Why suffering bible

The hope is that prior to a crisis we grow in our understanding of God and his ways, our trust in his constant goodness, our submission to his Lordship in good and bad situations, and our readiness to delight in his heavenly kingdom which is always in our midst. Then in pain and suffering we have a deep foundation of mature faith and an inner strength of character to help us deal with things. But as we do, keep in mind that the most question is not why! God understands this. Not even when Jesus Christ asks the question on the cross.

We ask why does God allow suffering because we need to express our emotions. This is how we come to understand our experience and to receive comfort and strength from those who listen and care for us. 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. What is good for me to do in my trial? The Lord Jesus shows us how to deal with suffering and injustice by loving God with our whole person and loving our neighbor as ourselves, including those who are difficult or mistreat us.

What does the Bible teach on pain and suffering? All Bible verses are from the NIV84 unless indicated otherwise. In this world you will have trouble. Those who crossed her path were spiritually uplifted.

However, about three years ago, Dorothy died, after suffering intensely from multiple myeloma cancer of the bone marrow, for five and one-half years. We chasten ourselves for doing so, but we still find ourselves asking, Why? Why did such a godly, gifted woman have to suffer so much? The problem of human suffering has vexed many children of God.

Theologians and philosophers have written complex and learned volumes wrestling with it. At the heart of the problem is a question that takes us back to examine the very essence of God's nature: If God is absolutely good, infinitely loving and all-powerful omnipotent , why do we, the products of His creative power and the focus of His infinite love, suffer?

Some have suggested that God is indeed good; He has good intentions. He is good, but He is not omnipotent. Others might suggest that He is indeed omnipotent but not good.

He could stop suffering, but He doesn't want to. He is fiendish and capricious. However, if God should be as these suggestions imply, He would not be God at all. The biblical self-revelation of God is that He is both omnipotent and infinitely good. He is also all-powerful: "Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and out-stretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee" Jer.

He is able to prevent suffering, and He finds no pleasure in suffering. Yet human suffering is real; we all experience it. When it touches us or those we love, it is no longer an abstract idea to leave to the theologians but a grim and perplexing reality: How can we explain human suffering in a universe created by a good and omnipotent God? Yet the Scriptures do make several helpful affirmations, which must be accepted even if not totally understood. God Permits Suffering.

First, the Bible affirms that God has chosen to permit suffering. God is the designer of a plan that allowed for sin and suffering. Though God does not approve of sin and its consequences suffering , nor is He responsible for it, it is here by His permission. In His omniscience His full knowledge of everything , He knew that the plan He chose, even though it allowed for sin and suffering, ultimately would bring about the greatest good and glory.

Nowhere does the Bible suggest that God was overcome by the power of sin; that suffering was forced into His universe against His will. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.

And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,.

Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

For then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.

As you encounter suffering, think about how it pushes you closer to God. Suffering creates a dependency on the Lord that is not always there when everything is going well. The Lord can use our suffering to cause us to run to Him for help. He promises He will answer us and be a refuge to us in the storm. Going through suffering also makes you question what you really believe about God.

God wants you to come to Him with your questions, doubts, and pain so that He can show you His purposes and plan. God can grow you the most through suffering. He uses your sufferings to draw you closer to Him. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

For My own sake, for My own sake, I do it, for how should My name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. God is the only one who should receive all the glory for what happens in your life—including what happens in your suffering.

God can also use your suffering to purify you from sin and conform you more into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, bringing glory to His name. Remember that your present sufferings are also not worth comparing to the eternal glory that you will receive when we get to see Christ face to face. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.

For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Jesus never told you that as soon as you gave your life to Him, it would be smooth sailing forever. But not a hair of your head will perish.

By your endurance you will gain your lives. The Church in many parts of the world has gone through fiery trials and suffering, and although many are facing persecution for their faith, the Lord is bringing more and more people to faith in Him. Because you are an ambassador of Jesus Christ and an agent of redemption, you partake in His sufferings. The light of Christ dwells within you, and as a Christian, you will be disliked by all because you oppose the darkness which lies in the hearts of men Matthew ; Luke — Revelation also says that you have overcome the enemy—the devil—by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony.

Also, when one member of the body of Christ suffers, all suffer, because Christ is the head of the body, which is the Church 1 Corinthians Unbelievers, however, do not suffer or rejoice in their sufferings for the sake of Christ since the light of Christ does not dwell within them.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. As followers of Jesus, we have this hope that this life does not last forever. We know the end of the story when Jesus shall come back and reign on the new earth for all of eternity. If you understand who God is, and His purposes in using suffering for your good and His glory, you can keep your eyes fixed on Christ and the hope you have in Him.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. One day Jesus will come back and your body will be made like His glorified body. You will no longer experience any pain or suffering.