God in Our Suffering.

[BornAgain490]

There are some Christians (pastors and laity) who believe and teach that God is not in our suffering; that all manner of suffering is of the devil, by the devil, and from the devil.

Is this true? 

Does Satan bring about, or the primary cause, of our suffering?  Or is suffering something we bring upon ourselves?  Or is suffering brought onto us by chance or random happenstance?  Or, is suffering brought onto us by God, with an ultimate purpose for us and for those that experience and endure suffering?

In the Bible, Job is described as the most righteous man of his day.  Despite the fact that Job pleased God, God permitted Satan to afflict Job and cause Job to suffer financially, familialy, physically, and spiritually.  Job had one question: Why?

Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, rebelled against Moses and was thus struck by God with leprosy. As she suffered her affliction she was required to remain outside the camp of Israel and outside the presence of God for seven days. 

Joseph suffered at the hands of his brothers, and later at the false accusations of Potiphar's wife.  We are told that God was with Joseph in all of his suffering and afflictions, and that God meant for good the evil that Joseph's brothers had committed.  

If God is not in suffering, how can those who teach as much reconcile the presence of God in the sufferings and afflictions of the aforementioned?

Many Christians around the world suffer calamities common to everyone, and then there are those who suffer great persecution, torture, and death simply because they are in Christ. 

God has a purpose for the suffering in the body of Christ, even when we don't understand why.  Let us continue to pray for the Body of which we belong, and particularly pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering brutal persecutions, with such evil occurring as you read this. Amen amen. 

[farouk]

Hi @BornAgain490 In Philippians, suffering and joy are clear themes in the life of the believer.

[BornAgain490]

39 minutes ago, farouk said:

Hi @BornAgain490 In Philippians, suffering and joy are clear themes in the life of the believer.

Hello @faroukAlso in Acts, after the apostles were beaten for proclaiming the name of Jesus, the apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's name. 

[D. Adrien]

Suffering will reveal the depth of one's faith.

Isaiah 7:9 last two lines: (ESV)

If you are not firm in faith,
you will not be firm at all.’”

[TheBlade]

12 hours ago, BornAgain490 said:

There are some Christians (pastors and laity) who believe and teach that God is not in our suffering; that all manner of suffering is of the devil, by the devil, and from the devil.

Is this true? 

Does Satan bring about, or the primary cause, of our suffering?  Or is suffering something we bring upon ourselves?  Or is suffering brought onto us by chance or random happenstance?  Or, is suffering brought onto us by God, with an ultimate purpose for us and for those that experience and endure suffering?

In the Bible, Job is described as the most righteous man of his day.  Despite the fact that Job pleased God, God permitted Satan to afflict Job and cause Job to suffer financially, familialy, physically, and spiritually.  Job had one question: Why?

Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, rebelled against Moses and was thus struck by God with leprosy. As she suffered her affliction she was required to remain outside the camp of Israel and outside the presence of God for seven days. 

Joseph suffered at the hands of his brothers, and later at the false accusations of Potiphar's wife.  We are told that God was with Joseph in all of his suffering and afflictions, and that God meant for good the evil that Joseph's brothers had committed.  

If God is not in suffering, how can those who teach as much reconcile the presence of God in the sufferings and afflictions of the aforementioned?

Many Christians around the world suffer calamities common to everyone, and then there are those who suffer great persecution, torture, and death simply because they are in Christ. 

God has a purpose for the suffering in the body of Christ, even when we don't understand why.  Let us continue to pray for the Body of which we belong, and particularly pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ suffering brutal persecutions, with such evil occurring as you read this. Amen amen. 

Hi.. not here to debate. "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.". That is suffering for Christ. Its not written "God permitted Satan to afflict Job and cause Job to suffer financially, familialy, physically, and spiritually." We have no problem saying things to His kids strong and weak in the faith that He never said. We use our personal belief as the truth. We don't say "this is what I believe and why" Then "don't believe me you seek you pray you find this truth for your self".

Why did you leave out the best part of Job? He was healed and got back double what he lost. Where are those testimonies? I know countless and I know where I am posting. Do you know how many promises GOD gave us in His word? Some say over 7000. They did the same thing to Christ asking about this or that person .. was it  sin was it from the parents. God can not do evil. To read to know He said on earth as it is in heaven. Yes life hits every one of us.. why did Christ die? Why did He say these signs shall follow them that believe. We don't read people asking why are theses signs not following ME.. don't I believe? Lay hands on the sick they shall recover. We pick what we like and toss out what we don't by that I mean "that was only for, that was done away with". Yet how odd this is happening all around the world right now. Blind see deaf hear lame walk dead rise .. He has not changed. He said if you doubt let not that man think he will get anything from God.

