Why Do Believers Suffer?

Scripture Reading: Job 1

Focus Verses: "Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. ² And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

³ Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him."   John 9:1-3

When God created the first man and woman, and put them in the Garden of Eden, it was a perfect environment without troubles or sin.  Some day in the future, Jesus is going to take every believer to heaven where there will be no more sorrow or pain.  Heaven will be a perfect environment just like in the beginning.  But where are we now?  We are in this middle period of time when our human nature of sin and Satan, with his demons, are trying to take control of this earth.  This period of sin, trials, suffering, and tribulation is actually brought on by our own disobedience of God.

The Bible has a lot to say about suffering.  We read that God can work His will for our lives through our suffering.  When I think of suffering in the Bible the first name that comes to my mind is Job.  We see that even though everything was taken from Job he did not turn his back on God.  Job 1:22 "In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong."  James even says we should be joyful when we have trials.  James 1:2-4  "My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. "  We know that when hard times come God is just getting us ready for eternity.  Suffering will either make us bitter or better.

Sometimes suffering is because of our own mistakes or choices.  Sometimes it is because of someone else's choice.  But other times, it is just because of the natural ways of this world.  The Bible tells us that we will have trouble. Jesus said,  "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

In our focus verses today Jesus said that suffering is allowed so that the power of God can be seen in our lives.  All of us will go through suffering at some point in our lives.  Some of us will go through more than others.  I don't have a good answer for why a child dies.  Or why do wars happen.  Or why does someone go through great financial loss.  But I do know that God loves His children and not a one of them are lost.  You have so much to look forward to if you are a child of God.  Pray that your suffering will make you better.  

Romans 8:18  "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will give us later."

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries