Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us;
he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. (Hos 6:1)
My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. (Prov 3:11-12)
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. (Hos 6:1)
My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. (Prov 3:11-12)
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
No Suffering For Christians?
One of the most prevalent misconceptions is that those who have accepted Christ will be protected by God from problems and suffering. Some people have even gone so far as to say that anyone who is sick or suffering must have sinned in some way. It is true that our actions and sins can lead to adverse consequences, and can even lead God to punish us, but the Bible makes it very clear that illness and suffering are a part of life, and can also be God’s way of teaching us, disciplining us or testing us.
Job is a classic example of someone who was “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1) When Satan says that the only reason Job is so faithful is because God has blessed him, God allows Satan to test Job by taking away everything he has except for his wife and his life. Job recognizes that he is being tested, saying, “Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.” (Job 5:17-18) After Job passes the test, God blesses him with even more than he had before.
The prophets didn’t have easy lives. They “were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated--the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.” (Heb 11:35-38)
Jesus led a sinless life, and his father said that he loved him and was “well pleased” with him. (Mat 17:5) Yet Jesus makes it clear that before he could come into his glory, he must “suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” (Luke 17:25)
Paul’s life became much harder after he “saw the light” and was called by Jesus to take the gospel message to the Gentiles. For example, he wrote to the Corinthians, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia.” (2 Cor 1:8) In fact, all of the Apostles except John met a violent end.
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
After an illness, a storm, a war or a murder, people often question why God would allow those kinds of things to happen.
1. Natural processes that allow life to exist also cause events that injure or kill people.
2. God gave us free will. He could have made us like robots that go around all day long saying, “Praise God, Praise God.” Many dictators take that approach, forcing their subjects to “love” them, but true love has to come from the heart. For us to love God, He had to give us the ability to not love Him. For us to be good, He had to allow us to be bad. For us to trust and obey Him, He had to give us the freedom to not trust or obey Him. There are many people who choose to disobey God, to be mean or evil.
3. Our own actions lead to suffering. When we are careless or take risks we often suffer the consequences of our actions.
4. We disobey God and fail to follow his commands. The Bible has been referred to as “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” It is an instruction manual for healthy, happy, successful living. Anyone who has assembled furniture quickly learns that not following the instructions typically leads to a less than optimal outcome, and may result in a disaster.
5. God is teaching us, helping us to grow and preparing us for future ministry. After going through a significant hardship, most people say that they are now better people due to that experience, and are better prepared to help others going the same or similar hardships.
6. There are evil forces at work. It is clear from Satan’s rebellion that God also gave the angels free will. The Bible describes a spiritual battle going on around us between the forces of good and evil.
What Should Be Our Response?
Our response to hardship and suffering depends on the cause:
1. If the suffering is the result of our own carelessness, risk taking or disobedience, then we should pray for God to help us be more careful and to be obedient to His laws and instructions: But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:20)
2. If the suffering is the result of our Christian witness, Peter tells us we should “not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)
3. If we are just going through a difficult time, the Bible tells us to “endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb 12:7-8, 11)
Consider/Discuss
1. What examples are there in the Bible for each of the different types of suffering?
2. What was the response of those involved?
Scripture Memory Verse
My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. (Prov 3:11-12)
Let's Pray! - Praying Together
One of the most prevalent misconceptions is that those who have accepted Christ will be protected by God from problems and suffering. Some people have even gone so far as to say that anyone who is sick or suffering must have sinned in some way. It is true that our actions and sins can lead to adverse consequences, and can even lead God to punish us, but the Bible makes it very clear that illness and suffering are a part of life, and can also be God’s way of teaching us, disciplining us or testing us.
Job is a classic example of someone who was “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1) When Satan says that the only reason Job is so faithful is because God has blessed him, God allows Satan to test Job by taking away everything he has except for his wife and his life. Job recognizes that he is being tested, saying, “Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.” (Job 5:17-18) After Job passes the test, God blesses him with even more than he had before.
The prophets didn’t have easy lives. They “were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated--the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.” (Heb 11:35-38)
Jesus led a sinless life, and his father said that he loved him and was “well pleased” with him. (Mat 17:5) Yet Jesus makes it clear that before he could come into his glory, he must “suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” (Luke 17:25)
Paul’s life became much harder after he “saw the light” and was called by Jesus to take the gospel message to the Gentiles. For example, he wrote to the Corinthians, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia.” (2 Cor 1:8) In fact, all of the Apostles except John met a violent end.
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
After an illness, a storm, a war or a murder, people often question why God would allow those kinds of things to happen.
1. Natural processes that allow life to exist also cause events that injure or kill people.
2. God gave us free will. He could have made us like robots that go around all day long saying, “Praise God, Praise God.” Many dictators take that approach, forcing their subjects to “love” them, but true love has to come from the heart. For us to love God, He had to give us the ability to not love Him. For us to be good, He had to allow us to be bad. For us to trust and obey Him, He had to give us the freedom to not trust or obey Him. There are many people who choose to disobey God, to be mean or evil.
3. Our own actions lead to suffering. When we are careless or take risks we often suffer the consequences of our actions.
4. We disobey God and fail to follow his commands. The Bible has been referred to as “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” It is an instruction manual for healthy, happy, successful living. Anyone who has assembled furniture quickly learns that not following the instructions typically leads to a less than optimal outcome, and may result in a disaster.
5. God is teaching us, helping us to grow and preparing us for future ministry. After going through a significant hardship, most people say that they are now better people due to that experience, and are better prepared to help others going the same or similar hardships.
6. There are evil forces at work. It is clear from Satan’s rebellion that God also gave the angels free will. The Bible describes a spiritual battle going on around us between the forces of good and evil.
What Should Be Our Response?
Our response to hardship and suffering depends on the cause:
1. If the suffering is the result of our own carelessness, risk taking or disobedience, then we should pray for God to help us be more careful and to be obedient to His laws and instructions: But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:20)
2. If the suffering is the result of our Christian witness, Peter tells us we should “not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)
3. If we are just going through a difficult time, the Bible tells us to “endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb 12:7-8, 11)
Consider/Discuss
1. What examples are there in the Bible for each of the different types of suffering?
2. What was the response of those involved?
Scripture Memory Verse
My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. (Prov 3:11-12)
Let's Pray! - Praying Together