Many of us these days seem to see or feel suffering in our lives. It may be from the loss of a loved one. It may be that a spouse has changed and no longer abide by their promises of marriage (for better or worse). It could be a sick child or parent. It could be the loss of a job, an accident, or anything. So today, Broc Begley asks the question, Why Does God Allow Suffering?
As Christians, we often feel that we give up so much of what the world has to offer, that God must surely protect us from sadness, pain, or suffering. But that is not what the Bible teaches us. In fact, even Jesus tells us that if we are holding a course close to God, we WILL suffer. Now we also are promised an eternal reward, but there is a price.
See what Broc has to share with us below by listening to his lessons and following along with the gallery of slides, or you can follow the text of the lessons below…
Why Does God Allow Suffering? – Begley, part 1
Why Does God Allow Suffering? – Begley, part 2
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
1 Peter 4:12-18
Common Questions
“If your God’s real, if he’s so good, why does he allow such suffering?”
“Why can’t everyone just be happy if God is so loving and good? Why does there have to be so much pain and suffering? And for what? Some kind of loyalty test? It’s so pointless.”
“Why does God let children starve? How could he allow genocide or fear of nuclear war? If he loves us so much why is he just watching? I know some may say it’s a test but honestly how logical is that? What do you think? If God is real why does he let his people suffer?”
“If God is real, why does he allow people to starve and suffer when he could stop it?”
How Do We Answer?
In a short clip uploaded to Facebook earlier this month, Greg Locke recalled traveling to Nigeria years ago with a fellow American preacher named Bobby, who is disabled due to Cerebral palsy.
At one point during the trip, Locke said a random man accidentally tripped over Bobby’s leg and spilled his coffee. The man profusely apologized and started up a conversation with Bobby.
“The man was a devout atheist,” Locke said. “And they began to talk about the gospel.”
The pastor explained that, after about 45 minutes of chatting, the atheist man stood up in anger and said, “If your God’s so real, why do you have those braces on your leg?”
It was the response, though, that has clearly stuck with Locke, as Bobby paused before making the following proclamation: “So that you can trip over my legs, ask me that very question and we can have this conversation.”
1.) We MUST Know God
He Doesn’t Respect Individualistic Positions
Romans 2:6-12
Acts 10:34,35- “34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
God Wants Everyone To Repent
Acts 17:30,31- 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
His Son’s Blood Was Shed For All
John 3:16- For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2.) God Never Intended Us To Suffer
There was a time on this earth when suffering and sorrow did not exist. When God first created man upon the earth, everything was perfect. There was no sickness, no pain, no sorrow of any kind. It was God’s plan for man to live in peace and harmony never having to experience sorrow
Genesis 3- Man chose to leave the way of God and chose the way of Satan
Genesis 3:6,7- The Sin Genesis 3:16-19- The Consequence (all sin has a consequence – Rom 6:23)
In a nutshell, we suffer and die because of sin- NOT because of God!
But man says- “I’ve not done a thing wrong to deserve suffering!”
Romans 3:23- “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
We suffer because we are sinners by nature
3.) Everyone Has Equal Playing Fields
Remember- God doesn’t respect a person’s fleshly position.
Matthew 5:43-45- “43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Everyone will be judged equally and given the same spiritual opportunities
Matthew 12:36,37- “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words, thou shalt be condemned.”
Job, Moses, apostles, etc- Holy Men of God that experienced suffering
4.) God Has Given Us ‘Free Will’
God gives us all choices in life- it’s up to us which decisions we make
Deuteronomy 30:19- I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live
Joshua 24:15- And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Provers 3:29-31- 29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he has done thee no harm.31 Envy thou, not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways