Jesus got tired, knew hunger and thirst, battled … Distant. And how we think about and process the reality of pain is at the heart of why many people reject God.Dr. Thank you so much for the feature! But some people ask, why doesn’t God just get rid of evil once and for all? God is the author of good, but we make moral choices that result in evil. acts of love in turn helps us in our own redemption. ( Psalm 11:4; 56:8 ) For example, when his worshippers in ancient times were being oppressed, God said: … But God never let Job in on the “why” of suffering. Where is God in the Midst of Suffering? be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Mathew 5:3-12). Suffering is not a stranger to the mortal man. Love this linkup and all the great content and bloggers I’m finding through here. Feel free to grab the featured button below and place it on your website! I was reminded of just how much I’ve let doubt creep in, when I read this excerpt from her post: It wasn’t long before it was clear that I did have doubt. God does not give us any cross that we cannot carry nor does She writes, “The sacredness of life rooted in the image of God underpins our response to disaster. Therefore, it makes sense that the question a lot of people ask is “Where is God in all the suffering?” On the cross when he was losing blood, hanging for hours, getting suffocated, and knowing that his mother was watching, imagine His mental suffering? He is guiding us and wrapping His protective arms around our scared hearts. Debra says: I read a post by Elaine this week, where she describes the suffering her children have been through and how doubt began to control her thoughts. Like a parent hearing a child call out in pain, God comes running to assist.” How Mark Found Strength in Suffering A month later Mark shared his own struggle on a telephone call. I have found God is right there, but it is still hard. And how we think about and process the reality of pain is at the heart of why many people reject God. If only we could pray for those who hurt us, There he hangs unable to move, nails pierced through his wrists and feet, his body scourged and his face covered with blood flowing from the thorn pierced head. Suffering is a tool God uses to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives. We placed our hope and faith in Him in our distress and didn’t get the response we desired. In spite of being God, he totally emptied himself of any divine power: all for the sake of LOVE FOR US. Your question of how God can ‘allow’ suffering is a good one. Suffering can connect us with other people. he ask us to inflict any suffering upon ourselves. This cuts across the grain of shallow teachings that we will not suffer if God is with us. Why do many people blame God for all the suffering in the world? Does Evil Argue Against God? Jesus was innocent and when the innocent suffer, it is for the redemption of others around them. Orr-Ewing draws on Scripture to illustrate her points about the significance and value of human life, engages with difficult questions about God’s involvement in suffering, and creates a compelling picture of Christ as the suffering … In the midst of an extreme trial, it can be hard to develop mature faith. But you are so right, Maree Dee…God is right there with us! because of our love and courage. Both “natural” evil (natural disasters, disease, suffering of animals) and “human” evil (wars, genocides, injustice) mock our ability to make the reality of an omnipotent, loving God sensible in the wake of suffering. Your sufferings do not go in vain. If we turn to Him, there is strength we never thought we had. Thank you for linking up every week. We prayed and prayed. I never doubted He was ABLE to heal them at any time. Suffering can make us grateful for what we had or still have. Just as we heat a crooked rod to straighten it, God holds us over the fire of suffering to make us more upright. Imagine the loneliness and feeling of abandonment. I always find encouraging posts here! Suffering conforms us to Christ. In our pain, we long to know why God allows grief and hardship into our lives. It really is difficult to see our kids suffer. God is able to take things that ARE NOT good and work them out FOR good and for His purposes. (2) Healing from within suffering is as wonderful as healing from it. In this episode, Ligon Duncan, author of When Pain Is Real and God Seems Silent: Finding Hope in the Psalms, discusses how Christians can face profound life-changing suffering with their faith intact.He shares stories of severe suffering from his own ministry as a pastor, reflects on God's role in our suffering … After a period of silence, God reminded Job of who he—God—is and what he has done. In fact Jesus was also fully human and he did feel every bit of pain, physically, emotionally and mentally . I don’t like it when I’m going through it, but I sure like the results! That doesn’t mean that those who know God will escape difficult times. When Jesus said, “Come Follow Me” (Mathew 4:19), he did not mean just to share in the joys and miracles. Although, traumatic life experiences, make us question Where is God in suffering, now we know that Jesus suffers with us. I found my answer to the question Where is God in suffering when I kept gazing at Jesus on the Cross. I hope the content of this page would bring you some consolation.People wonder that if God loved us and created us, why would He let us suffer? She shares bits and pieces of her battle and how God ultimately used the suffering … him so that we may also be glorified with him.”  