Why Must We Suffer
Doesn’t God love us? Why does he allow us to suffer?
These are common questions. Let’s look at the answers taken from God’s word.
(We suffer because of the) Aging Process
Since man no longer has direct access to the Tree of Life which was in the Garden of Eden, we must face an aging process. Most young people don’t fully realize the aging process. However, with aging there may be lost of sight, hearing, teeth, strength, memory, and mobility.
We are limited by God to how long we can live. Genesis 6:3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, they will live no more than 120 years.”
Jacob, who God called, Israel, experienced the aging process. Genesis 48:10 - Now Jacob was half blind because of his age and could hardly see.,,
(We suffer because of the) Evil in the World (drunk drivers)
We all suffer to some degree because of evil in the world. First, we see a general suffering because of evil. Psalms 107:17-18 - Some were fools in their rebellion; they suffered for their sins. Their appetites were gone, and death was near.
Second, others suffer because of the evil of some. Noah lost everything but his family because of the evil in the world. Lot lost his city, his home, and his wife because of evil in world.
Third, sometimes we suffer as direct result of evil in our own lives. II Kings 15:5 - The LORD struck the king with leprosy, which lasted until the day of his death; he lived in a house by himself……
In the New Testament we find that King Herod was struck by an Angel because of his sin of pride. Acts 12:21-24) - When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It is the voice of a god, not of a man!” Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
But God’s Good News was spreading rapidly, and there were many new believers.
So his death brought glory to God and expanded his kingdom.
(We suffer because of) Pruning (you could have ended up here so you can help someone)
Sometimes we suffer because God is doing some pruning in our lives. It does not have to be something bad that God is taking away. God may be removing something "good" and then He can replace it with His best.
John 15:2 - He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
(We suffer) For the Glory of God
All suffering is not the direct result of sin. There was a man that suffered blindness so Jesus could heal him, and that God might receive the glory.
John 9:1-5 - As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Teacher,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?”
“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him.
Then Jesus healed him and that action brought glory to God.
In the Old Testament, King Hezekiah got sick and was about to die, but he appealed to God based upon his righteousness. II Kings 20:1-11) - About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah…. went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.”
When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3“Remember, O LORD, how I have always tried to be faithful to you and do what is pleasing in your sight.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.
4But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the LORD: 5“Go back to Hezekiah…. Tell him, ‘this is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the LORD. 6I will add fifteen years to your life…..
Hezekiah’s life was put in danger with an illness, then he was healed and his life extended so God might receive the glory for the healing and lesson taught by the illness.
(We suffer because of the) Attack From The Enemy (drunk drivers, unprovoked injury)
Since man is God’s special creation, man has a natural spiritual enemy, Satan. Since Satan can not attack God directly, he attacks us whenever he finds an opportunity. Jesus healed a woman who had been under attack by the enemy for years. (Luke 13:16) Wasn’t it necessary for me, even on the Sabbath day, to free this dear woman from the bondage in which Satan has held her for eighteen years?
Sometimes God directs the attack that we might be restrained in a particular area. Paul experienced such an attack.
II Corinthians 12 - ……But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud.
God may also permit the enemy to attack us so hidden weaknesses might be revealed. Job was a righteous man who turned away from evil. Job 1:1 - There was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless, a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.
God allowed satan to attack Job with extreme hardships, he took everything from Job except his life.
But Job was human and he had weakness’, doubts. Job had a problem with his thoughts Job 3:25-26 - What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come to be. I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest….
Finally, Job acknowledges the sin of his thoughts by saying to God, Job 42:2, 5-6 - I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. “I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. 6I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”
(We suffer because of the) Discipline of God (smoking, bad habits)
God is a loving God and because of that love disciplines His children. Just as our earthly father had to discipline us.
When Miriam spoke against Moses who was God’s ordained leader over the people, God stuck her with leprosy. Numbers 12 - ………Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman………
The LORD was furious with them…….. Miriam suddenly became white as snow with leprosy………
Moses cried out to the LORD, “Heal her, O God, I beg you!”
So Miriam was excluded from the camp for seven days, and the people waited until she was brought back before they traveled again.
Even David admitted that he had come under the discipline of God. Psalms 119:71 - The suffering you sent was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your principles.
The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us about God’s discipline. Hebrews 12:6-11 - For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children.”
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children after all. Since we respect our earthly fathers who disciplined us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever?
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always right and good for us because it means we will share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
We are to allow hardships due to discipline to change us. To make us grow closer to our Lord.
(We suffer) Persecution (Not illness)
If you are a Believer and walking in faith and righteousness, you can expect persecution. Many Old Testament saints suffered persecution. Jesus was crucified, Stephen was stoned to death, Paul and Silas were put in prison, and John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. We can expected ridicule and persecution. Jesus said in Matthew 5:10-12 - God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.
Jesus did not say, "Follow me and you will never be persecuted." The indication is that we can expect persecution. After all, if the world persecuted Jesus, can his followers expect any less?
The Word gives us a picture of suffering of Old Testament saints saying, Hebrews 11:35-38 - Women received their loved ones back again from death.
But others trusted God and were tortured, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free. They placed their hope in the resurrection to a better life. 36Some were mocked, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in dungeons. Some died by stoning, and some were sawed in half; others were killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, hungry and oppressed and mistreated. 38They were too good for this world. They wandered over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
Persecution in America today doesn’t come as violence against us. It comes in many other forms, we are shunned as religious nuts, as the radical religious right, they belittle us saying we are intolerant because we believe the only true source of right and wrong is God’s word.
(We suffer) Tribulation (Not illness)
The word "tribulation" gives us a picture of a grape being squeezed to the point that the inside comes to the outside. Jesus said that we can expect tribulation, John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Many people have to experience tribulation before they seek God. Acts 14:22 - where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that they must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations. In the midst of tribulation, we can look to see what God is doing.
There is always a purpose in tribulation. Romans 5:3 - We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure.
Tribulation should not come as a surprise. We should expect it.
I Thessalonians 3:4 - Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know.
God knows when we experience tribulation. Revelation 2:9 - I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the slander of those opposing you.
So be happy, even in your suffering, God is there, he knows your feelings, he knows your pain, he knows your sorrow, look to him for the strength to endure your suffering and in addition to bringing you through the suffering he will reward you either in this life or when you go to be with him.
