The purpose of this post is not to attempt a theodicy, that is, a defense of why God allows suffering. Various answers have been given but permanently settling the issue is impossible (this side of heaven) because so many of our answers raise further questions. Even a quick look at the Bible bears witness to the fact that we aren’t the first to walk down the difficult roads of disappointment, persecution, and bitterness. So to have a universe that included love, God had to make us with choice, which includes the choice not to love – and that makes sin, evil, pain and suffering possible. Far from depicting God as pitiless or indifferent, the Bible teaches that God is deeply moved by our suffering —and that he will soon bring an end to it. Read these Top 9 Bible Verses-Why Does God Allow Suffering? We all go through challenges, and you are not alone. The following message was delivered on July 22, 2012 by Christian author and apologist Lee Strobel, just days after the deadly theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. King Saul lived a miserable life and eventually was slain because he had rebelled against God (1 Chron. The briefest glance at the Bible reveals that God is aware of our suffering and is eager to help us (Psalm 50:15; Numbers 21:8–9). Bible Verses about Suffering - Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we… I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the… Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the… But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are… He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and… (Eccles. 16:4), 2. 8:29). For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ... nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. God does not bring pain “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. God is aware of our suffering. Sinning causes suffering. (Rom. There were so many good points you proved not just why if God exist, but why he allows evil and suffering to continue, sometimes prosper. We lose all self-reliance and turn to the only one who […] Because it was his suffering that brought about our salvation. Consider three comforting truths found in the Bible. But we do know that God loves each person who is suffering, and that He does have each person’s eternal best interests in mind. To answer that we must first ask, “Would a good god eliminate pain and suffering?” C. S. Lewis addressed this very question in his book The Problem of Pain. by Clay Jones. It is very difficult to see any value in pain, suffering, loss of a loved one, disability, etc. Sufferers may wonder if God even cares, so we will investigate what the Bible has to say about chronic pain. 2. Many people have a difficult time believing the biblical truth that God is both good and great. Suffering and death in this corrupted world are guaranteed for each of us. In fact, he “keeps transforming himself into an angel of light,” says the Bible. Why now? God promises a time when there will be no more crying, no more tears, no more pain and suffering, when we will be reunited with God in perfect harmony, forever. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their … What shall we say then? 9:14-18), 6. Far from depicting God as pitiless or indifferent, the Bible teaches that God is deeply moved by our suffering —and that he will soon bring an end to it. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. Happy Sabbath! Why does God allow natural disaster and disease? Our loving and merciful God has a perfect plan to use that suffering to accomplish His threefold purpose. Maybe the answer to the question does the bible explain why God allows suffering is found here in the person of Jesus Christ. GOD is who GOD says He is (discussed in Lesson 32). Yet it's still important to grapple with the question of why God allows suffering in our lives. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (1 Pet. The problem of suffering is challenging, and people often wonder how a kind, loving God can allow suffering. Why does God allow abuse and torture of innocent children? If God is all-powerful and all-loving, then why does He allow evil and suffering in the world? (Prov. The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. 20:11-13), 9. God reminds him that the world has order and beauty but is also wild and dangerous. Lewis or Why Does God Allow Evil? Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. Paul said: “God will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle.” For all of human history people have wrestled with question of why does God allow suffering. Why does God allow suffering? Responses to suffering are deeply personal and evoke strong emotions, but the Bible offers examples that reveal not only the mystery of human suffering but God’s eternal perspective. Yes, there are numerous bible verses about pain and suffering in the scriptures. The answer to this question is that none of us are truly innocent or undeserving. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. So why does God allow pain and suffering? It can require sacrifice, courage, discipline, and faith in the belief that God is good and has our best interests at heart regardless of how things might appear to us. Note: Many things have changed since this story was first written. There are several reasons, not just one reason, why people suffer. Satan is the author of sin. ... but the Bible does give some clues. First, He uses pain and suffering to draw us to Himself so that we will cling to Him. Suffering is a tool God uses to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives. In fact, he “keeps transforming himself into an angel of light,” says the Bible. David Shin. God knew that sin would lead to suffering. Accept the reality that God allows suffering for good and necessary reasons: to prepare us to comfort others (see II Cor. He could hold out His hand and save us from the pain. http://everydayservant.com/top-12-bible-verses-god-hear-prayers/ What is God doing? (Rev. Rather, I simply want to highlight ten ways the Bible addresses suffering. Much of the pain and suffering that we experience or see others going through is undeserved. To view the full ESV Copyright information, click here. (1 Pet. Bible in One Year: Isaiah 4-7 God … Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. There were so many good points you proved not just why if God exist, but why he allows evil and suffering to continue, sometimes prosper. What does the Bible tell us that God has done about evil? Top 9 Bible Verses-Why Does God Allow Suffering ? 34 Bible Verses about Pain And Suffering. ... and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 16:5), 8. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 1:28-30), 4. What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? Some of them more than a little ironic. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. Many fine books have done this, including the classical book The Problem of Pain, by C.S. The briefest glance at the Bible reveals that God is aware of our suffering and is eager to help us (Psalm 50:15; Numbers 21:8–9). Like many others right now, I am going through a tough time as we near the end of 2020. Various answers have been given but permanently settling the issue is impossible (this side of heaven) because so many of our answers raise further questions. Why does God allow suffering? But why does God allow suffering? Terms of Use Privacy Policy Copyright Policy, Lord's Supper, Feast, Lamb of God, Do this in remembrance of me, Bread and Wine, Prosperity Gospel, Discernment, Truth, Doctrine, Heresy, Error, Bereans, Click Here to Subscribe to BCL's Free Monthly Newsletter and Weekday Devotional, 3 Ways the Gospel Brings Harmony to Your Marriage, 6 Ways a Christian Wife Cherishes Her Husband. Why not? Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Here are five biblical reasons why God allows suffering. Why does God allow abuse and torture of innocent children? We’ve all asked this question. 9:22-24), 10. A deep devotion to the Lord never excuses us from pain and trial. The Bible Teaching. 7 Stories of Suffering in the Bible: Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering When we go to the word of God there are numerous stories of pain and suffering. We lose all self-reliance and turn to the only one who […] 5:3-5), 15. 16:4) God’s wrath is righteous. (Prov. In God’s Word, we find hope for stormy times. God wants us to develop a love for Him through our life experiences including pain and suffering. But there are still lessons for us to uncover how we can approach suffering. Question: "Why does God allow the innocent to suffer?" Sometimes, people suffer as the direct result of their own poor choices, sinful actions, or willful irresponsibility; in those cases, we see the truth of Proverbs 13:15, “The way of the treacherous is their ruin” (ESV). Paul was doing God’s will, yet he found himself in a Roman prison. Portuguese Translation Introduction Why me? 1:6-7), 13. (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10; 2 Corinthians 11:14) The Devil’s existence can be perceived by the damage he causes. God is the designer of a plan that allowed for sin and suffering. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. FATHER in heaven, thank you for the Sabbath and this opportunity that we have to seek YOUR face, to study YOUR word. Good morning everyone! Yes, the innocent suffer (see Job 1–2), but God can redeem that suffering. One of the most pressing challenges to Christianity is the problem of evil. http://everydayservant.com/how-should-we-pray/. 3:11), 7. 18:23), 11. ... and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. God created humans with the capacity to choose between doing good and doing bad. God … (Rom. Dear Ryan, thank you so much for publishing this article. Like many others right now, I am going through a tough time as we near the end of 2020. Pain and suffering can only be questioned in the light of the existence of GOD. But pain and suffering does serve a purpose. Disclosure: In order to provide this website free of charge to our wonderful readers, Beautiful Christian Life LLC uses advertisements and affiliate marketing links to generate revenue. He has made everything beautiful in its time. 8:38-39), 5. Here are direct links to some of the top posts. 