It may sound fine in theory but in practice most Thai Buddhists find it very difficult. Suffering is a gift from God. In this lifetime we’ll never completely understand why God allows some events to take place. When tragedies happen, we ask why. Hope is a powerful resource that is the result of tested and proven endurance and character. God gives us answers. God is creating within us qualities of character that cannot be gained except by difficulty. And though suffering is painful and we should do whatever we can to avoid causing it, God can even use suffering to produce good. We only develop this kind of strength by working through the severe challenges of life. When we submit to Him through repentance, baptism and obedience, He grants us the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 5:32). It’s fundamental, though it may be confusing at first, to understand that God doesn’t promise to prevent all loss, heartache or stress in our lives. It’s suffering to turn the other cheek, but it births glory. In fact, it's part of God's plan for humanity to get rid of all sadness, sorrow and pain. I’m losing trust in God. When we have learned those lessons and are prepared to become part of His Kingdom, there will no longer be any need for suffering—it will have served its purpose and will no longer be part of our lives. Often, our pain comes from the mere fact that we live in a world that is not what God had intended. A cancer patient will come in after being diagnosed and they look fairly healthy in the beginning but once treatment starts I can not stress enough how it wreaks havoc on their bodies. We grasp for answers to the urgent questions of the moment: “Why? From the January/February 2014 issue of Discern Magazine, [From the January/February 2014 issue of Discern.]. (23:3–4; 24:1; cf. His purpose is to create a family to live with Him for eternity in the Kingdom of God. No doubt God uses that to our good also but we make it harder on ourselves (and those around us) than it needs to be by not obeying all that God instructs us to do. God doesn't want bad things to happen to people. Not all suffering is the direct result of God disciplining us. In God's mercy He showed us the key in the Bible. He promises to provide for our physical needs as we make His Kingdom and righteousness our highest priority (Matthew 6:33). For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. What’s next? Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read Why Am I Suffering? Their suffering has truly just begun. Once you come to understand where suffering comes from and why we so often go through trials, you can start working through your suffering. God also allows us to suffer to turn us toward Him, helping us to make a strong, deep and complete commitment to Him. God walked into suffering unjustly, unfairly, and He did so voluntarily because He loves us. He wants this new world even more than we do. I don’t know what your story is and what you’re going through, but I want you to know that you will get through it. How could a loving all powerful God allow terrible things to happen? Get the latest blog posts from Life, Hope & Truth straight to your inbox. Print subscriptions available in U.S., Canada and Europe, Article URL: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/evil-and-suffering/why-am-i-suffering/. For example, what role does Satan play in mankind’s suffering? Why doesn’t God at least protect those who sincerely try to live a good life and obey His law? Parents have the unpleasant responsibility of punishing their children to help them learn from their wrong behavior. But suffering is not just a problem for Christians. And He also uses suffering Never miss a post! God will not let you go through this without there being provision to see you through it. Why Am I Suffering? Empathy—an understanding and compassion for others based on a shared experience. He loves people. © 1995–2021 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. Why we suffer. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. Another word for unjust suffering is testing. Working in the Oncology field has opened my eyes to this even more so. But on another level something much greater is being accomplished. For example, by His grace God offered His Son so that we can be reconciled to Him (Colossians 1:19-21) by repentance and the forgiving of our sins (1 John 1:9). Because “with evil things God cannot be tried, nor does he himself try anyone.” I am suffering greatly but I want the world to hear my testimony. Suffering is deeply personal, and we experience it in many ways. He gives us hope. That’s part of His plan for us too. In this video Evangelist Gabriel Fernandes deals with the question: "if God loves me then why am i suffering?" Hardship establishes and strengthens our resolve. Appreciation—the realization that, even in our most difficult moments, God has given us much to be thankful for and hopeful in. In these dark times our cares and worries overwhelm us with negative and even hopeless thoughts. When tragedies happen, we ask why. The problem of suffering has been with us since the Garden of Eden and it will be with us until Christ comes back. God has not left us alone in our suffering. But why? To refine our character, to prepare us for ministry, to comfort others with the comfort we’ve received. