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Lets look in John 6:14-21 to discover the lessons God wants us to learn about suffering. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. There are answers to these questions, but not surprisingly, they can feel complex. 1. 1. Charles Spurgeon, one of the most powerful preachers in the Victoria Era, had a lifelong battle with depression. Suffering goes back to Adam and Eves rebellion. Whatever youre experiencing, you can turn to God for comfort. God cares when people suffer in this life. Anne Graham Lotz: What Impossible Situation Are You Facing? Learn the basics of what Christians believe. 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. The Bible makes this clear. They are put there to help us learn from them and succeed. Find resources for personal or group Bible study. He wants us not just to know that He lives in us but to subjectively experience Him as our life. Read about individuals who have been transformed by faith. Why Does God Allow Us to Keep Struggling Against Sin? Whats the benefit of such post? The apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament of the Bible, discussed this in his second letter to Christians in Corinth. Even if your suffering is not over yet, walking through a painful experience with someone else can be a great blessing for both of you. Gods profound sacrifice shows how deeply He loves you and how much He cares about you. 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. But when Jesus mother made Him aware of this small hardship, He did not tell her about all the other people who were going through much worse things. The master says, Do this, or Im going to smack you with the paper. It is a miserable dog. Theyre not thinking about the mechanics and science of making a child. Lewis said that sometimes God will let you struggle with a smaller sin to keep you from a bigger one: pride. God will usually allow you to experience the consequences of your actions, and that may include suffering in some way. Suffering can be the result of someone else choosing to sin or harm you personally in some way. Find out more about how you can understand the will of God. It examines examples from ancient times and modern-day, including the story of Job, and highlights Job's struggle with the idea of retribution in the face of his own suffering. During one of these times, David wrote, The LORD hears His people when they call to Him for help. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Here are seven practical ways to trust God in your everyday life: 1. Over the years, Ive found that people often react to hard times in one of two ways. Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. One of the ways God makes people more effective for his glory is by producing more humility in them. There will be times where it seems the undeserving needlessly suffer through no fault or doing of their own. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. He longed for any in his audiences who were discouraged or prone to give up, to approach the Lord Jesus for His gentle and healing touch. No, He is being patient for your sake. He rescues them from all their troubles. This is true not only because it forges our character to become more like Christ, but also because it allows us to be witnesses of Christ to those who do not know Him. 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. Failures happen throughout life. All Rights Reserved. Often, He uses it to increase your compassion and ability to care for others who are suffering both those suffering generally and those suffering in similar ways to you. Clearly, He wants you to know that He has a plan to end suffering, but it has not yet been completed, as another passage from the Bible teaches: But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. Newton is most famous for writing Amazing Grace, but he also pastored a small church in 18th-century England. Romans 8:31-32 says, What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? In the same way, you dont produce righteousness by thinking, Ive got to have more love; Ive got to have more joy. Noyou just get swept up in this moment of loving intimacy with God. It is extremely frustrating when kids rebel against you and ignore the rules you established for their protection. Sadly, even good things can turn into sources of suffering. But God uses even those sufferings to mold and shape us for His purposes and our ultimate good. We all have a story. Instead, Jesus used His divine power to change ordinary water into excellent wine for the guests. In God's Word, we find hope for stormy times. Our aim is to share the Word and be true to it. Gods ultimate plan will be accomplished. "'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned . Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve. We are no longer motivated by fear but by love. That very impulse is a longing that God gave us so that we would look for something beyond this life. 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. Were these people from a life without difficulty and conflict? God Sees You and Is with You. Without struggle and resistance, a person would be weak and unable to sustain themselves when confronted by the challenges of experience in life. God chose to save you rather than spare Himself pain. Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus. When Jesus arrived and talked to Martha and Mary, He felt great compassion for all those grieving Lazarus death. 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. If you are a parent, and you tell your child not to steal but they choose to steal anyway, they will face consequences. So why does God allow problems in your life? Real Questions. Why Does God Let Me Fail? - Bibles for America Blog Why Does God Allow Us to Struggle? (7th Rule of the - YouTube God will forgive our sins because the eternal punishment for them has been paid by Christ's sacrifice on the cross. They, too, struggled. Getyour copy of The Ultimate Guide to Christian Singleness and access to all of our eBooks. Why does God allow us to go through struggles? - BibleAsk But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness." The very first expression of doubt in the Bible is in Genesis 3, when Satan tempted Eve. 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. But all storms contain some common elements: they usually come on rather suddenly, they take us by surprise, they tend to fill our hearts with fear, and they test our faith. They chose, as we've all chosen, to follow their own appetite over God. Stories Billy Graham: Why Does God Allow Suffering? So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. Stay here and keep watch with Me., He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. 