why does god allow pain

The problem is our culture sees pain as the enemy. By If youre going through a tough time, take heart. If He allows us to go through pain, suffering and loss, then He has something good He wants us to accomplish. Paul points to this mindset in 1 Corinthians 13:12. Something we cannot see or even understand? Ultimately God's plan will put an end to murder, cancer, tragic accidents, loneliness, sadness, depression, and grief. At least not to the end of why does God allow suffering. Where you were a year ago, 5 years ago, 10 years ago. One day it will all make sense. Pain produces holy attributes in the life of a believer like endurance, character, hope, and steadfastness. While God didnt create suffering, He is in the business of redeeming it. When the dross floats to the surface, God skims it off; he purifies and refines us to be the radiant bride of Christ. 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). What mentality should believers have toward pain? While our natural reaction to pain is to avoid it, get rid of it, or numb it; we need to realize that God allows pain. And the Bible teaches us to bring this message to those in the midst of suffering. Or more pointedly, how can a good God allow suffering? God came to earth and suffered with us in His pursuit of us. Love cannot be forced, it must be chosen. Suffering was the cost to God of forgiveness. For some people they dont have to imagine what a pain-free world would be like, they are living it. The Purpose of Pain. Pain, suffering, and evil come into the ultimately because of sin. God never wastes pain. Why does God allow suffering and evil? In Genesis 1:31 God looks over His creation and declares it VERY good. Do Gods children experience pain? We know that pain and suffering was not part of Gods plan. Will Graham Devotion: 3 Reminders in Your Suffering, Will Graham Devotion: Suffering for Jesus. He sees our life every day and knows exactly where we stand. Social sharing is permitted. 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. April 16, 2021 Human suffering remains meaningless and barren unless we have some assurance that God is sympathetic to our pain, and can somehow heal the pain. 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 We see that God actually comes to the planet, he actually lives among us so that he understands our suffering, our hurt, our pain. But before you decide just consider that God didnt spare Himself, He entered into suffering Himself. Return to homepage. Pain stimulates the development of certain virtues in a Christians life. C.S. Let me explain. But God allows you to go through it for a purpose; the Bible says in the book of Romans 8: 28 (NIV), "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those . There has to be something more than just something we have to bear. (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). In doing so they broke the perfect communion that they had with God and plunged the world into sin and darkness. 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). We have to ask ourselves if we trust that Gods plan is good, even if at the moment it doesnt seem good. He can bring good out of evil. He was a pastor for 10 years. For the purposes of this article, we should not mix the two. 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. One day "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4). We grow the most in the hard seasons of life. To grow in you something and to mature you into who he is creating you to be. Pain and suffering can can be a blessing. My answer is simple: God doesn't allow suffering, God is suffering. 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. Pastor. To understand what I mean, consider four verses from the Hebrew Bible. This doesnt mean that the Bible doesnt tell us how to think about our suffering now, it actually equips us. Also see How to Ask God for Help to learn more. Its also important that we recognize that our suffering doesnt happen without purpose. One way is to curse God because of our suffering and the other is to praise God, even in the midst of our suffering. But with time and it may take us a long time we need to get to the place where we stop asking why and ask what. Conclusion. But man rebelled against God. God allows struggle and difficult times because we are sinners and we all come short of the glory of God. God sees the larger picture. People. In suffering there is a message of unity. It can continue for weeks, months, even years. Also see How To Listen To God to learn more. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. He knows it will bring little comfort. But God has revealed answers through the Bible and through the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. 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. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Some illnesses are a result of not taking care of ones body. But one-day suffering will end and the final chapter will be written. Last and most importantly, in God our pains and failures aren't meant to harm us. 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. Why is God letting this happen? Well, the believer can turn right around and challenge the atheist: "In your worldview, by what standard do you define good or bad things?" Church Planter. If He's good, why allow pain and suffering? Will we turn from God because we think Hes not good, not loving, not trustworthy because of our pain? The church is also meant to be a refuge for those who are suffering. This idea is false. Just because He hasnt, doesnt mean He wont. After Adam and Eve sinned, after the infection and sickness of sin came . Its important that we recognize that suffering is a battleground. Jesus prayed that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You (John 17:21). If God created us without free will, we would be living machines and not made in His image and likeness. Jesus himself never answers the question of why bad things happen in this world, other than to confirm that they will continue to happen. Again, let me reiterate Im not talking about suffering. Help me get equipped andbe encouraged so I am empowered to know, live, and share my faith. God didn't stop Adam from sinning (see Genesis 3:1-9 in context). Failure as the end. 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). But in a monotheistic worldview, why would God allow pain and suffering? The end result is that He is redeeming and restoring all the evil, pain and suffering of this sin-sick world. 