God didn't stop Adam from sinning (see Genesis 3:1-9 in context). There is no joy unmixed with sorrow in this world for people who care about others.". Pain is a frontline defense of the body. If you're wondering why God allows us to experience pain and failures, let me encourage you: He loves you, that's why He allows them to happen. But then sin entered the world. Maybe we are thinking about pain in the wrong light. According to the Bible, reasons that God allows pain in the life of a believer include chastisement, humility, stimulating spiritual maturity, and imitating Jesus Christ in his sufferings. Physical death is just the death of the body, but the spirit lives on. But until then, we are told to trust in His plan. Its through pain that we will grow and develop into who God has created us to be. 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Reconciling how a good and loving God could allow such pain in their lives (or someone close) is difficult. We can easily understand those kinds of suffering, but when we try to understand the suffering that comes from the death of a child, from affliction or disease, from evil and injustices inflicted on people, and other such circumstances of life, its all too easy to fall into a trap of Christian karma and argue that someone didnt deserve such trials or tribulations. These are questions central to the Christian faith, and questions that have not gone unexplored in the cannon of Christian philosophy. Some illnesses are a result of not taking care of ones body. But thats how we are acting, isnt it? Although I was only two years old, this pain resurfaced as I grew older. This answers the question, 'Why didn't God create a world where people don't suffer?' "The answer is He did. Suffering is coming to an end. Thats what faith demands, believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse. If youre going through a tough time, take heart. It's common to wonder if our suffering is God's Will. This doesnt mean that the Bible doesnt tell us how to think about our suffering now, it actually equips us. We think pain is the enemy, something to be avoided. Anne Graham Lotz: What Impossible Situation Are You Facing? Sign up for Rethink Updates and youll also get access to 3 exclusive articles! And how quickly, he said, the music has stopped.. In our pain, we long to know why God allows grief and hardship into our lives. We all face suffering in some way, shape or form. And while this may not answer every question people have about the problem of evil, or why would a good God allow suffering, it does help diffuse this problem. I remember early in my life when my mother walked out on our family. Friends, we live in a broken world marred with sin. This is how we come to understand our experience and to receive comfort and strength from those who listen and care for us. If you touch a hot stove your body reacts with pain that causes you to quickly move your hand. Thanks to us, the moral . Genuine Praise & Real Hope, The Prayer Guide Us With Faith; Give Us Grace; Keep Us Safe, The Cross from the Fathers, Sons, and Believers Perspectives. Jesus encourages pain. Love cannot be forced, it must be chosen. We can only see whats right in front of us. (Deuteronomy 31:8). Your pain is telling you something, its teaching you something, you need to figure out what that something is. 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. In the Bible you will find the answers to the questions and the problems of your life. Accidents and diseases do not discriminate. The comfort of God that we can extend to others isnt limited to the church and is not limited to shared experience. We ask why does God allow suffering because we need to express our emotions. Want articles like this one delivered straight to your email? Pain is our enemy. There are a few things that are important things on the topic of suffering we should know. In John 15:20 Jesus promises his followers that others will cause them pain. Does the existence of evil disprove Christianity? Church Planter. 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). A religious liberty newsletter that is a must-read for people of faith. They are a silent testimony of healing and wholeness that enable one to invite God to be present in the pain of another. "Savior" is a vital name of Christ for dealing with the . The Bible teaches that God is omnipotent and that no other being, whether a human or even Satan himself, can match or surpass his strength. 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. We cant necessarily know or answer why God sometimes chooses to stop it and other times to allow it. Sometimes it's simply for his glory and our good. Now we ask: what's the role of God in the coming of death and pain in the world? To Kill Sin and Grow Godliness. When the complexity of suffering rears us its head, we will find ourselves ill-equipped to deal with the ramifications. (Rom. We avoid pain at all costs. So, lets look at what suffering is and how a good God can allow suffering to exist. Thats why He rose from the dead. Many times God brings good from our chronic pain by teaching us to rely more on Him. Why does God allow suffering? What significance do colors have in the Bible? God sometimes allows pain in the lives of believers, including as a consequence of their own choices, in order to discipline them. Topics: Suffering. Ive been there. 20. God came to earth and suffered with us in His pursuit of us. The cause of suffering on earth When God created the earth, His intention was that it would be an extension of the peace and harmony of heaven. Job never asked why those things were happening to him. to learn more. One way is to curse God because of our suffering and the other is to praise God, even in the midst of our suffering. Pain is meant to be a blessing. 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. Please see his About page for details. It doesnt allow us to stay in neutral. And lets not forget Point 2, its not pointless. Glenn Youngkin donates salary to Good News prison ministry, The Christian Post wins 4 Evangelical Press Association awards, Nigeria: Armed terrorists kill 33 Christians; bishop calls bloodshed 'handiwork of the evil ones', Biden admin. Paul points to this mindset in 1 Corinthians 13:12. Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.". A sharp pain in your foot might tell you that you stepped on a nail. Pastor. This attitude leads to a lack of growth. Where did OT Saints go at death? For the purposes of this article, we should not mix the two. 