When we ourselves are inflicted with suffering, keep gazing at Jesus on the cross. When we are suffering, God is right beside us. Such acts are very pleasing to God, Article from the Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition Several psalms shock those familiar with New Testament teachings. Comfort in Suffering. He is in trouble and God feels far, far away. (3) The amazing amount of health in this broken world is a greater … Even though He had no sin of His own, Jesus identified with us so completely that He took the burden of our inward brokenness — … Suffering and evil affect us all, both at a general level, as we look at a world filled with injustice, natural disasters and poverty, and at a personal level, as we experience grief, pain and unfairness. I’m not interested in a God who is “not responsible.” Some Comforters, Some Religion. Now we can find meaning And for a time that seemed far too long, they kept on hurting. to offer every little opportunity to suffer, as a ‘Little Flower’ for Jesus. was sparked off by Stephen Fry’s abstract arguments against the existence of God because there is suffering in life, the heart of the book is not so much Purcell’s answers to these abstract arguments, as what he has learned by listening, listening long and hard, to the voices of people who have suffered, to learn from them. day with injustices and petty annoyances caused by others. I love when God shows up in that way! Therefore, we Catholics do not blame God when we are in pain. Thank you for hosting! We have plenty of opportunities in a single This reordered Job’s perspective and he was content with that. new earth ... there shall always be rejoicing and happiness ... No longer shall (Matthew 26:39). "The first thing is this. the story of Blessed Hermann? Most of us can say that we pray casually for our families. Look inside the Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition. In this deeply personal and impassioned book, the author explores stories of historical figures and characters in literature whose unyielding faith in the face of great personal suffering … I may be baffled by Him, I may be frustrated by Him, but the God I want to hear from is the God who rules the world. It is ‘suffering joyfully’ that made ordinary people Thank you for sharing your story with us last week, Elaine! As David writes he feels forsaken by God. It reminds me of darker days when I relied on him for every single step as I approached a treatment center where my child was residing. In Where is God in Suffering? Suffering is a common experience to the majority of people in the world. I am certainly not an expert on suffering. there a God. He wants to show us His love through His church, and give us a purpose through His Word! Suffering can lead a person into Christian ministry. It is designed to build our trust in the Almighty, but suffering requires the right response if it is to be successful in accomplishing God’s purposes. During my daughter’s missionary trip to Papua New Guinea, she saw a baby with Tuberculosis struggling to breath. Once a priest said, "the great joy brought by Jesus is so real, that this joy can pass through every kind of suffering without being smothered". Battling with the question Where is God in suffering, and looking at Jesus on the cross, I realised how much God loved us. the sound of weeping be heard there, or the sound of crying; ... None shall God is not the creator of evil, pain, and suffering. Simon might not have understood this calling nor would he have recognised who Jesus was at first. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! The online worship service recorded by Pastor Tim hopes to respond to an important question: Where is God during suffering? God knows the pain and suffering we encounter in this world. Wonderful inheritance. Know They won’t. God’s willingness to send his son, Jesus, to experience deep pain, suffering and eventual death, on our behalf, speaks powerfully to me of God’s love and care for us. (Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, 166) 4. “God can be found, known, and experienced in the midst of pain through his own suffering. [clickToTweet tweet=”Join us for the Salt & Light Linkup every Thursday . It’s so easy to forget how much we are loved in the midst of suffering. brings together voices with faith, and voices without, who have really suffered even unto death, who have precious things to say to us about how to live with and through suffering … (Mark 15: 21). There is comfort we never thought was possible. We know that it was God’s will for Jesus to suffer and die – because God loved us. We have good reason to feel outrage and sorrow, but also a real mandate to respond with compassion, generosity and self sacrifice.” 4 new features each week!” quote=”Join us for the Salt & Light Linkup every Thursday . Blessed are you when they insult you ... and utter every kind of evil against She again rightly shows us that physical pain is the consequence of … All of God’s faithful followers are assured of an eternal life with Christ, where there will be no suffering (Revelation 21:4). Suffering Matures and Equips Us. We all face suffering in some way, shape or form. Where is God in the fear, suffering and grief of this global pandemic? Jesus left the safety and security of His home, and entered the hard environment we live in. I read a post by Elaine this week, where she describes the suffering her children have been through and how doubt began to control her thoughts. Responses to suffering are deeply personal and evoke strong emotions, but the Bible offers examples that reveal not only the mystery of human suffering but God’s eternal perspective. then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with We ask God to bless them and keep them safe or to, Have you ever had those moments where you felt attacked in every direction and you weren't sure what to do? call to be united in LOVE with JESUS. glorious resurrection. But why does God allow suffering? Specially, ‘why innocent children have to suffer’ or ‘why good people have to suffer’ are questions that … Suffering can position our lives to bring more glory to God. God was there with Jesus, during Jesus’ passion and death. Jesus feared the pain so much that he prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will”. (Romans 8:16-17), Isaiah prophesised, “I am about to create new heavens and a When Jesus prayed in the garden, he sweated blood. Distant. The Bible tells us, “...  that we are children of God, and if children, God’s willingness to send his son, Jesus, to experience deep pain, suffering and eventual death, on our behalf, speaks powerfully to me of God’s love and care for us. Specially, ‘why innocent children have to suffer’ or ‘why good people have to suffer’ are questions that most people cannot understand. The truth is that God is still with us, walking us through the pain and suffering. I am grateful for the way God has used suffering in my life to strengthen my faith in Him. Even though the Bible doesn’t answer your specific why questions—the kind of questions every sufferer asks—it does unveil why God allows hardship into the lives of his children. He will live with them, and they will be His people. Though Where is God in suffering? God is still there despite any tragedy you may be experiencing. We bear the pain united with Jesus’ sufferings. Suffering is a battleground. Later she realised that God was there, suffering in the innocent - so we Strobel then asked, "So, what does God reveal about this issue to us to help us process?" Thank you. Suffering is a common experience to the majority of people in the world. The psalmists didn’t hesitate to demand God’s justice and make vivid suggestions on how he might carry it out. Now, available in Large Print and Personal Size. you (falsely) because of me. Be assured that we will pray for you during our family prayers, Rosary and Eucharist Adoration. we are on our way to becoming saints. Wherever there is suffering, there is a battle — a battle for your soul. No one wants to see their children go through hardships, especially when it’s things outside of their control. Even though the issue of pain and suffering is a legitimate topic it does not negate all of the positive, affirmative evidence we have for the existence of God, he said. 7, 8. Books on suffering written by academic types rarely connect with people who are actually suffering. God is silent. Loved the honesty in this post. Uninvolved. Great post, my friend! Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a5bd7e052a9c0bd64a16c40fa07e681d" );document.getElementById("dacc05f8f9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. philosopher Brendan Purcell considers ways in which we can meaningfully reconcile our faith in God with a world that often appears to be plagued by great tragedy. Not necessarily that God exists. Suffering does not have to have the last word in our lives. All of God’s faithful followers are assured of an eternal life with Christ, where there will be no suffering (Revelation 21:4). So, instead of trying to find an answer for Where is God in suffering, we can make use of every opportunity to care for Jesus by helping the suffering people. Suffering is a tool God uses to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives. First of all, if you are going through some kind of suffering and would like our prayers,  please write to us via the ‘contact author’ link. We prayed boldly. He cries, “My God My God, why have You forsaken me?”  (Mark 15:34) This is the climax of Jesus’ suffering. No. But also to follow him in his sufferings, so we can enjoy the same resurrection and eternal life. But the worst pain of all, the darkest suffering, is when in the middle of our storm, even God feels far away. 1. Therefore, it makes sense that the question a lot of people ask is “Where is God in all the suffering… Have you ever wondered where God was when you were suffering? But God never let Job in on the “why” of suffering. God is with us in the very PRESENCE of our enemies and in the midst of our greatest suffering. It is also not a means of gaining points with God, nor of subduing th… 4 new features each week!”]. From the very start of human suffering, not a single teardrop has gone unnoticed by Jehovah, * whose “watchful eyes” see everything. So does the argument that suffering is a punishment for sins, a still common approach among some believers (who usually say that God punishes people or groups that they themselves … But lessons learned in suffering can equip a believer for future ministry (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).New wisdom and maturity are tools God … Look inside the Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition. Site owned by Candida IrugalbandaraCopyright © 2018 Family-Prayer.org Content protected by CopyscapeContact Author of Family-Prayer.org. In his dying for us, Christians believe … Many philosophers have claimed that a world of suffering cannot be a world in which a good and powerful God is present. Click To Tweet. Atheists, skeptics and other critics of Christianity often argue against God on the basis of the reality of evil and suffering. in our suffering. God has not left us alone in our suffering. It may be illness, it might have been a rough upbringing or it may take the form of witnessing someone else’s suffering. Think again.... Isn’t Jesus calling you now in the same way he called Simon and His Apostles? I always wondered how lucky Simon the Cyrenian was, when he was called to shoulder a little bit of Jesus’ suffering by bearing the weight of the cross? The world's evils often look like proof of God's nonexistence. Why me? God will cleanse the earth of evil and suffering one day. Maybe you are in that place right now, feeling darkness and dryness — like God … That was why He became one of us — to suffer for us. I work in Oxford, and I have had … Suffering is not a stranger to the mortal man. The problem of suffering is challenging, and people often wonder how a kind, loving God can allow suffering. We pleaded and cried out before Him as we held our sweet hurting babies. Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter, Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram, Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter, Website | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter. And that is exactly how God felt to me. Where was God in all this suffering? Some think that ‘God punishes us’ or worse off they wonder, ‘Is there a God?’. I thought,