Posted on 01/29/2021 7:14:54 PM PST by OneVike
“Why didn’t God just create us so that we would never have to experience pain, suffering, or sadness?”
After all, God has the power to make the world free of evil, yet He chose instead to make us creatures with free will. Thus, free will was the door left open for the possibility of evil entering our lives.
Then one must ask, "What's the purpose of pain, suffering? Why does God allow humans, who were made in His image, to live on a planet where evil abounds?"
Well, God could have made us perfect without the ability to sin, and we would have never known pain and suffering. Instead of being as we are, we would then be like Chatty Cathy dolls. Just pull the string and watch us do and say whatever we were programmed. Is that the kind of life you would wish to live? Well, obviously God did not think so either. That’s the short answer to why God created us with free will.
With free will came the possibility that Adam and Eve might disobey God of their own volition and partake of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. Well, thanks to some coaxing from Satan, Eve ate the fruit and offered some to Adam. The first two humans that God created exercised the right of choice that God had given them. Because they didn’t obey God’s command, sin entered the universe and that sin was handed down to every human who was born of man. All of us, believers and non-believers alike, wrestle with the daily struggles of the “Adam and Eve” within us.
Christ died on the cross so that, if we believe in Him, we can have eternal life. However, just because we gave our life to Christ, does not mean we are immunized from the pain and suffering of this world. This is why so many Christians inevitably ask the question, “Why am I suffering God? Why do my loved ones suffer?” What if on the day we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we were given God’s total and complete protection, so nothing bad ever happened to us again?
“Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face. Job 1:9-11Can you imagine what would happen if God did put a hedge about us on every side? Would not the people of the world who do not know Christ, say:
“So what, that you love God. Anybody would love God if He protected them the way He does you. I’m not impressed. Your God doesn’t offer me anything; I live in the real world.”
What if those who suffer, saw the way we dealt with pain, suffering, and disappointment? This is not why God allows tragedy and mishaps to come upon Christians, but as a Christian, we should take our tragedies and use them as an example of how our Father in heaven gives us the ability to live beyond our sufferings and disappointments of life. His loving mercy allows us to be free enough to learn and grow through our trials and tribulations, like the apostles did.
When I go through trials and tribulations, I try to think of someone I know who is going through worse things, and I consider how they deal with it. For me I don't have to look too far, because my wife is a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair. She has been in one since 9:10 pm Mountain time October 26, 1987. See, I know because we were in the same car that went off a 35 foot embankment. The driver died, a girl lost the use of her arm, and my wife ended up in a wheelchair.
The car we were in. Click the image if you
wish to read what I wrote about the accident
Unlike my wife, I walked away from the accident. The accident happens quite a few years before we both gave our lives to Christ, but she still has many trials and tribulations related to the accident. Seeing her dealing with the consequences of our drunken road trip gives me the strength to get through difficult times in my life. Seeing her go through things, reminds me daily that but for the grace of God there go I.
Unlike my wife and I, the Apostles did not go through trials and tribulations because of the consequences of their sins. Their trials and tribulations came because of who they followed, Christ Jesus. One day Peter and John were flogged and ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus. When they were released, they considered it worthy to be able to suffer for the name of Christ. (Acts 5:40-42) They said this because they were told by Jesus,
"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12
James tells us that we should consider it all joy when we encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance (James 1:2-4). These and other passages describe rejoicing, not in spite of the suffering, but because of it. Remember what Paul says about not losing heart over the fact that our flesh is decaying with age and infirmities:
“because our trials will renew our spirit daily…………for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal,” 2 Cor 4:16-18.
A few short paragraphs later, Paul described the many trials and tribulations he went through. He endured imprisonments, beatings with whips and rods, he was stoned, not once but three times, and left for dead. Three times he was shipwrecked; threatened by robbers, Gentiles and Jews; attacked by wild animals; bitten by a poisonous snake; left cold, hungry, and thirsty; and suffered many other hardships for the Gospel of Christ. (2 Cor 11:23-27) Paul finished well.