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. Virtually every passage on suffering in the New Testament deflects the emphasis from cause to response. 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 . But there is another possible answer: God's purpose for human beings is to bring them to know and love him. 1. Have You Read Jesus Last Will and Testament? We never ask that question about the pain and suffering of a life term sentence for someone who has committed murder because, we understand it was a consequence of their actions, and we reason that they deserve it as a result of what they did. The problem is often in our world pain can quickly move to suffering. Use PayPal or a Credit Card for safe, secure giving. What is needed is an experience of deliverance from affliction, comfort in grief and restoration in brokenness. Time stamps below. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his . God allows pain in the life of an unbeliever so that they will become a believer. (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). Ask God to help you have a trusting, patient attitude, and flee from bitterness. Pain is part of the program. Because of love. We get to choose. He sees our life every day and knows exactly where we stand. Which we will get to in just a minute. "Sorrowful yet always rejoicing.". (why its more than missing the mark). There is sweetness and there is suffering. The problem of reconciling human suffering with the existence of a God who loves, is only insoluble so long as we attach a trivial meaning to the word love, and look on things as if man were the centre of them. 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. Or God may know a danger lurking in the job . Its a common question that is used to argue that either God is not all-good or He is not all-powerful. 3 Reasons Why God Allows Pain And Failure In Our Lives, Virginia Gov. Permissions He was a pastor for 10 years. A small percentage of the world has a genetic disorder called congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis or CIPA, basically meaning they feel no pain. Love cannot exist without freedom and freedom carries the risk of pain and suffering. Thus God had to give us the ability to chose, He had to give us free will. Pain promotes humility. 10 To find out why God allows suffering, we need to think back to the time when suffering began. Then we will be able to see the whole story and how masterfully it was written and how much love God has for us. God didn't design the earth to have evil and suffering in it; he made it perfect. Pain is what causes us to grow. People often hold only one view of suffering; however, the Bible does not have one approach to suffering but many. This verse doesnt mean that God wont give you more than you can handle. 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 And if he's powerful, he'd be able to eradicate it, right? Keep reading to explore the answers to these questions and many others. Pain is meant to be a blessing. The suffering we experience we see as too harmful, the damage too extreme, to be repaired much less be used for something good. Privacy This is not an extensive list, rather the top four things I think we should recognize. Because tragedy happened to you, it gives you a greater sense of oneness with others who experience tragedy. He is also the foundation for morality. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. God allows pain in the life of a believer, so they will know him better. Home I hope that this teaching on why does God allow suffering helped you rethink parts of your life and faith. For humans, there is a mystery as to why God created the earth. The pain is a defense mechanism that keeps you from further harm. He might not keep usfrompain and suffering but He will keep us (hold us and care for us)inour pain and suffering. God gave us free will and wants us to exercise it. Some respondents said their pain was the result of their own choices, while others said it wasnt. 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. Failing to recognize or master these things often creates suffering for others. Easter Greeting from Reasons for Hope* Jesus. Our free will has created suffering and God is restoring us. And thats the way we ought to be as Christians, one in Christ. One possible answer is that goes back to Point 1 is His love. Suffering will force us to move, we dont get to decide that. First, we can find meaning in the midst of suffering. So what should we do the next time we experience some kind of pain? Think about your life. Find hope, peace, and security today. Pain and suffering was not present. We have all been the victims of the evil choices of others. Consider the following: - God is good and all-powerful, but our world isn't perfect. But we shouldnt run from pain. 3:13 ). Evil words and actions have left great marks on our hearts, minds and bodies. Of course, its not just physical pain that brings about suffering. Solicitation Disclosure Statement Pain, on the other hand, is good. He uses it to remove sin from our lives and to make us more into the image of Christ. The examples provided below dont constitute an exhaustive list for all possible purposes. Jesus sees pain as an avenue for growth. @ 2021-2023 Copyright | All Right Reserved. Is it possible that He using pain for our good? Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. Contact Us. He set out on a path to redeem humanity. Our response to the two should be different. Pain and a loving God can co-exist. So before we dive into the specific question of why does God allow suffering? Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. Father. Thats why its imperative that when we are going through a time of trial and suffering that we remember how much God loves us. Are you prepared to meet God? Also see How Can You Get Right With God? We will get to why does God allow suffering? Believe that in your pain and suffering, God is ever present. Allow me to ask you this. 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. The pain that will not go away, that keeps us in bed, ravages our body, and takes everything of joy from our life. X27 ; t design the earth I hope that this teaching on why does God allow suffering exist! 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