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? The key is trusting in Jesus Christ. You may be going through pain and suffering right now but God can offer hope for any situation. It’s evident that Jesus suffered and that we will too. Why would a loving God allow suffering? Why must I suffer? How could a loving all powerful God allow terrible things to happen? Each is an aspect of character that God is looking for in His children. 13:23–24). How you handle the consequences of your sins (just suffering) determines if God will give you another job. “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” ( Isaiah 53:1-7 ). January 10, 2019 / in Life Concerns , My Life / by WAJ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. We live in a world of hurt, but should it be like this? Much (if not most) of the suffering that we experience is the simple result of our own sin. God gives us answers. : A Bible study aid present by BeyondToday.tv - Ebook written by United Church of God. But it won’t always be this way. But as parents, since we love our children, we have to be willing to help them learn even the hard lessons. Job's three friends had taken the position that the severity of Job's suffering must be the sign of some grievous sin in his life. This is why in James it says to “ consider it all joy when trials come your way. From the pain of divorce and death, to financial setbacks or the loss of health, perhaps you have asked the question: If God really loves me, why am I suffering? And He allows us to suffer (Acts 14:22). The most important thing to realize is that God cares for you actively. “Why am I suffering?” and “How can I escape from suffering?” Those are the big questions that drive Buddhism. God sometimes allows Christians to suffer, in order that they might learn the secret of obedience. Truly, suffering in general is a result of the brokenness of the world, that which finds its root cause in human sin (see Genesis 3). Job accuses God of being unjust and not operating the world according to principles of justice, and his friends believe that Job's sin caused his suffering. According to Sproul, what is the relationship between suffering and sin? The Bible clearly teaches that God does not cause us to suffer. Why this? But it’s also obvious that some are unsuspecting victims of others’ bad decisions or of seemingly random events. Don Henson, along with his wife, Rannie, is currently the pastor of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, congregations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Wheeling, West Virginia. Paul made the point in Romans 5:5 that as we grow in the qualities of endurance and character, we build a foundation of genuine hope—unshakable confidence in God’s love and the anticipation of His promises. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Scripture calls that repentance, which is at the foundation of our relationship with God. He wants us to grow closer to Him, to obey Him, and to find true peace and comfort in His love and way of life. Second, the word “discipline” means to punish for the purpose of improving behavior. But when we suffer, we have an opportunity to look carefully at our lives, to consider the lesson of obedience that we can learn from the circumstances. He knew He would suffer in many ways and eventually be murdered by the religious leaders. Just as physical endurance is built by exercise, spiritual endurance is established in troubled times. Yet He suffered terribly, both mentally and physically. But we can have faith that suffering isn’t arbitrary or meaningless—that even when we don’t understand it, He always has our best interest at heart. In order to answer this, we need to take a step back to consider our circumstances from a wider perspective. The friends argue that God is a just God and so Job must have sinned to bring about his suffering. So let us not consider anything we suffer unfair because we do not know the meaning of the word. ” It’s in your time of suffering that God has an opportunity to reveal His love for you. Because I'm human because I'm susceptible to illness because I'm susceptible to disease because I am an internal soul inhabiting a physical vessel. And He also uses suffering to draw our attention to changes we need to make to put us on the “straight paths” of life. I am suffering so much! In God's mercy He showed us the key in the Bible. If God is good, why am I suffering? Hebrews 12 says that God disciplines His children: “Endure trials for the sake of discipline. That was why He became one of us — to suffer for us. He understands it all, because He bore it all — the whole weight of it, all for us. In fact, He acknowledges that at times we will suffer. God is punishing Job. His plan is for every man, woman and child to live in peace and harmony in His Kingdom. Why am I suffering God: Final Words. 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