However, it will draw us closer as we place our faith in … (Rom. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. So why does God allow pain and suffering? © 2021 Beautiful Christian Life LLC. God … Rather, I simply want to highlight ten ways the Bible addresses suffering. Sinning causes suffering. 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. God is still there despite any tragedy you may be experiencing. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Rather, I simply want to highlight ten ways the Bible addresses suffering. As we are conformed to His image, we will increasingly learn to obey God (Rom. The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. The Bible equips us to deal with any suffering we face and bring us closer to Him. 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. 8:29). Sometimes people suffer as a result of their sins. Pain is one of the consequences of the original sin . Why does God allow abuse and torture of innocent children? GOD is who GOD says He is (discussed in Lesson 32). How do we give our lives to God? However, the Devil is not responsible for all suffering. It is very difficult to see any value in pain, suffering, loss of a loved one, disability, etc. Why now? He is almighty, after all. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. God is aware of our suffering. First, God can use suffering of any kind to draw us into a closer relationship with Him. (Rom. The curious, as well as the critics of Christianity, ask this question. God reminds him that the world has order and beauty but is also wild and dangerous. It is very difficult to see any value in pain, suffering, loss of a loved one, disability, etc. The Bible Teaching. Here are sixteen Bible passages that help us understand why God allows the presence of evil and suffering in the world: 1. I invite you to bow your heads with me as we pray. It's our choice whether to accept God's free ticket to eternal life in paradise (Acts 4:12). If God is a good God, then why does he allow the bad? Happy Sabbath! The Bible teaches that evil entered into God’s creation through the rebellion of some of God’s creatures—first angels and then human beings. Dear Ryan, thank you so much for publishing this article. The answer to this question is that none of us are truly innocent or undeserving. But there are still lessons for us to uncover how we can approach suffering. God created humans with the capacity to choose between doing good and doing bad. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. Top 9 Bible Verses-Why Does God Allow Suffering ? 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. (Rom. The only way to begin answering this question is to view our fallen world from God's perspective. Job decides to talk directly to God. 34 Bible Verses about Pain And Suffering. At the end of the Bible, we are given a glorious vision of a coming world in which all pain and suffering is gone forever. But why does God allow suffering? Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. ... nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. There are several reasons, not just one reason, why people suffer. God could step in at any point and stop the suffering. God doesn’t promise us an easy life but he does promise to be with us through it all! But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 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. Because it was his suffering that brought about our salvation. We learn much from Job about the reason for suffering, those who suffered were not more sinful. The Bible talks a lot about 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. The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. Why Does God Allow Suffering? Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 4 The purpose of this post is not to attempt a theodicy, that is, a defense of why God allows suffering. Like many others right now, I am going through a tough time as we near the end of 2020. (Rev. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Yes, the innocent suffer (see Job 1–2), but God can redeem that 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. 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). 11:30); and to judge wickedness (see Ps. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. In fact, he “keeps transforming himself into an angel of light,” says the Bible. 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. Why Does God Allow Pain, Suffering, and COVID-19? But if He did that, He would never be able to prove beyond any shadow of a doubt, that Satan was wrong. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The five main causes of suffering are looked at. FATHER in heaven, thank you for the Sabbath and this opportunity that we have to seek YOUR face, to study YOUR word. Why does God allow suffering? 1:28-30), 4. When Christians go through pain in life it helps us to get back on the path of righteousness. Reframing the Question. For all of human history people have wrestled with question of why does God allow suffering. Dear Ryan, thank you so much for publishing this article. 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? Paul was doing God’s will, yet he found himself in a Roman prison. Lee has graciously given us permission to post it here on Bible Gateway. (Prov. David Shin. 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. A deep devotion to the Lord never excuses us from pain and trial. Some of them more than a little ironic. 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… Bible in One Year: Isaiah 4-7 We lose all self-reliance and turn to the only one who […] If you can’t click on the links here, copy and paste then into your browser. 16:4) God’s wrath is righteous. God wants us to develop a love for Him through our life experiences including pain and suffering. The purpose of this post is not to attempt a theodicy, that is, a defense of why God allows suffering. (1 Pet. 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. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Suffering and death in this corrupted world are guaranteed for each of us. 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. 9:14-18), 6. 1. 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. So, Why does God allow suffering in the first place? 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. 9:22-24), 10. What is God doing? Are there bible verses about pain and suffering that can strengthen my soul? 