People observed Paul’s faith in God as persistent, consistent, and profound. Paul was the greatest and most successful evangelical missionary preacher the world had ever seen. It was his suffering along with that of the other apostles that eventually changed an empire. Tertullian said that,“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
It's through times of struggle and hardships that we can shine the brightest and reach more of the lost if we react to our pain and suffering like Christ did. Like many, most of my suffering comes from my own selfish desires to live my life my way, instead of His way. I feel unworthy to complain about the trials and tribulations I face because of my sins. Yet, I know that regardless of the reason for my trials, He is there for me, and will give me comfort in my time of need. If one day I am honored to suffer for Him, then I will proudly stand tall and walk the walk many did before I came.
Use the comfort you get from God in your suffering as training so you might comfort others. Teach those who don’t know the Lord to lean on Him in their suffering by leaning on Him in yours. Show them how you love and trust Him. We must willingly approach our infirmities and hardships, knowing that we hold a greater prize before us after this life than this world can ever offer. That is what we have to teach the world. So ask not why you suffer, but praise God for the chance to shine and be an example as our Lord was for us.
I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ.
Yes I did, thanks for the fix
Thank you, too, FRiend.
I will turn to and take to heart your post, from which I can draw some strength to persevere through these perilous days in our nation and around the world.
Your perspective is on target, yet still leaves me perplexed as to why God’s people are constantly martyred while the evil ones amongst us go unscathed, spreading unspeakable misery.
I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that the ONLY time the truly evil pay is when they face their day of reckoning at the Pearly Gates.
It’s just a shame that we aren’t fortunate enough to witness this consummate display of how God is indeed in control and better understand his plan!!
There is one ingredient in our relationship with God... it is trust. Everything God does is good... sometimes we don’t think so.
I have been a Christian all my life.. In those years there were times I’ve been angry at the Heavens. didn’t do me any good but God put up with me in those times.
I have adult children... one of them had special gifts... among other things...he played the piano with feeling... perfectly!
He was my go to son.. he was always there...
He went to NY and the music industry... where a producer cut his career short because he would not bend his beliefs. He left there angry at the world.
He still was my wonderful son but I was very concerned over his anger at seeing his career gone.
years past... he married... hid enjoyment was writing.... he worked hard all his life.
Health and age.. still I was very concerned.. i could not see this son lost to the worldI prayed... long time. One day my prayer was a demand.... dont put me off any longer.. and I quoted promises from the bible..
AND I added ... for the first time...
whatever it takes.
2 months later I got a phone call from my son. “are you sitting down?”
I just came from the doctor and I have leukemia. I am headed to the hospital.
Now after shock... my first rational thought was God can heal him.
So many knew my son.. there was prayer going up all over the U S... All over the world.
We spent the next 2 years doing everything we could to stop the cancer.
One night he was asleep and felt life leave. his body.. he was transfixed to a side of heaven where he saw many loved ones already gone .. he saw some who had messages for him.. he did not want to leave.. but his wife... he didn’t want to leave her..
he was given the option to come back ... he saw the outstretched hands of Jesus..
It changed his thinking changed his heart.. changed his belief... Jesus took the time to visit my son... He could just as well healed him.. He heard my prayer...
But Jesus did not take the cancer... my son died as I and his wife was beside him... I had asked him if he still saw those from heaven.. and he said yes..all the time..
If I could have begged God to please don’t take my son... I would have done anything to keep him.. i gave birth to him.. cared for him... so proud of the man he had become..thankful for all his abilities.. he was liked by everyone... a leader.. and wonderful son.
But God took him.
He answered my prayer.. He did what I asked and for His own reason.. took him.
Now it was my turn to put my faith.. my trust...in my Heavenly Father... He knows what i dont know.. My son is in Heaven... he is with my mother.. my grandmother.. his dad... and a host more.. and probably playing piano as near the throne as he can..
Jesus Himself talked about the current ruler of the earth, the devil, as you know.
The Psalmist had similar cries! Why God? Why!?
I agree, and am frustrated that these evil people will only pay in the next life. Here and now, they love it up and create all sorts of evil. Incredibly frustrating, but we do know they will reap their reward.
Maybe this is why God is allowing our country - and the whole world, too - to finally see the completely bankrupt ideas of Leftists and Socialism. There isn't a better example of corruption and moral relativism than Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Perhaps from the ashes of their administration a newly awakened (in a GOOD way) populace will recognize how good it can truly be to live in a Conservative Constitutional Republic. If not, then I truly believe we are entering into the end times Scripture tells us about - and I am totally okay with God's timing and His will. We are His and our eternal home is with Him.
