God and suffering

[Sonnessa]

Hello brothers and sisters. New Christian and somebody posted this on Reddit on a Christian sub and it kinda bothered me


“Why does God want suffering?

Acts 9:16
I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Phil 1:29
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,"

1 Peter 4:19 even is translated sometimes as “suffering that is pleasing God”

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Why did he want/potential cause all of this suffering? Does suffering make you holier or something?”


Is this true that he does cause suffering concerning his followers? Not exactly well read on this books these verses are from but very curious

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Hello brothers and sisters. New Christian and somebody posted this on Reddit on a Christian sub and it kinda bothered me


“Why does God want suffering?

Acts 9:16
I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Phil 1:29
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,"

1 Peter 4:19 even is translated sometimes as “suffering that is pleasing God”

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Why did he want/potential cause all of this suffering? Does suffering make you holier or something?”


Is this true that he does cause suffering concerning his followers? Not exactly well read on this books these verses are from but very curious

Welcome! Suffering is part of being in the flesh. Sometimes we focus on the bad things attributed to this condition when we really should attempt to look at all the good things we experience while we are in the flesh. As Christians we look forward to the day that our Lord will " wipe away every tear". That day is not here yet.
Be blessed.

 

[Sonnessa]

Welcome! Suffering is part of being in the flesh. Sometimes we focus on the bad things attributed to this condition when we really should attempt to look at all the good things we experience while we are in the flesh. As Christians we look forward to the day that our Lord will " wipe away every tear". That day is not here yet.
Be blessed.

Thank you. Well how do I connect a merciful and loving God and a God that causes suffering? Is there any way? A bit confused about that

 

[Tolworth John]

1 Peter 4:19 even is translated sometimes as “suffering that is pleasing God

Please learn one thing.
Contex is everything.
Read 1 Peter 4 from verse 12 to the end and you will understand just what verse 19 is about.
Peterl is taking about he coming persecution.

 

[dqhall]

Hello brothers and sisters. New Christian and somebody posted this on Reddit on a Christian sub and it kinda bothered me


“Why does God want suffering?

Acts 9:16
I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Phil 1:29
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,"

1 Peter 4:19 even is translated sometimes as “suffering that is pleasing God”

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Why did he want/potential cause all of this suffering? Does suffering make you holier or something?”


Is this true that he does cause suffering concerning his followers? Not exactly well read on this books these verses are from but very curious

Why do people make stupid mistakes that result in suffering? A man stayed too long in a bar drinking and wrecked his car on the way home. That is not God’s fault. He should not blame his parents for his own mistakes.

Paul was aware more persecution might be coming, yet he had joy from teaching God’s precepts.

 

[trophy33]

Thank you. Well how do I connect a merciful and loving God and a God that causes suffering? Is there any way? A bit confused about that

Some suffering can lead to a greater good.

To get a diamond out of a carbon requires a lot of pressure.

 

[HTacianas]

Hello brothers and sisters. New Christian and somebody posted this on Reddit on a Christian sub and it kinda bothered me


“Why does God want suffering?

Acts 9:16
I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Phil 1:29
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,"

1 Peter 4:19 even is translated sometimes as “suffering that is pleasing God”

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Why did he want/potential cause all of this suffering? Does suffering make you holier or something?”


Is this true that he does cause suffering concerning his followers? Not exactly well read on this books these verses are from but very curious

The idea has always been that those who are rewarded in this life are not rewarded so much in the next life, see Lazarus and the rich man at Luke 16. So to suffer in this life is to have a greater reward in the next life. Having patience during times of suffering is greater than impatience or complaining, or as Job was tempted to do, curse God for our suffering.

Job 2:9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Her idea was that Job should curse God and be struck down in order to end his suffering. But Job continued on patiently. It's where we get the old saying "he has the patience of Job".

 

[Sonnessa]

Please learn one thing.
Contex is everything.
Read 1 Peter 4 from verse 12 to the end and you will understand just what verse 19 is about.
Peterl is taking about he coming persecution.

So what does it mean by saying “his will”

 

[Sonnessa]

Some suffering can lead to a greater good.

To get a diamond out of a carbon requires a lot of pressure.

So he causes it that good can happen?

 

[trophy33]

So he causes it that good can happen?

He allows it so that greater good can happen.

I would not use the word "causes".

 

[Sonnessa]

He allows it so that greater good can happen.

I would not use the word "causes".