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. Is there injustice on God's part? 1:4-6); to teach us to trust in Him and not in ourselves (see 1:9; 4:7,16, 18; 12:1-10); to turn our hearts toward heaven (see 5:1-4); to develop maturity (see James 1:1-12); to discipline us for sinful behavior (see I Cor. Until then, ask Him to show you how He may be using suffering for your good. (Rom. Image from Wikimedia Commons; British 55th (West Lancashire) Division troops blinded by tear gas await treatment at an Advanced Dressing Station near Bethune during the Battle of Estaires, 10 April 1918, part of the German offensive in Flanders. What does the Bible tell us that God has done about evil? It’s hard to accept. (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10; 2 Corinthians 11:14) The Devil’s existence can be perceived by the damage he causes. (Rom. 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). We lose all self-reliance and turn to the only one who […] 1:18-19), 3. By no means! God … Satan is the author of sin. An assumption that God or a god exists is implicit in this discussion. God created humans with the capacity to choose between doing good and doing bad. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. 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. Maybe the answer to the question does the bible explain why God allows suffering is found here in the person of Jesus Christ. If God is all-powerful and all-loving, then why does He allow evil and suffering in the world? The reality that God allows Christians to suffer is one of the most difficult things about being a Christian. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 2 When humans lost their innocence through original sin (disobeying God in the Garden of Eden), 3 pain and futility entered into the basic human experiences of family and work as a result. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their … On Nov. 21, 1980, when the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas burned, survivors were brought into the Convention Center, where our Crusade meetings were being held. While we do not always know why we suffer, we can bring our pain and grief to God and trust that He is wise and knows what He's doing. ESV Text Edition: 2016. Lee has graciously given us permission to post it here on Bible Gateway. 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). 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. 10:13,14). If God is good and loving, why does he allow evil and suffering to exist? If God is all-powerful and all-loving, then why does He allow evil and suffering in the world? When Christians go through pain in life it helps us to get back on the path of righteousness. Here are direct links to some of the top posts. Pain is one of the consequences of the original sin . 5:3-5), 15. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. First, the Bible affirms that God has chosen to permit suffering. For an update, […], Top 13 Bible Verses-Living for God … How do we live for God? Maybe the answer to the question does the bible explain why God allows suffering is found here in the person of Jesus Christ. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. by Dr. David Jeremiah. Note: Many things have changed since this story was first written. by Clay Jones. Many fine books have done this, including the classical book The Problem of Pain, by C.S. He could hold out His hand and save us from the pain. 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. Ultimately, we can’t know all the reasons why God allows suffering, we just know that He does. 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. We learn much from Job about the reason for suffering, those who suffered were not more sinful. 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). All of our problems and our suffering are a result of man’s rebellion against God. This does not mean that people who are suffering are always the cause of their own suffering; often people suffer because of the sins of others. Sufferers may wonder if God even cares, so we will investigate what the Bible has to say about chronic pain. The short answer is that we don’t always know why in specific cases. One of the most pressing challenges to Christianity is the problem of evil. Why Does God Allow Suffering Bible Verses. ... 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. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. (Rom. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. Much of the pain and suffering that we experience or see others going through is undeserved. If God is good and loving, why does he allow evil and suffering to exist? First, He uses pain and suffering to draw us to Himself so that we will cling to Him. (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10; 2 Corinthians 11:14) The Devil’s existence can be perceived by the damage he causes. Why would a powerful and loving God allow suffering, evil and death? God is aware of our suffering. Share: Our pain is real. Why not? Believers all a round the world and throughout all the ages have experienced pain and suffering. The curious, as well as the critics of Christianity, ask this question. The problem of suffering is challenging, and people often wonder how a kind, loving God can allow suffering. Yes, there are numerous bible verses about pain and suffering in the scriptures. Pain and suffering can only be questioned in the light of the existence of GOD. Why do bad things happen to good people? God … 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. 3:11), 7. 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). Many fine books have done this, including the classical book The Problem of Pain, by C.S. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work God has done from beginning to end. Why not? However, the Devil is not responsible for all suffering. But choice – free will – is a good thing. 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. But, praise be to God! Accept the reality that God allows suffering for good and necessary reasons: to prepare us to comfort others (see II Cor. Over the next two days, we’ll look at other reasons God may allow painful seasons in our life. 4:12-13), 14. 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. The five main causes of suffering are looked at. But pain and suffering does serve a 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. Regardless of the reason God allows suffering into our lives, rarely does it not reveal areas of need, … (2 Pet. God is the designer of a plan that allowed for sin and suffering. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. If life is purposeless, complaining about pain and suffering is ludicrous. These Bible verses on the topic of why does God allow suffering are generally not helpful as comfort for those who are hurting. All Rights Reserved. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished. 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