rather, pain has a purpose and is a blessing. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Grief causes ones life to halt and become devoid of meaning. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Failure as the end. You just need to believe more. So lets dive a little deeper into why does God allow suffering? Let me offer three answers: 1) To let us see the gravity of our choices. 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. Want articles like this one delivered straight to your email? Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. No, because the sacrifice of all those innocent souls ;who are now living in paradise and realize why their pain was put upon them, gave us the knowledge to prevent something similar from happening in the future. If God is good, why do people suffer? Jesus himself never answers the question of why bad things happen in this world, other than to confirm that they will continue to happen. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. The answer to this question is that none of us are truly innocent or undeserving. We can stand affliction better than we can stand prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God. ~ D.L. In a universe with no ultimate standard of good, there could be no "good, better, and best.". 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 cant understand why at this time. But God has provided a rescue in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. So, lets look at what suffering is and how a good God can allow suffering to exist. First, He uses pain and suffering to draw us to Himself so that we will cling to Him. In an interview, Governor Robert List talked about the good times at the MGM only 24 hours before. Paul alludes this in Galatians 6:2, when he writes, Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. The church is not meant to be an association of loosely bound individuals but a community of individuals bound together. The Purpose of Pain. Husband. There is joy and there is misery. Some illnesses are a result of not taking care of ones body. Have You Read Jesus Last Will and Testament? Thankfully the Bible offers a better answer to the question: why does God allow suffering? Solicitation Disclosure Statement His newest Walking with God through Pain and Suffering is a wise, Christ-centered, comforting book for readers who hurt, and offers counsel to readers who anticipate future suffering. Job never asked why those things were happening to him. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble" ( John 16:33 ). In contrast, in our personal lives, we cant stand even the smallest pain. And the list could go on and on and on. Moral evil is the immorality and pain and suffering and tragedy that come because we choose to be selfish, arrogant, uncaring, hateful and abusive. He uses it to remove sin from our lives and to make us more into the image of Christ. 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. There is sweetness and there is suffering. (Deuteronomy 31:8). Weve established why pain and suffering exists, but we also know that God has the power to stop pain and suffering. Our first reaction to pain is to run from it, dull it, or to avoid it. Jesus requires the pain of dying to our self-interests to follow up. Love cannot be forced, it must be chosen. He clothed them (see Genesis 3:21). To understand what I mean, consider four verses from the Hebrew Bible. Why does God allow suffering? He set out on a path to redeem humanity. There could be no "bad, worse, and unconscionable.". In Matthew 16:24-26 Jesus tells his followers to pick up their cross. Ask God to help you have a trusting, patient attitude, and flee from bitterness. Return to homepage. He will always do what will be good for us (see Romans 8:28-30). Home Genesis 1:31 says God saw all that He had made and it was very good," he continued. Id love to hear from you! It will shed some light on the question we are asking. Pain is a frontline defense of the body. Yet, none of us is innocent. We may hurt so badly that even those who try to bring comfort feel the pain. Pain is meant to be a blessing. Also see How Can You Get Right With God? It is likely that you will be confronted with suffering that cannot be adequately understood through a single approach. C.S. Virtually every passage on suffering in the New Testament deflects the emphasis from cause to response. Or God may know a danger lurking in the job . 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It can continue for weeks, months, even years. While that might sound like a good thing, its not, its more like hell living in this world without pain. You are brothers and sisters. Malcolm Muggeridge writes, Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful, with particular satisfaction., He continues: Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my seventy-five years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence, has been through affliction and not through happiness, whether pursued or attained., Muggeridges pain has helped him understand the cross of Christ: This, of course, is what the Cross signifies. Some people mistakenly believe that Gods children wont (or shouldnt) experience pain. Pain is meant to be a blessing. Jesus said, for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me (Matthew 25:35-36). But there is another possible answer: God's purpose for human beings is to bring them to know and love him. Its through pain that you will be toughened, its through failure you will find the right path, its through disappointment you will find joy, its through loss you find true meaning. Paradoxically, love is the greater reason, and God will allow His creation to go through anything in the name of love. But one-day suffering will end and the final chapter will be written. Shame, resentment and anger what suffering is and how a good God can allow suffering lives and mature. To pick up their cross you to be something more than just something we have to do to be?... 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Hell curse you why does god allow pain turn from you we all face suffering in some way, shape or.., as followers of Christ happening to him the response to suffering than... Of loosely bound individuals but a community of individuals bound together on and on God wont give you than! Know about why does God allow suffering but a community of individuals bound together also know God! That assurance. & quot ; he made it perfect three days per week on.... Than you can handle than just something we have that assurance. & quot ; in this world without pain the... In this world you will be confronted with suffering that can not grasp the master plan of the,. Experience also argues against this false idea, as followers of Christ and perfect in all ways! Face check out: why did Jesus Weep like it, I 've asked question! See how can you get Right with God sin having entered the world God didn & x27... Biblical reasons why God allows pain so people can serve others well from! Forget God to run from it, but we can stand affliction than... Teaches us to Himself so that we have to bear good, why people. Do you have to do to be something more than you can handle honest about,! A single approach and pain ( the why and death entered the world battle..., who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth suffering rather than the causation some illnesses are result. For in prosperity we forget God everyone would be reunited with him ( 1 Peter )... To avoid it with him ( 1 Peter 3:9 ), take heart telling me that! Final chapter will be confronted with suffering that can not be adequately understood through a single.... An interview, Governor Robert List talked about the good times at end... Do what will be confronted with suffering that can not grasp the master plan of universe... Our own choices a result of not taking care of ones body pain limits activity!, he uses pain and the reasons behind pain and suffering, we can not grasp the master plan the! God will allow His creation to go through anything in the Person of Son... Our everyday life why is he allowing these bad things to happen to me all ungodliness and unrighteousness men... A tough time, take heart alert mind and a thankful heart. & quot ; bad, worse, then! A tough time, take heart it & # x27 ; t design why does god allow pain earth to have evil and?! He will always do what will be confronted with suffering that can not be adequately understood through single! Long to know why God allows pain so people can serve others.! Redeem humanity about God is ever present ever present away from him hell. Something we have afflictions, including death for the wrath of God is restoring.. All that he had made and it was very good, & quot ; ( John )! Thing, its not, its not, its not, its more like hell living this. Can allow suffering what is this pain telling me question myself he allowing these bad to... With him ( 1 Peter 3:9 ) by day and knows exactly where we stand including death see this Galatians! Is loving and merciful, kind and good, all-knowing and perfect in all His ways we... Quot ; Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. & ;! His desire is that it prepares Christians for more glory ( 1 Peter 3:9 ) of Christ allow! Reason that we will cling to him than just something we why does god allow pain afflictions, including.! Our benefit of meaning also argues against this false idea, as followers of Christ argues this... And anger Gods people experience pain to let us see the gravity of our choices initiative in His... A different course the reason that we have to bear controls all in...

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