If you choose to cheat on a test, you may suffer the consequence of failing that test or the class, and there may even be consequences to your standing as a student. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine. (Mark 14:32-36). We have the gift of free will, and because of it, we are free to make decisions; both good and bad. (Hebrews 4:14-16). I've served as a missionary, a pastor, and as a pastoral counselor. People have brought this condition of affairs upon themselves through disobedience (Genesis 1:27, 31; 3:1519; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 6:23). God's Word Calls Us to Pray One key reason to pray is because God has commanded us to pray. Greear Ministries. Does God cause suffering? | GotQuestions.org Psalm 145:13 says that you can see that God keeps his promise because He is entirely trustworthy and gracious. Suffering can cause you to feel isolated from people who are not going through the same experience, but choosing to walk through such experiences alongside someone else reminds both of you that youre not alone. Christ Community Church Messages: Why Does God Allow Suffering? on View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages. Why does our Lord do this? Why Does God Allow Me to Struggle and Fail? - LinkedIn God allows for struggling to build our inner strength and faith. Why Does God Allow Us to Keep Struggling Against Sin? Think back over the years of those individuals admired and respected for their strength of character and their wisdom. In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. The Bible shows us very clearly that God is good and ultimately does not want people to suffer but that suffering is nevertheless a reality in this life. It was because so many buildings were not built properly. Take heart: the disciples of Jesus were not exempt from difficulties either. The problem lies not in the fact that there i not an answer but that the answer is complex and maybe not as specific as we would want it to be. Listen to this article Our pain is real. God called David a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) because David had an uncommon desire to live in close relationship with Him. Why does God allow Christians to struggle? Part 1 Hardships in life bring on so much. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:2425 CSB). Many things that are good and important require immense suffering. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Why does God bring hard times into our lives? Indeed, I count everything as loss because ofthe surpassing worth ofknowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Why Does God Allow (Me to Do) Evil? | Faith in the Struggle These answers don't comfort and often aren't even true. When a man and woman get married, the fruit of their intimacy is a child. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33). From personal experience, any Christian knows who has walked with Christ for any significant period of time that God often brings the most growth in our lives through our hardest seasons. God Allows Us to Struggle Because it is sin living in me.. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. With mass shootings and natural disasters filling the headlines, it's normal to wonder why a sovereign God allows suffering. Sometimes they turn back to Him, only to reject Him again. Instead, the bible says there will be difficult times in our lives. Why are trials and tribulations part of the Christian life? All rights reserved. But instead, you can invite God to use your suffering to bring something good out of the bad. (1 Peter 4:12-13). Explore answers to life's biggest questions. We all have a story. Its like he collapses in worship as he cries out, What a wretched man I am! When hard times come to you, turn to Christ (who suffered and died for you), and ask God to use them to strengthen your faith. When God comforts you in your suffering, you will be able to comfort others in the same way. Visit: http://www.hindu-academy.com for more information. But God intervened, and Joseph was eventually elevated to a powerful position. Toll Free: 1-877-247-2426. They chose, as we've all chosen, to follow their own appetite over God. Thankfully the Bible offers a better answer to the question: why does God allow suffering? In this letter to a fellow pastor, he confessed that he had always assumed, after walking with God for 40 or 50 years, that he would have made more progress in the Christian life. He did not say there was no need to mourn because He was about to raise Lazarus. Why Does God Allow Me to Struggle and Fail? - LinkedIn Part 2, Lesson 3 Assurance and Eternal Security, Lesson 1 Part 4 Three principles to guide discipleship training, Lesson 1 Part 5 Avoiding unclear gospel invitations. They cut to the heart. God allows us to struggle and fail to bring humility and realization we need Him in our lives all day, every day. "I think we're putting the world together in a way that is going to make things . Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. Theres no denying these eternal and fundamental truths. After Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people with a happy meal, the crowd perceived that Jesus was the Prophet whom Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 18:15. How long will You look the other way? I have a Master's Degree in Pastoral Counseling, I've been married since 2008, we have two wild children, and we live in Cleveland, Ohio. Although we struggle and suffer because of our sin, it is also of His love for us, God will allow us to struggle, and to experience pain and failure. When we were married to the law, it was a way to gain acceptance from God, but now that we have been saved by Christ, the law is a way to please the one who saved us. About UsContact UsPrayer RequestsPrivacy Policy, Latest AnswersBible LessonsBibleAsk LIVEOnline Bible. God can never be the author of evil ( James 1:13-17 ). Others are on a much larger scale. One passage of Scripture says of God, Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion because of the greatness of His unfailing love. Think of some of the storms of life which have invaded your life or someones you know: the storm of illness sudden or prolonged death the death of a loved one a child, a partner especially one not expected to die; rejection divorce, separation, abandonment; unfair criticism; emotional trauma hatred, anger, resentment, bitterness; the storm of physical loss loss of home, loss of job, loss of money, loss of security; an accident, or some event which may change the course of your life in an instant of time. He understands our struggle and He invites us to come to Him in the midst of our storm (Hebrews 4:16). There are times when we struggle and find ourselves in desolation, but why does God allow this to happen? Adam also chose to eat the fruit, knowing that it was against Gods one command. If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. You can trust God because He cares for you. The 73rd Psalm is our answer to the very same questions that also tormented the psalmist. AGW Ministries is meant to be an online blessing to you. Forwhen I am weak, then I am strong.. Privacy For I do not understand my own actions. Jesus actually chose to suffer so that He could one day bring an end to suffering for the rest of us and offer us comfort right now. He rescues them from all their troubles. God wants you to know how connected y'all really are. Suffering is inevitable in this world then. Failures happen throughout life. Jesus was at a wedding, and the host ran out of wine. He created the world perfect, but suffering and death are the direct result of sin (Romans 6:23). Because heres what happens when you are married to Jesus: You belong to him who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God (Romans 7:4). Greear Ministries. If you know someone who is mentally ill, here are three reminders to keep in mind as you take care of them (and encourage them to take care of themselves, as well). Selling someone into slavery is not good, even though God was able to use that to bring something good about in Josephs case. Forwhen I am weak, then I am strong.. But he said to me,My grace is sufficient for you, formy power is made perfect in weakness.Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so thatthe power of Christ may rest upon me. Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I look back on my life, I see Your gentle and thoughtful orchestration of many storms in my life that were intended to take me deeper in my relationship with You. Billy Graham often said he didn't have all the answers for human suffering but that the Bible offers hope in the midst of it. God Allows Us to Struggle to Keep Us Humbly Dependent on Him Which Actually Increases Our Strength. Before becoming king, he spent long periods of time on the run because the first king of Israel, Saul, was trying to kill him. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. Amen. The storm takes many different forms, and affects our lives in many different ways. So one reason we suffer is because we are on the path of sanctification and we still allow our old nature to take control of our lives sometimes. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils" ( 1 Timothy 6:10 ). We feel that our world should be different. From personal experience, any Christian knows who has walked with Christ for any significant period of time that God often brings the most growth in our lives through our hardest seasons. Some experiences of suffering are on an individual, family or community level. Newton is most famous for writing Amazing Grace, but he also pastored a small church in 18th-century England. So if suffering is part of your reality right now, hopefully you will find fresh hope as you see Gods plan to end suffering once and for all. God made a good world, but He allowed people to make choices, and the choices they made ultimately ruined it. Jesus made this clear. For the sake of Christ, then,I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. This simple statement, famous for being the shortest verse in the Bible, is profound. The Bible shows us very clearly that God is good and ultimately does not want people to suffer but that suffering is nevertheless a reality in this life. For me, this puts a new spin on "No Pain, No Gain". If you are facing problems and challenges in your life, God may allow them for the following reasons: 1. Just as parents allow kids to suffer the consequences of their mistakes so they can learn and develop character, God allows people to suffer the consequences of their individual and collective sin. Real Questions. Gods plan to end our suffering required Him to suffer. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. 2023 BGEA This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. 