Faith is not looking around you seeing whats going on in so and so life. I have a problem no matter what it is I go to His word.. I find what He said OT NT His word is not old.. its out side of time and I just believe.  This is like Peter and John after the man was healed they said "why do you look at us as if we did this by our own power. That name faith in that name healed this man. Christ died and rose AMEN SHOUTING TIME! So we know He died we died...He rose we rose..  Yes life hits us all. ALL sickness is from the enemy in some way. Now I can do what ever I want I can go out rob a store and say.. well God permitted it right because He never stopped it..He can't. We as its written handed over what was ours over to the enemy. God told them.. if you eat of this tree you will die. That is still here. Anyone born on this earth dies. Everything is touched by that. But what did GOD do after that.. then Christ. 

He tells us He gave us all power all authority over the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you. I at like 18-19 in the back of our Church.. I share this allot.. woman upfront starts screaming shouting crying it was Sunday a preacher came for the week. I asked my friend who is she? He said "do you see all these people here? About 1/2 came with her".  This is all 100% true.. she was bind and now could see. Now go back to when Christ walked this earth.. after all He did... things just .. WOW.. they take Him and no one stood with Him. They saw wonders.. they saw dead rise and still left Him.   

My point which.. I am just awful at writing talking please forgive me.. point is we don't teach faith.. to walk by faith to live by faith. Faith.. is what so ever you desire when you pray believe you receive it (FAITH) you shall have it. Faith is delight your self in the lord He will give you the desires of your heart. There is more to that..  Commit your way to the LORD; trust (hello faith) in him, and he will do it. See one has to come to GOD believe that He is. He has always kept His word with me always. Am I to list all those around me that died of Cancer.. died young.. or those in our lifes died never to be born. My  GOD didn't do that. I don't care what I see or what I hear or what I feel. I am not moved by that. I stand on His word and after doing all .. I stand.

I get sick just like every one else.. things hit my chest lasts four hours.. then have to go throw up then a favour..what this will be the 5th day now. GOD had no hand in it. What do I do? I make sure there is no sin in my life and if so I confess it STOP doing it.. to make sure there is nothing between me and Him. This happened this week.. He keeps His promises. Hes been saying in the Churches for years now about this time now "don't forget the promises". Reading about them about faith. Hearing story after story giving our GOD all the praise and glory. Not here to offend.  You stand on what He said not what I say or anyone else. Don't believe me. You read you study you pray you ask Him. But you have to be willing to hear.. is He right or are we? GOD if I am wrong in ANYTHING here forgive me and change me first. I have seen way to much...oh what a GREAT WONDERFUL AWESOME GOD WE SERVE.  

[BornAgain490]

5 hours ago, TheBlade said:

Its not written "God permitted Satan to afflict Job and cause Job to suffer financially, familialy, physically, and spiritually."

Brother, I'm not interested in debating with you either.  The word of God is the truth:  "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power." (Job 1:12).  

And then again, God told Satan: "Behold, he is in your hand, but save his life."  )Job 2:6).  

If these two verses do not clearly point to God permitting Satan to afflict Job, please tell me what it does mean. 

5 hours ago, TheBlade said:

"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.".

If you do evil and suffer as a result of doing evil, is the evil the cause and the suffering the effect of that evil?  Or, is God's reaction to your evil-doing the cause of your suffering?  

5 hours ago, TheBlade said:

Why did you leave out the best part of Job?

Yes, that is how God recompensed Job for his faithful endurance in  suffering.  But my question is not about the reward of faithfully enduring suffering, but about what you believe about the presence of God in suffering. 

[missmuffet]

God definitely is with us in our suffering. God understands our suffering because of what He

endured on the Cross. Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Psalm 56:8 tells us that God knows

our suffering and tears. God is always with us Matthew 28:20. God loves us.

[farouk]

On 11/21/2024 at 2:14 AM, D. Adrien said:

Suffering will reveal the depth of one's faith.

Isaiah 7:9 last two lines: (ESV)

If you are not firm in faith,
you will not be firm at all.’”

Hi @D. Adrien Philippians links joy in Christ with the believer's experience of suffering.

[farouk]

1 Peter speaks of 'the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow'....

[Hopefully]

“Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat.
 

Refuse to follow the devil. Stand strong in your faith. You know that your brothers and sisters all over the world are having the same sufferings that you have.

 

Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God who gives all grace. He chose you to share in his glory in Christ. That glory will continue forever.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭

 

“God has blessed you in ways that serve Christ. He allowed you to believe in Christ. But that is not all. He has also given you the honor of suffering for Christ. Both of these bring glory to Christ.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ ‭

 

 

 

 

Edited November 23, 2024 by Hopefully