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Why does God allowed His children to suffer?

 Submitted: 2/19/2005
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Question: God being all powerful and kind and loving and we being His children, then why does He allow such suffering, that earthly parents would not allow their children were it in their power to stop it?
Answer: The reason God is temporarily allowing His children to suffer is because He has a purpose He is working out, which is summed up in the following verse: 'For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings' (Hebrews 2:10).

God's purpose is to bring many sons to glory. If God in the flesh (the Son of God) was perfected through suffering, then how could we expect to be brought to perfection and glory any other way. 1 Peter 4:1 echoes this idea, saying, 'Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.' Romans 8:17 says, 'If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.' And Philippians 1:29 says, 'For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.'

Suffering is never pleasant and none of us enjoy it, but it is a necessary componant of the Christian life. This is not to say that the causes of suffering have their source in God. Even though it was God's plan that Jesus suffer in the flesh, the cruelty and viscious attacks He suffered did not orginate in God, but in the corrupt and evil hearts of men living in this devil-dominated world. Nevertheless, when we suffer, we are better able to appreciate the Lord's sufferings. We also learn to depend upon Him and to demonstrate the genuineness of our faith in Him.

There are many passages in the New Testament on suffering. I have only quoted a few. Please look them up in a concordance and read them over. And believe that even though God does allow His children to suffer, this does not in any way diminish the reality that He is powerful, kind, and loving.




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