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. Listen to this article Our pain is real. 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. As Jim Elliot famously said before he was martyred on the mission field, He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.. In other words, you are no longer your sin nature if you are a Christian. If you are facing problems and challenges in your life, God may allow them for the following reasons: 1. Dear friends, don't be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage. These answers don't comfort and often aren't even true. God experienced this pain first. More so, if God were to intervene in all our poor decisions, then we would no longer have the gift of free will; allowing the freedom to choose good and bad. Jesus was rejected by the people He showed love to. David was well acquainted with suffering. My favorite letter is one Newton wrote when he was 83 years old. 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? He is a compassionate and gentle Savior who knows how to comfort and console those who are alone in their pain. Biden Says Ukraine Is Not Ready for NATO Membership They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, Sit here while I go and pray. He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He became deeply troubled and distressed. Abba, Father, He cried out, everything is possible for you. Local: 704-401-2432 Through all of lifes trials, we are promised full victory. The world will make you suffer. In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Several passages are relevant: "Pray for those who persecute you" -Matthew 5:44 (NIV) [1] "And when you pray " -Matthew 6:5 Personal Why does God allow us to go through struggles? God raised up the Babylonians, a "ruthless and impetuous people" for a reason ( Habakkuk 1:6; cf. Notice the link Paul discusses in Philippians 3:7-11 between losing things in this life to gain more of Christ: But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Others are on a much larger scale. What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation. Philippians 4:6-7 says, Dont worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. People chose to rebel. Whenever a tragic circumstance occurs, or a terrible injustice is revealed, somebody is sure to remark, "You say your God is a God of love, but how could a God of love allow such a thing to happen?" The Bible says we can even rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope (Romans 5:3-4). This can be referred to as individual or personal sin. I will sing to the Lord But I trust in Your unfailing love. And God promises, "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee" (Psalm 50:15). When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. If a person lived a life filled with endless comfort and without a struggle; would they seek the Lord? I doubt many would. When Christians describe this truth about God, they call God the Trinity. One of the most terrible experiences in this life is the death of a loved one. 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. 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. Suffering began with people rebelling against God. He ended up saving the whole region, including his family, from a terrible famine. Genesis, the first book of the Bible, tells of Gods original creation: a perfect world, free of suffering, in which people had a direct relationship with God. So, we can fully trust in God who loved us to death. The devil tempted her with the power to be like God, which would enable her to go her own way without trusting God. 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. Jesus sent them into the storm. Following Jesus is not easy or comfortable, but it is worthwhile because the suffering you experience in this life is nothing compared to the joys of spending eternity with God (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). The question of why some suffer at death and others do not could be summed up in one statement: "God is sovereign." That is not just a trite and easy statement. 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. With mass shootings and natural disasters filling the headlines, it's normal to wonder why a sovereign God allows suffering. But they choose to reject Him. You can trust God because He cares for you. The Three Most Important Lessons Christians Can Learn in College. Any parent who has heard their child say, I hate you knows the pain those words inflict. Unlike God, we are unable to see and know the totality, only seeing a glimpse of a reflection. The question of suffering initially prevented the author and Oxford scholar C.S. If you choose to commit a crime, the consequence could be going to prison and suffering the loss of your freedom. Our desire to end suffering is a glimpse of the good God who created people to reflect His loving nature by caring for one another. You may wonder why does God allow Christians to struggle or suffer? And God promises, And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee (Psalm 50:15). But we see Gods goodness in the way He can redeem the worst situations we can experience. Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation. 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. So, if you are going through something difficult or painful, turn to God in prayer. 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. Think back over the years of those individuals admired and respected for their strength of character and their wisdom. Paul said, For his sake Ihave suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Nothing is more valuable than Christ, therefore no amount of suffering that draws us closer to Christ is too great a sacrifice to make. Are you looking for healing from anxiety, November 3, 2011 Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth. The world is broken, and pain exists because humanity has chosen evil. Break ups can be anywhere. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. Even when God brings good things out of bad, suffering is still painful. He said, God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil (Genesis 3:5). (For a more in-depth explanation, check out the article Understanding the Trinity). Contact Us. For his sake Ihave suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christand be found in him, not havinga righteousness of my own that comes from the law, butthat which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faiththat I may know him andthe power of his resurrection, andmay share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,that by any means possible I mayattain the resurrection from the dead..