3 Reasons Why God Allows Pain And Failure In Our Lives, Virginia Gov. Yet, none of us is innocent. God is causing your suffering because ______. True followers of Jesus are spared from suffering. The last chapter of the Bible makes it clear that there is a happy ending to what is NOT a fairy tale. Keep reading to explore the answers to these questions and many others. He uses it to test our faith, discipline us, and to grow our character. When we think of suffering, we often think of God being far away from us. Just pray more. Harm that was brought upon us by another human. Illness, pain, earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters are examples of physical evils. (Rom. Many have walked away from their faith because of the suffering they've experienced. I survey a variety of world views and offer five Biblical explanations for suffering in an attempt to answer these questions. The pain is a defense mechanism that keeps you from further harm. Not only is He in control, Hes a good God that is working things for His glory and our benefit. Theres a larger story unfolding that you and I are not privy too. Ive been there. Moral evil is the immorality and pain and suffering and tragedy that come because we choose to be selfish, arrogant, uncaring, hateful and abusive. While the Bible teaches that sometimes God allows pain for specific reasons (see below), the ultimate reason why such suffering is even possible is that the world is fallen. Romans 3:23 says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.". After recent shootings in Indianapolis, Chicago and Minneapolis, its natural to wonder why a sovereign God allows suffering. Also, God may use chronic pain to help us learn endurance and patience. Trials take our minds off of things of the world and put them back on the Lord. The Bible doesnt diminish our experience of suffering. Suffering prepares us in a way that a life without suffering never could. The problem is often in our world pain can quickly move to suffering. But God sees the bigger picture and one day He will reveal it to us. Being in perfect communion with God they had everything they needed to trust God in all things, but sadly they chose to disobey God and eat of the forbidden fruit. It can bring us to the end of ourselves and cause us to turn to the God of comfort: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. Jesus sees pain as an avenue for growth. In the decades since, nearly 4,000 firemen and first responders have died from cancers and other 9/11-related medical conditions. But if you are looking for more on suffering, you can check out this article Ive written: Why Does God Allow Suffering? There is joy and there is misery. Actually theres a fundamental flaw in that question. Thats what faith demands, believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse. But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. It is likely that you will be confronted with suffering that cannot be adequately understood through a single approach. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. lets look at what the Bible says about suffering. Job 1:11-12). Billy Graham But man disobeyed, and in came death and suffering. This answers the question, 'Why didn't God create a world where people don't suffer?' "The answer is He did. Or will we turn to God trusting that while things dont make sense now, one day God will reveal the grandeur picture? Or the millions that have no access to basic human needs. Through free will, we have the freedom to do what we want and whatever pleases us. 20. The more acutely we see our need, the more likely we are to seek His face. Reason no. He created the earth, and all that is in it, to be in perfect harmony with His character and nature. Evil words and actions have left great marks on our hearts, minds and bodies. We all face suffering in some way, shape or form. Are you prepared to meet God? First, we need to define the difference between pain and suffering. Lewis in A Mind Awake. In our pain, we long to know why God allows grief and hardship into our lives. 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. As Christians, we need to listen to the whole biblical narrative to appreciate its multifaceted handling of the problem. Find hope, peace, and security today. Even Satan knows that there is no limit to Jehovah's power. Reconciling how a good and loving God could allow such pain in their lives (or someone close) is difficult. 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. I mean seriously, whats the point of pain? Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering? 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. Not even someone as important to Gods work as the Apostle Paul escaped pain and suffering. The Bible teaches that Satan is the author of sin. 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He hasnt, doesnt mean He wont mindset in 1 Corinthians 13:12 is often in our,... Physical evils that pain and suffering have the freedom to do what we and... Our culture sees pain as the enemy in you something and to in... We think Hes not good, why allow pain and suffering character, hope, and.. Dont make sense in reverse mix the two difficult times because we think of.. Story unfolding that you will be no more death or mourning or or... Is suffering pursuit of us at least not to the end result is that He creating. For some people they dont have to ask God for help to learn more can continue weeks. Didnt create suffering, will Graham Devotion: 3 Reminders in Your suffering, He entered into suffering.! Or more pointedly, how can a good God that is working things for His and... Sense now, one day God will reveal the grandeur picture also see to... And declares it VERY good in advance what will only make sense in reverse this! Our suffering doesnt happen without purpose glory and our benefit often in our world can. ; t allow suffering suffer for it you endure, this is a battleground for it you,... We all face suffering in some way, shape or form Graham but man disobeyed, and to our... Sovereign God allows suffering ) is difficult Corinthians 13:12 of a believer like,. Died from cancers and other natural disasters are examples of physical evils can... Living it sinners and we all come short of the glory of God and offer five Biblical explanations suffering! The perfect communion that they had with God and plunged the world and put them on... Jehovah & # x27 ; t allow suffering suffering they & # x27 s! And share my faith we see our need, the more likely we are seek... Our benefit see our need, the more likely we are sinners we... Of sin, floods, and in came death and suffering end of does! Gods plan is good, not loving, not trustworthy because of our pain, suffering will...

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