Amen!
“Our Lives,,”
I see the stability of
the Entire Planet
At risk.
“The Great Rest”
is well underway.
“Then I Perceive Their end”
.
Revelation 19
.
It ain’t pretty
"Call no man happy until you witness his final day." (Solon, Greek philosopher, 638 -559 BC)
I find it Fascinating that
We may be seeing it unfold
Before our very eyes!
The Trumpets,
Signs in the Heavens and
The Return of the
King of Kings !
.
Amen.
The answer is obvious.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8,9)
Life is suffering
- the Buddha. BC. 500
Bravo to your superb post in response to my comments.
I genuinely appreciate your perspective, analyzing my viewpoints so thoroughly.
Your closing words of “Easy to say but a hard pill to swallow for sure” certainly sums up my feelings if what we are now enduring is God’s plan.
I am linking the accompanying photograph of a three-year-old Donald Trump for you. Ever since I saw this amazing, angelic image of our future President, I just knew that he must have been born to serve a truly SPECIAL PURPOSE!!!
I hope you’ll agree.
My deepest sympathy on your wife’s passing. Take comfort that you WILL see each other again - this is our blessed hope.
Thanks for sharing.
I have lost many close loved ones in my life. Began at a young age when I lost a girl who died from a drunk driver swerving onto the sidewalk. I was with her just a few moments before. I decided to get off the bus a block early as she walked home with a friend.
I learned of her death as I was delivering the papers on my early morning paper route. I was 16.
Through the years I have seen many good friends and loved ones leave. Some saved, sadly most weren’t.
I was dating my wife when the accident we were in put her in a wheelchair. I had chased her for 6 months, then a Month after dating the accident happened. I was married twice before, but those marriages were for lust not love. Had children through them, but nothing was bonding in my heart, because my heart was not with God. I was my own man who had been angry at the world for years. Began as a youngest of 8 children and my father was sent to prison at 7.
Years later I look back and I see a road littered with people I loved who I lost. Yet as I look back I realize that this world is but a blip, and we are all trying to get what we want, when in fact we are all looking for God, our Father. I wrote about an addictive gene we have a week ago. It’s on FR if you want to read it.
We all use various means to fill that void, that why we get addicted to Worldly things like drugs, sex, money, work, etc. etc. etc. Until we find our Father in heaven we will be miserable, even in our moments of joy, with out Him it’s misery.
Shortly after the accident back in “87” my wife and I accepted Christ as our Lord and savior. 33 years later I am still with my wife, When she goes, if she leaves before me, I know she will be waiting for me. I will have sadness for not having her around physically and emotionally, but joy knowing she is with the Lord.
One day I will be home, and I’ll meet my son whom I buried years ago, and my wife. I’ll see Karen again, who’s life was taken at such a young age, but in the meantime I have decided to dedicate what remains of my life to Christ by writing and preaching.
I have many years to make up for, but I know God is with me, and in Him I will be fine. All that is pain, suffering, and heartache are but remnants of what is left of the flesh in me. The older I get the easier it all becomes to ignore as I look to Him. I’m 64, and if my family genetics have anything to do with it, I could be still Freeping when I’m 95.
Thanks so much for sharing your words of comfort from
Hebrews 13:5,6 with me.
It’s just a tragedy that we apparently are going to have to hit the proverbial ROCK BOTTOM of corruption and moral relativism with Biden and Harris before the populace will wake up. In this case, woke will be to finally come to their senses about how they actually want to live in a free country with inalienable Constitution rights.
Still, that’s an incredibly painful high price to pay!!!!
I know you learned to trust.. and everything is ok... For me. I renew it frequently..
God took my mother when I was 4..
I would have given anything... my son was my joy.. my financier...my friend.. the one who called every week.. my heart was broken... my husband had died suddenly a few months before the diagnosis... God surely can’t take my son....
The fact I am still sane... is the Lord taketh.. but He never leaves you.. for He knows our heartache... SOMEHOW He fills the void.
Amen sister, Amen
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