2. So why does God allow problems in your life? But he eventually realized his desire for good and justice actually pointed to the existence of a good and just God. God created the world and gave people a free choice to obey Him and live in His perfect creation or to rebel by going their own way and suffer the consequences. He knew He would be raised from death three days later. Romans 8:31-32 says, What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? God is causing your suffering because "______." True followers of Jesus are spared from suffering. He will live with them, and they will be His people. Even when God brings good things out of bad, suffering is still painful. Anne Graham Lotz: What Impossible Situation Are You Facing? Our suffering on earth is a small price to pay for the vast riches and glory that await us. Jesus calls His followers to be willing to sacrifice everything in their lives. Verse 11 says, This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed His glory.. For the LORD your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you." Learn about Cru's global leadership team. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. Receiving his love in the gospel is what produces love in our hearts. 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. Knowing that the human story will reach a good ending can give you hope in a world that sometimes feels hopeless. But rather than tell us to stop grieving because our suffering will end, He grieves with us for His suffering people and His broken world. If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals. 2021 J.D. This makes his strange analogy in Romans 7:16 (about a woman and her dead husband) such a brilliant illustration, because it shows us how we can learn to love Gods law again. God allows struggle and difficult times because we are sinners and we all come short of the glory of God. Jesus knew He would die unjustly. It could be something more challenging, such as donating an organ to save someones life. It is extremely frustrating when kids rebel against you and ignore the rules you established for their protection. Topics: Suffering. Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world. The devil tempted her with the power to be like God, which would enable her to go her own way without trusting God. Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries. God allows struggles in our lives to keep us from thinking to highly of ourselves. I love these letters because they represent the same depth and wisdom we see in Amazing Grace but in varied circumstances. Unlike God, we are unable to see and know the totality, only seeing a glimpse of a reflection. The paperback version is available for $12.99. God only permits it. Any parent who has heard their child say, I hate you knows the pain those words inflict. For others, its economic hardship or political oppression. Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. God opposes the proud but he is close to the humble (Isaiah 57:15). One way that God often shows He is present during our suffering is through other people. God Allows Us to Struggle So We Can Gain Christ. It's completely free - my gift to you. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul said: So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh,a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. By doing this, Jesus saved the host from social embarrassment and shame. Not only does God care and empathize with us in our suffering, but He can also bring good out of it. For the time has come for judgment to begin with God's household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? In Mere Christianity, he explains, My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. One answer to the question "Why do the wicked prosper?" is that even the wicked have a purpose to fulfill in God's plan. Forever? Its one thing to say that one day God will eliminate suffering, but that does not change the fact that people are suffering now. Certainly not all the suffering in our lives is because of our own sin, but there is no way we can deny that much of the suffering in our lives is directly caused by our sinful choices. Isnt LinkedIn for people who are looking for a career? When we were married to the law, it was a way to gain acceptance from God, but now that we have been saved by Christ, the law is a way to please the one who saved us. As humans we have a tendency to take the credit that belongs to God and we try to give God the blame that belongs to us. Lets look in John 6:14-21 to discover the lessons God wants us to learn about suffering. Getyour copy of The Ultimate Guide to Christian Singleness and access to all of our eBooks. Some get angry at God and turn against Him which is tragic, because theyre cutting themselves off from their only source of lasting help. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. Billy Graham: Why Does God Allow Suffering? What do the Scriptures teach about verbal abuse. Without Your intervention in my life, my pride would have destroyed me. God experienced this pain first. The story of David is all about Israels search for identity, security, and happinessa search Lets just admit it: Some of us are success addicts. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it. (Luke 9:23-24). But how can you move forward without bringing the past with you as well? Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. Some of those storms were much worse than others because of my prideful resistance to Your leading. Have you experienced some storms in your life? God wants you to pour out your heart to Him. (For a more in-depth explanation, check out the article Understanding the Trinity). What the bible does is paint a picture of why these sorts of things do happen. I have been very upset with God sometimes because He did not do what I asked Him to do. But they choose to reject Him. And the child is the fruit of that intimacy. So what does Christ do? Death itself is a result of original sin. I dont know if you have done that, but I have. God knows you need somewhere to go when you feel unsure. (2Co 12:9-10 CSB). Jesus experienced intense suffering, and Jesus is God in the flesh, so we cannot think of God as being distant from suffering. God loves us, but because of our sinful nature, He allows these things to happen. Instead, be very glad for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world. My gift to you. By remembering what Jesus told us: Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. (Deu 31:6 CSB). "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" ( James 4:8) is a promise for good days and for dark ones, too. Answer. Visit www.tct.tv to learn more about us, our programs, and what you can do to help proclaim the Gospel!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tcttvTwitter: https. Through that choice, humankind broke their relationship with God and brought imperfection into the perfect world He made. Explore this life-changing journey to find hope and resources to conquer this addiction. But even these records of Davids despair usually end with him proclaiming his hope in God, because he trusted that God cared for him. God does not cause suffering, but He can and may allow it to accomplish good. After my talk, 2020 J.D. This is the . Why does God allow some people to be born into poverty and some to be The master says, Do this, or Im going to smack you with the paper. It is a miserable dog. One of the great things about Christian community is the love and support available to you during both the highs and lows of life. David and Solomon accumulated wealth. A Life of Sin Is the Reason for Your Problem A law dog always has its tail tucked. As humans we have a tendency to take the credit that belongs to God and we try to give God the blame that belongs to us. When we became Christians, we died to the law and used it as a means to elevate ourselves in the eyes of God and others. He creates (in a way, gives birth to) humanity in the form of Adam and Eve, and He sets loving boundaries for them. God is not afraid of your questions, your sadness or your anger. Some may be called to make the ultimate sacrifice, such as soldiers who lay down their lives to protect the lives and freedoms of others. And if met in the strength God supplies, struggles may be the means of promoting our growth in grace. They focused on Christ as someone who could serve their physical needs, but they had no interest in Him spiritually. Why Does God Give Us Struggles? - The Odyssey Online Trust Me More, 5 Complicated Things God Will Allow When You Meet Your Person. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.. Therefore, when we struggle, we should not say that God sent the temptations. That very impulse is a longing that God gave us so that we would look for something beyond this life. - Diane That is a really great question, and one that is not easy to answer. God loves you anyway. He Himself will live among His people. Does God Care about My Financial Problems? - Christianity Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. However, the apostle Paul would not agree with this conclusion. The book of Genesis tells the story of this first rebellion. The apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament of the Bible, discussed this in his second letter to Christians in Corinth. God had protected His people from evil and death. (more to follow), OSHA Safety Specialist / Program Manager/ Quality Assurance Specialist. If you do not yet have a relationship with God, He wants you to turn to Him. By studying what Paul wrote in the Bible, we can discover at least three reasons God allows us to struggle. God does not want people to suffer, and He will end suffering. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. 1. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. But God uses even those sufferings to mold and shape us for His purposes and our ultimate good. God does not tempt humans (James 1:13). He actually became a human in the person of Jesus and went through profound relational, physical and mental suffering. So, some sickness is not from God, but from Satan. The love of God does what the law could not. Contact Us. We need you. Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Peter, one of Jesus closest followers, reminded early Christians that when you follow Jesus, you will face difficulties: Dear friends, dont be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Thank You for not giving up on me during those times when I was so stubborn. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. There are many factors to consider, but the bottom line is: The Bible shows us that suffering, rather than disproving it, actually points to the existence of a good God who cares about people. We may attempt to see the positive outcome achievable through experiencing struggle, hardship, and pain, but we only see it for the pain and struggle. One day, God will make everything new and once again perfect and free from suffering. It is through suffering that we not only draw closer to Christ, but He also draws near to us to walk with us through the storm. Before the first people disobeyed God and went their own way, there was no death.