4:12-13), 14. However, the Devil is not responsible for all suffering. Why not? Clearly suffering was brought into the world as a result of sin. Bible verses about pain Everyone hates suffering, but the fact is pain changes people. Bible verses about pain Everyone hates suffering, but the fact is pain changes people. When Christians go through pain in life it helps us to get back on the path of righteousness. 4 If life is purposeless, complaining about pain and suffering is ludicrous. The curious, as well as the critics of Christianity, ask this question. by Clay Jones. Can’t He stop it? http://everydayservant.com/top-37-bible-verses-prayer/ On the other hand, they say, if God is truly great, then he must not be good, because he could stop the evil and suffering but doesn’t. (James 1:2-4), 16. It’s hard to accept. Though the Bible makes no promise to take away our suffering in this life, it does give us hope that suffering will one day be ended forever. God is still there despite any tragedy you may be experiencing. (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10; 2 Corinthians 11:14) The Devil’s existence can be perceived by the damage he causes. First, God can use suffering of any kind to draw us into a closer relationship with Him. (Rom. 34 Bible Verses about Pain And Suffering. How do we give our lives to God? The Bible talks a lot about suffering. Sufferers may wonder if God even cares, so we will investigate what the Bible has to say about chronic pain. The only way to begin answering this question is to view our fallen world from God's perspective. Because His love usually manifests itself in good things that happen to us, we sometimes fall back in shock and consternation when we see a child struck by disease or some other trauma. Until then, ask Him to show you how He may be using suffering for your good. However, the Devil is not responsible for all suffering. Many fine books have done this, including the classical book The Problem of Pain, by C.S. Why would a powerful and loving God allow suffering, evil and death? Top 9 Bible Verses-Why Does God Allow Suffering, Top 16 Bible Verses – Gods Will For My Life, http://everydayservant.com/top-11-bible-verses-why-does-god-turn-down-our-prayers/, http://everydayservant.com/top-12-bible-verses-god-hear-prayers/, http://everydayservant.com/top-37-bible-verses-prayer/, http://everydayservant.com/top-18-bible-verses-power-of-prayer/, http://everydayservant.com/how-should-we-pray/. Reframing the Question. But, praise be to God! Over the next two days, we’ll look at other reasons God may allow painful seasons in our life. The purpose of this post is not to attempt a theodicy, that is, a defense of why God allows suffering. “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” (Ezek. If you can’t click on the links here, copy and paste then into your browser. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). However, it will draw us closer as we place our faith in … 10:13,14). They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. If God is a good God, then why does he allow the bad? It is designed to build our trust in the Almighty, but suffering requires the right response if it is to be successful in accomplishing God’s purposes. Pain is one of the consequences of the original sin . How does he want […], “I’m cleaning the closet,” she calls… She points to the growing mound in the middle of the floor… A mound of clothes… […], There are many collections of Bible verses about prayer on everydayservant.com 1. The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. The short answer is that we don’t always know why in specific cases. For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. It’s not meant to make us weak it’s to make us stronger. ... the Bible says that God does not cause sin or moral evils (James 1:13-15, 1 John 3:2-6, 2 Thessalonians 3:3). God … Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished. Share: Our pain is real. Why would a loving and holy God allow a child to suffer through a serious illness such as cancer? Regardless of the reason God allows suffering into our lives, rarely does it not reveal areas of need, … As we are conformed to His image, we will increasingly learn to obey God (Rom. If God is good and loving, why does he allow evil and suffering to exist? Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. If we ask why God allows this suffering, the Bible tells us that God doesn’t only permit it: He actively commands it (Matthew 25:41), for God is holy and righteous (1 John 1:5), and it would be unjust for God to leave sin unpunished forever (Romans 3:25-26). But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Rather, I simply want to highlight ten ways the Bible addresses suffering. (Prov. God doesn’t promise us an easy life but he does promise to be with us through it all! WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. Here are sixteen Bible passages that help us understand why God allows the presence of evil and suffering in the world: 1. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work God has done from beginning to end. (Rom. Because it was his suffering that brought about our salvation. Forced love is not love. Believers all a round the world and throughout all the ages have experienced pain and suffering. 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