He set out on a path to redeem humanity. Yet, God will carry us through some of the darkest seasons of our lives to show His incredible love for us. So, why does God allow pain? We are obsessed with stories of people overcoming pain. But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. God is waiting, Hes being patient, Hes continually pursuing those far from Him in hopes they will return to Him. Reconciling how a good and loving God could allow such pain in their lives (or someone close) is difficult. Also see Where Is God When Im Scared? James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Its important that we recognize that suffering is a battleground. 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.". 52:13-53:12). We all experience pain, and even suffering at some time in our lives. An accident that leads to lifelong pain. God is working all things, even the bad things, for our benefit. Jesus was not sparred pain in his life and his followers are not exempt from pain either. Job was sharing his agony of spirit with the very God he could not understand. And it is the Cross, more than anything else, that has called me inexorably to Christ.. If God created us without free will, we would be living machines and not made in His image and likeness. None. Well, the believer can turn right around and challenge the atheist: "In your worldview, by what standard do you define good or bad things?" All suffering includes pain, but not all pain is suffering. God never wastes pain. What we go through might be because of what we choose, but God always has a good plan for us (see Jeremiah 29:11). Just because He hasnt, doesnt mean He wont. Why is God letting this happen? In suffering there is also a message of compassion. Id love to hear from you! What were the catalysts that caused you to grow? In a polytheistic worldview, as noted above, pain and suffering are simply factors caused by malevolent gods. Those who have been abused wear scars that seemingly never heal. Let me offer three answers: 1) To let us see the gravity of our choices God didn't stop Adam from sinning (see Genesis 3:1-9 in context). If God is good, why do people suffer? Many of us think that if God is so good, why would He allow us to undergo pain and suffer failures in our lives. One day "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4). Thousands of years later He would give up His one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for us to be saved from sin and be restored to Him who loved us so much (see John 3:16). C.S. 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As a spiritual advice columnist, I am frequently asked why God allows suffering. The Bible teaches that we are to be patient in suffering. 2. We also know that God created man with a free will giving Adam and Eve the ability to make choices. Christians experience pain to spiritual maturity through the imitation of Christ. Use PayPal or a Credit Card for safe, secure giving. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. Pastor. It's important to make this distinction. And thats the Gospel, right? Put your email in the box below! Which we will get to in just a minute. He created the earth, and all that is in it, to be in perfect harmony with His character and nature. He never allows Satan, nor circumstances, nor any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. Even Satan knows that there is no limit to Jehovah's power. [1] Some people take pain medication once a day; others take it multiple times per day. Sometimes it's simply for his glory and our good. God allows struggle and difficult times because we are sinners and we all come short of the glory of God. But Jesus sent them anyway. But there is evil in the world. So why does God allow suffering? There could be no "bad, worse, and unconscionable.". God's wrath is righteous. Indeed, our beliefs about God and suffering expose the fault lines between our natural assumptions and the biblical narrative. God came to earth and suffered with us in His pursuit of us. In suffering there is a message of unity. Where was that? All of our problems and our suffering, including death itself, are a result of mans rebellion against God. But God wasnt taken aback or surprised. When I was asked to explain the tragedy of the fire at the MGM Grand Hotel, I had to say, Theres a mystery to tragedies like this. Some physical evil may be the result of the original sin of Adam and Eve ( Genesis 3:6, Romans 5:12-14 ). For the purposes of this article, we should not mix the two. Now the earth was tohu va-vohu Genesis 1:2. As a necessary part of this life. We all too often try to understand and explain pain and suffering as being a consequence of our behavior and sometimes it is. Why do you allow so much pain?" Be it a job loss, illness, or loss of a spouse or child, these are questions we've all had. God is causing your suffering because ______. True followers of Jesus are spared from suffering. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. God took the initiative in giving His Son, Jesus Christ. At other times it results from our sin, yet it still makes us more like Christ and gives God glory; therefore, it's for our good. Pain is not a danger to avoid. In the midst of suffering, facts and truth bring little comfort. If there was no sin in the world there would be no suffering. God wants us to realize that and freely do what is good and right by our own choice, not because He is forcing us to. Remember that in Genesis 1:31, God looked over His creation and called it "good.". And how quickly, he said, the music has stopped.. 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. Is it possible that He using pain for our good? He knows it will bring little comfort. Sunday | 221 views, 5 likes, 12 loves, 34 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Twilight Missionary Baptist Church Halifax NC: Join in and fellowship with us on this lovely 3rd Sunday When the complexity of suffering rears us its head, we will find ourselves ill-equipped to deal with the ramifications. Why is He allowing these bad things to happen to me? Or the millions that have no access to basic human needs. 10 To find out why God allows suffering, we need to think back to the time when suffering began. As fire swept through the MGM Grand Hotel, I saw the emergency crews, the military people, The Salvation Army, the Red Cross, the doctors, the nurses and the people coming to donate clothes and food. What it does mean is that in his providential will (when He causes something to happen) or in His permissive will (when He allows something to happen),andwhen we areunable to handle, ifwe turn to God He will provide us what we need to go through it. Contact Us. (Ask Dr. Stanley) In Touch Ministries 979K subscribers 502K views 10 years ago God has the power to prevent suffering and calamity--so why. He will give us the comfort, peace, patience and strength we need. We might not like the pain, but it does serve a purpose. The point Im trying to make is that until we put God at the center, we will struggle with this question of why suffering exists. That's the way I usually think about trying to come to terms with why I or somebody else might be suffering. And lets not forget Point 2, its not pointless. (Lamentations 3:23), 2023 All Rights Reserved. Thats why its imperative that when we are going through a time of trial and suffering that we remember how much God loves us. The assumption in that question is that we know better than God and that we are the center of importance. We demand answers and that God fixes our problem(s). Not by trying to produce heaven on earth but by recognizing that for the Christian the best is yet to be.. A failing grade on a test is a result of not effectively or sufficiently studying. Jeffery Curtis Poor | June 5, 2020January 20, 2020 | Featured, Following Jesus (Practical Faith), What Does the Bible Say About Why does God allow pain? Reasons for Hope* Jesus, Yes, send me answers to interesting and challenging questions about Jesus and the Bible. Allow me to ask you this. Suffering holds a message of comfort. God Has Experienced Suffering and Understands Your Pain God's Will and Human Suffering A World Without Suffering God's Plan to End Suffering God Cares About Your Suffering Jesus Shows How Much God Cares God Cares About Suffering: Big or Small How God Shows His Goodness Amid Suffering You Can Turn to God in Your Suffering Suffering as a Christian How should Christians respond to pain, suffering, and evil in the world? We think theres no way something good could come from our suffering. Feeling pain leads many people to have compassion toward others who are having the same experience. How has pain caused growth in your life? Why does God allow suffering? Thats what faith demands, believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse. Theres a larger story unfolding that you and I are not privy too. But in a monotheistic worldview, why would God allow pain and suffering? When someone in the church is in need, we are to come alongside them to help them through their suffering. Doesnt God care that Im suffering? Can Gods children avoid pain? Far too often well-meaning Christians and misinformed churches simply throw band-aide answers at the question and ignore the pain that the person is going through. So why is there suffering if God didnt create it? Thus God had to give us the ability to chose, He had to give us free will. You might also like: 7 Surprising Truths About Death. Its pain that will grow you. Thanks to us, the moral . That is not at all who He is. Why God Allows Suffering One of the most brutal truths to understand about God is why He allows pain and suffering. The suffering we experience we see as too harmful, the damage too extreme, to be repaired much less be used for something good. First, we can find meaning in the midst of suffering. 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. 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