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Why does God let people suffer?
Whitney Hopler
Suffering is an unavoidable reality in this fallen world. God never causes suffering; it's a byproduct of sin that has infected creation. Sometimes God intervenes in human affairs to alleviate suffering, but sometimes He allows suffering to take place. God knows how hard suffering is; He had to endure a great deal of it when He came to Earth as Jesus. But sometimes suffering accomplishes purposes that wouldn't be fulfilled otherwise.
Here are some reasons why God lets people suffer:
- Suffering often motivates people to seek God, and as they draw close to Him, they can understand Him better. Often people won't pay attention to God unless they're suffering and are acutely aware of their need for Him. Turning to God can open the door to strength, courage and miracles.
- When people make wrong choices, God allows them to live with the just consequences of those choices - which often means suffering. God is righteous, and a loving parent to all people. Like any good parent, He disciplines those He loves to help them grow. God will forgive anyone who seeks His forgiveness, but He won't always remove painful circumstances that wrong choices have created. Choosing to follow God's guidance leads to a life of peace, and even joy.
- People's wrong choices affect not just them, but also many others. Victims of other people's sin can turn to God in prayer and trust Him to bring good out of bad situations.
- Suffering helps people identify with Jesus, who suffered greatly during His life on Earth. Suffering helps people develop compassion. Studying how Jesus responded to suffering will help people face life's harsh blows, and emerge stronger from them.
- God often uses people's suffering to comfort others, who can be encouraged by observing or hearing about those experiences.
- God often builds people's faith when they observe and hear testimonies of how people have been drawn closer to Him through suffering. Other people can catch glimpses of God's power and mercy, and be inspired by how people who are suffering trust God.
- Suffering broadens people's perspectives so they can see some of how God views situations. Suffering focuses attention on the contrasts between this world and life in heaven.
- Suffering puts faith into practice, leading to deeper trust in God.
-- By Whitney Hopler
Adapted from Why God Lets People Suffer, copyright 2000 by Nancy C. Gaughan. Published by Magnus Press, Carlsbad, Calif., 1-800-463-7818.
Nancy C. Gaughan is a Bible study teacher and speaker. A Messianic Jew, she writes and speaks through His Truth Ministries.
Most Recent User Comments
kat24k
9/1/2008 2:20 AM
i beleive that through suffering as long as we remain focused on god instead of getting angry at him as many of us do, is how we become stronger and gain perseverance. i think god uses it as teaching tool so that we may be able to help others make it through those trying times. and also on the other hand alot of the suffering is related to consequences of sin and of some bad decisions we mave have made in our lives. but as christians god also always give us a way out if we look to him for the answer.just think how many people we can touch or bring closer to god just by being strong and finding the positive in all of our sufferings. we have to remember that it isnt about this life it is about making it to heaven and bringing as many others as we can with us.
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bd1113
8/30/2008 12:16 AM
I HAVE OFTEN ASKED MYSELF THE QUESTION PROPOSED IN THIS ARTICLE AND HAVE FOUND IN MY RESEARCH THE SAME OR SIMILAR ANSWERRS TO THOSE PROVIDED. HOWEVER, HOW WOULD APOLOGETICS EXPLAIN A YOUNG CHILD DYING OF CANCER?
ammienpawpaw
8/29/2008 5:46 PM
I too, wondered why GOD let my sister suffer for so many years and then took her to heaven last year on the 27th. of September? I'm asking you a question, but here's my answer too.... She had suffered long enough, and he did not want her to suffer anymore, so this is why he took her. Am I not correct? She was only 66 years old, here on this earth, but I feel like it WAS his reason. Ammienpawpaw
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