I think that’s what I’m confused about. I was just under the impression of simply allowing as well but these verses appear that it’s a cause not just allowing

 

[trophy33]

I think that’s what I’m confused about. I was just under the impression of simply allowing as well but these verses appear that it’s a cause not just allowing

I think all these verse can be read as allowing/directing the suffering to the places where it is useful. Not causing the suffering as such.

 

[HTacianas]

I think that’s what I’m confused about. I was just under the impression of simply allowing as well but these verses appear that it’s a cause not just allowing

The ancient Essenes had a saying that went "all things are best ascribed to God". That viewpoint is found throughout the bible. It's difficult to determine from reading it if God really caused some thing or another to happen or if it is just the point of view of the writer.

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

First we have to remember that we live in a fallen world, full of suffering and pain.

Secondly, why does God allow suffering to those that are saved? To grow spiritually. When I read the book of Acts, I realize how much more faithful and loving the Apostles are that I am, and I would love to have faith like that. But to achieve such faith, you have to go through suffering and persecution. Why? Because that's when the faith grows the most. When you suffer and are persecuted - this is when the faith and dependence on God grows. It's all and good serving the Lord when things go well, but will you still serve Him, obey Him, and love Him when you are persecuted for Jesus' name? When you go through a painful illness? When you lose a loved one? Because if you can't and only do these things when things go well, your faith is not real. How do you want to grow in Christ when everything goes well? And remember, Jesus only promised us suffering and persecution. But He also promised He will always be with us.

In regards to 1 Peter 4:19
In chapter 4 Peter talks about the triumphant suffering and death of Christ and he
wants his readers to suffer in flesh, knowing that it potentially produces the greatest triumph.

Verse 19 - Many believe inflicting suffering upon themselves is pleasing to God. This is not what this Scripture is saying. This says if you suffer from outside causes for the will of God, you are pleasing the God who created you.

Mark 13:13 "And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

There is a battle to be fought. We must fight for Jesus even until death if we are to be a good soldier fit for the kingdom.

“Faithful Creator” in verse 19 - Peter uses the word “Creator,” to remind the readers of this letter that when they committed their lives to God, they were simply giving back to God what He had created. As Creator, God knows best the needs of His beloved creatures (2:23; 2 Tim. 1:2).

 

[Mark Quayle]

Hello brothers and sisters. New Christian and somebody posted this on Reddit on a Christian sub and it kinda bothered me


“Why does God want suffering?

Acts 9:16
I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Phil 1:29
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,"

1 Peter 4:19 even is translated sometimes as “suffering that is pleasing God”

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Why did he want/potential cause all of this suffering? Does suffering make you holier or something?”


Is this true that he does cause suffering concerning his followers? Not exactly well read on this books these verses are from but very curious

This life is not for this life. The sufferings of this age are nothing to compare to the joy of what we will find, but now, they are necessary for us.

 

[Sonnessa]

This life is not for this life. The sufferings of this age are nothing to compare to the joy of what we will find, but now, they are necessary for us.

So you think he does cause it?

 

[RaymondG]

Hello brothers and sisters. New Christian and somebody posted this on Reddit on a Christian sub and it kinda bothered me


“Why does God want suffering?

Acts 9:16
I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Phil 1:29
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,"

1 Peter 4:19 even is translated sometimes as “suffering that is pleasing God”

So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Why did he want/potential cause all of this suffering? Does suffering make you holier or something?”


Is this true that he does cause suffering concerning his followers? Not exactly well read on this books these verses are from but very curious

The truth is, we cause our own suffering.......But It is God, indirectly, because God is in us and is giving us what we desire and ask for, even if it is not good for us.....and even if we do not understand that we are asking for it.

Once we find out that we are asking for the suffering, we learn how to ask for blessing instead. Therefore our suffering caused us to learn and the outcome is blessings......and God gets the glory.

 

[RaymondG]

I think that’s what I’m confused about. I was just under the impression of simply allowing as well but these verses appear that it’s a cause not just allowing

Is not allowing a child to walk into the fire, when you could prevent it, similar to pushing them into the fire yourself? Is one who does the former greater than he who does the Latter?

 

[Sonnessa]

Is not allowing a child to walk into the fire, when you could prevent it, similar to pushing them into the fire yourself? Is one who does the former greater than he who does the Latter?

Not sure that’s the same thing

 

[Sonnessa]

If you created it then sure

The truth is, we cause our own suffering.......But It is God, indirectly, because God is in us and is giving us what we desire and ask for, even if it is not good for us.....and even if we do not understand that we are asking for it.

Once we find out that we are asking for the suffering, we learn how to ask for blessing instead. Therefore our suffering caused us to learn and the outcome is blessings......and God gets the glory.

Well could you explain the verses