ByHave you been through a difficult situation and have wondered why God sometimes allow suffering in our lives? Probably yes or no. But if it’s a yes, I suppose you went through that situation with God’s help. Right?
Knowing the purpose of every incident in your life changes how you view it. So if I knew why God allows a bad situation to happen in my life, I wouldn’t lay a charge on Him. I won’t even pray for that situation to go away. Instead, I will seek divine grace to go through it and pick up whatever spiritual mystery God wants to teach me. That has happened in my life several times. And I believe you can get to this level in your walk with God – where you’ll be able to discern the divine reason(s) behind everything that happens in your life.
Today, I want to teach you why God sometimes allows suffering in your life. But first of all, how does the Bible define “suffering?”
How the Bible defines suffering
The word “suffer” is used about 37 times in the New Testament, according to the New King James Bible. Although each use of this word may mean something different because of the context of scripture, their meanings are still linked together. But I would like to use the definition of “suffer” in Hebrews 5:8 to generalise its meaning.
Knowing the purpose of every incident in your life changes how you view it. Share on XThe word “suffered” in Hebrews 5:8
In Hebrews 5:8, the Bible says Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered. Now in that verse, the word “suffered” means painful impression. Hence Jesus experienced painful impressions while He was on earth; so that He could learn how to sacrifice to obey the Father. Wow!
Following this, there are some reasons for God allowing suffering in our lives.
1. To train His people in obedience
Just as what happened to Jesus, God sometimes allows suffering in our lives so He can use situations to implant His word into our spirits. Jesus learned how to put His will aside to embrace the Father’s will when God didn’t allow Him to escape the sufferings of the cross. That applies to us in differing ways.
For example, assuming you had a financial constraint since childhood and God didn’t remove it until you grew, God could have used that painful experience to teach you how to hate poverty for life and even show you how to be a wise financial planner first as an individual, and second as a family person (suppose you’re married, in a relationship or getting married soon).
Sometimes, instead of praying for bad situations to leave our lives, pray to know why God allowed them. Yes, some are demonic and must be dealt with immediately. But some are God-allowed for specific reasons you may never know. It could be to refine your character, show you how to love people deeply in your heart (probably through a godly-relationship breakup), or some other reason. Each person’s life is different. So pray to know God’s reason behind your situation.
2. To deal with your fleshly desires
In 1 Peter 4:1-2 (NKJV), the Bible says,
[1] “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, [2] that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”
Jesus suffered in the flesh for several reasons. He was (and is still God) – [1 John 3:16, John 1:1]. So He did not have any problem with sin (1 Corinthians 5:21).
However, God has predestinated our lives to conform to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). But He knows humans are flawed with sinful hearts. He knows the desires of our flesh and His Spirit battles within us daily (Galatians 5:17). So most of us have a problem submitting to His will.
Hence, He allows us to suffer in the flesh in order to deal with every sinful desire in us one by one. That’s why 1 Peter 4:1 says, “… for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.”
Could it be God temporarily allowed you to suffer financial constraints to cut your craving for material things? Or God allowed a temporary food shortage in your vicinity to deal with your gluttony? The situations vary from person to person, as well as the reason(s) for their occurrence. You must be prayerful, discerning and wise to know yours.
Discover God’s purpose for allowing you to face trials of several forms. May God supply His immense grace to go through your situation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
I believe this article ministered life to you. To get more in your inbox, sign up here.
