If God Loves Us Why Do We Suffer? [+Sermon]

The question, “If God loves us why do we suffer,” is a question most Christians ask and wonder about which seems to not make sense at all.

Even Job who went through untold suffering in the old testament asked about this question in Job 38:1-42 as to why he had to go through what he went through seeing that he was faithful to God all the time.

I am sure that as you are reading this, you may be in a similar position where you are going through untold pain and suffering despite you being faithful to God in all things.

Well, the bible has a lot to say as to why we suffer and why God allows suffering in our Christian lives but as a believer, you need to know that all things work together for our own good if we love God and are called according to His purpose as Romans 8:28 tells us.

Yes, you may not understand why God may be allowing the suffering He’s allowing in your life currently but one thing you need to be sure of is all things will work together for your own good in the end.

Over time, you will be glad that God allowed the suffering you are currently going through in your life to occur looking back.

So, for us to correctly answer the question, if God loves us why do we suffer?” we will look at what the bible has to say about God allowing evil and suffering in our lives and the purpose of Him allowing them to happen in our lives.

What Is God’s Purpose For Our Suffering?

The Bible teaches that God does not cause our suffering but uses it for His glory and our good. Why does God allow us to suffer? It is because He loves us and wants to bless us.

But why does He allow some people to suffer more than others? There are many different answers to this question, but one of them is that we all have different levels of faith.

Those who have little or no faith may not understand why they suffer when they do so, while those with great faith will understand that their suffering is part of God’s plan for their life.

So, the more faith you have, the less reason you will have to question why God allows you to suffer. If you are suffering right now, remember that God has a purpose in what He allows into your life.

The Bible says “we also joyfully accept the fact that we share in Christ’s sufferings so that we might also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17).

Also, God allows us to suffer to sanctify us and to teach us patience and longsuffering which would otherwise not be possible if we had it all good without any pain and suffering to test and refine our Character.

We do not always know exactly what God plans for us in this life, but we do know that His plan is always good and always beneficial for us in the long run (Romans 8:28).

Related: 45 Why Does God Allow Suffering Quotes [+Animation].

Why Do We Suffer If God Loves Us?

Is God all-loving? If so, why do bad things happen to good people? The answer to this question is more complicated than it might seem at first glance.

It’s not that God doesn’t love you; it’s just that he loves you too much to let you stay in a state of sin. In such a situation, He will allow pain and suffering in your life so that you can forsake your sins and come to Him in repentance.

Otherwise, you would have continued in your sins on your way to eternal destruction in hell had it for the suffering God allowed in your life to act as a wake-up call to the dangers that come with sinning or living in sin.

Consider the story of Job. God allowed Satan to destroy his life, his wealth, his health, and even his children because Job had failed to fully trust in God’s goodness and power.

Job cried out in anguish saying, “Why have you made me your target?” (Job 7:20). But Job also said, “Though He slays me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).

Later, when all seemed lost, he prayed with renewed confidence: “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen You” (Job 42:5). Job’s trust in God was rewarded with restoration beyond anything he’d ever imagined possible.

Job wasn’t alone. Throughout history, many Christians have been through difficult times because they refused to turn away from Jesus Christ and return to sin after having received forgiveness for their sins through Jesus’ death on the cross (see Acts 2:37).

So, just because God has allowed suffering in your life doesn’t mean God doesn’t love you as He’s allowing it for a higher purpose you may not understand right now.

If you are going through a lot of suffering and are on the verge of giving up your Christian faith, remember as the apostle Paul said in Romans 8:18 that our present suffering can’t compare to the eternal glory that awaits us in heaven.

Related: Why Does God Put Me Through So Much Pain?[+Sermon].

God Allows Suffering To Conform Us To His Son.

God also allows suffering so that we might become more like the Lord Jesus Christ who suffered too when He was on the earth for our sakes. This is a hard concept for many to grasp, but it is the truth.

We often hear people say things like, “Why would God allow bad things to happen to good people?” or “How can anyone believe in a God who allows evil?” These are valid questions that deserve an honest answer.

The truth is that God has allowed suffering throughout time because He loves us and wants what is best for us (John 3:16). He knows that allowing suffering in our lives will help us become more like His Son, Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul wrote: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

He also wrote in Romans 8:25 that,” if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” The Bible promises that all things will eventually work together for good in our lives if we love God and remain faithful to Him despite our circumstances.

The purpose of this article is not to address every question regarding suffering because that’s possible as we are not God nor do we have the perfect knowledge to fully understand why God allows suffering and evil in this world.

however, I hope that this article will help you understand that God allows suffering in your Christian life so that you can be conformed to His Son, Jesus Christ.

If God didn’t allow suffering in your life, you would not understand what it truly means to be like Christ Jesus or to have His character.

God Wants You To Be Like Jesus Christ In Character.

This is a very hard concept for many people to grasp. Why would God allow the suffering of His children? Why does He allow pain and death in the world?

The answer is simple: God wants us to have a relationship with Him. For us to have a relationship with Him, He must conform us into the image of Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that Jesus Christ suffered for us, and because He did, we are expected to follow His example and suffer for others as well (1 Peter 2:21).

God wants us to become like Jesus Christ through suffering because it’s the only way we can truly know Him and relate to Him personally.

For someone to truly understand another person, they need to go through similar situations together, such as when two people experience an event together or share an experience.

By going through these situations together, they begin to develop a bond with each other because they share something in common.

This is why so many married couples say that they understand what their spouse went through after having children because they’ve gone through it together.

Similarly, parents often say that they know exactly what their children are going through because they’ve experienced it themselves.

In like manner, God allows suffering in our lives so that we can fully understand, relate and appreciate why His Son, Jesus Christ had to suffer for our sakes.

We Suffer Because Of Sin.

Another reason we suffer is because of our sins. As Christians, we should not be surprised or discouraged by suffering, because it is part of our human fallen condition.

We must face the fact that we are sinners living in a sinful world and all will suffer because of this fact (Romans 3:23). God allowed the fall into sin to happen so that we could truly appreciate what He has done for us through Jesus Christ.

You must also remember that God is too holy and righteous to let sin go unpunished. Otherwise, He wouldn’t be just if He did that. Moreover, Galatian 6:7 tells us that we all reap what we sow and suffering is part of the consequences of the sins we commit.

We are also told in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin are death where as the Gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus. Sin is the major reason why there is suffering and death in this world.

The Old Testament shows us how many times God provided for His people when they were afflicted with sickness, wars, natural disasters, etc.

Even after the coming of Christ, Christians were still plagued by disease, famine, and war even though Jesus Christ had already paid for our sins through His death on the cross.

All this is because we live in a fallen and sinful world but the good news is that all the suffering we see in this present evil world will soon end one day when sin is completely eradicated when this world passes away.

Consequently, we can look forward to a blessed future in the new heaven and the new earth where only righteousness dwells in which there will be no more sin, suffering, death, and pain as we know it (Revelation 21:4).

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you can also look forward to being free from all sicknesses and diseases when you go Home to Heaven that was as a result of sin when you receive a new glorified body there. Won’t that be beautiful, dear saint?

Related: 11 Consequences Of Sin (To Help You Avoid Sin All Costs.)

Conclusion.

I hope the above post on the question,” If God loves us why do we suffer?” has thoroughly answered your question as to why God allows His faithful children to experience suffering in this world to prepare them for the glory to come in eternity. In closing, if this post edified you, let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share before you leave.

Further Reading.

• 7 Major Reasons Why God Allows Disappointments?
• 54 Christian Hope Quotes To Help You Not Give Up On God.
• Does God Punish Those Who Hurt You?

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