Why does God allow this illness?

[looking4joy]

Hi
I suffer from schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. Why does God allow this to happen to an individual? It's a lifetime sentence. Faith probably won't heal it, beings there are a lot of cancer and diabetes cases He won't heal, there are also a lot of mental illness He won't heal. (I'm just looking at it realistically) It robs of joy, talent, skill, and hope. Why does he allow this?

 

[Andreas D]

Well, I just don't know. But what I know: It won't last forever.



__________________________________________
LOVE NEVER FAILS

 

[TrinityDarkane]

I ask too, why God allows mental illnesses. I've been struggling with Schizophrenia for 12 years now. I just don't know.

 

[AndreWard]

God doesn't allow it society is created by man which creates mental illnesses if you didn't have to live up to socitey's execptation of you.Ie your parents,job,school,family,satus ect. you could be who your destined to be instead of being what other people want you to be(different personalites.second guessing yourself ect.).Just remember who you really are and god is just

 

[heirmiles]

Suffering is horrible in any form. God created our brains with an amazing capability, fit for stewardship of the planet we're living on, able to think, love, care, problem-solve, find ways in which to understand ourselves and the world around us far beyond the capacities of instinct. The brain is still the least understood organ in our bodies, and we can't live without it. It controls all of our non-voluntary actions such as heart-beat, respiration, and our central nervous system and well as all our voluntary thoughts and actions.

When the brain stops working properly all of its capacities are in some way effected. For those of us with schizophrenia/schizo-affective disorders, the brain creates symptoms which can be devastating and extremely hurtful using all of our experiences and memories as fodder for its illness.

In the Bible all suffering can be related to the fall of Adam and Eve, as well as the actual fruit they partook of, the knowledge of good and evil. The healthy mind has ways to cope with the sin nature. Illness intensifies the perceived effects of our thoughts and actions. We may forgive someone, but our illness can't let it go, using whatever hurt that person caused as fuel to our misery. Illness tends to magnify the importance of different experiences, our sins of which we have been forgiven have to our perception become unforgivable.

WE must remember that God loves us and has forgiven us in Christ no matter what our unhealthy brains may be telling us. When ill our brains do not function the same as other people's do. It turns our humility into humiliation, our gentleness as a reason for being despised, our love into selfishness, our friends into foes, our will into willfulness, and justice into judgment, our anger into being hated. Hopefully somewhere in the core of our being we realize that it is the illness, and not where we are with God, not how we truly feel about those we love, not that we are in danger but rather held close by God in His everlasting arms. He knows our pain, our suffering, our agony, our confusion, the things that Jesus suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross, He knows our weakness, and our desperate cries for help. And He will answer. He has done so not only spiritually through Jesus and His Holy Spirit, and His word, but also through the earthly means of meds and (Samaritan usually) caregivers, and those who are walking with similar illnesses.

We need to remember that as Christians our responses to symptoms are different on the inside, and illness creates symptoms that mirror our spiritual welfare, symptoms that appear spiritual, when in reality we are right with God, God's gift of faith in us is active, and His life in us is real.

 

[looking4joy]

My mind is just tired. It is tired of fighting. Deep down I have faith in Jesus. But my mind is ready to give up - not my spirit - but my mind.

Oh what a dry land
That surrounds me today!
Where are the lakes and trees?
Will I die here in this wilderness?
Oh what a dry land
That surrounds me today!

 

[Unix]

I try to be friend with people who are / when they are ill. In some periods schizophrenics isolate themselves, but I have good patience so I wait for the contact. I don't have mental illness myself.
I like for example talking - listening, going to Church together.
I guess I have either tolerance or interest or both.

When ill our brains do not function the same as other people's do. It turns our humility into humiliation, our gentleness as a reason for being despised, our love into selfishness, our friends into foes

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Hi,

I went through many years of struggling with voices of condemnation and guilt, for me this came as the result of a sin I committed. I can now say I am free from those condemning thoughts, and free to live a normal and full life. God has also begun to work miraculously in my life with many small signs, and an instant healing of a woman with a back problem. It is my firm conviction that no matter how voices start, they can eventually be removed by seeking God in prayer, and repentance. My advice is to first check your life to ensure you don't have any sin or unforgiveness against another person. If you do have any sin get rid of it. If you don't have any sin you are just under an oppression of the devil, who from time to time comes to give us a hard time. I would not loose hope that you can't be free, freedom comes eventually, it just requires a knowledge of the fact God loves you and forgives all your sin. Stand on the fact God is not judging you and just praise God that he will give you the freedom. I will also pray for you too, prayer from others can help.

 

[Gottservant]

Some people are great spiritually, so much so that it is not enough for G-D to simply prune the fruit.

In other words, some times He has to cut the whole B-R---N-C-H.

While you may think this is cruel, actually to be grafted on to some thing completely new is a world of Heavenly freedom.

 

[notforgotten]

I believe it is a call to grace. To be an adopted child of God. I'm in the process of getting rid of the voices. And repentance in my case clearly seems to be the answer.

 

[ElijahProphet]

I have paranid schizophrenia and Im bipolar lifes very hard

 

[plan2911]

I wasn't diagnosed with any specific illness, but you can feel/tell when something has gone wrong, you know, and I just wanted you to have some hope through my testimony.. almost two years ago, I had this overwhelming feeling of doom come over me, I can't discribe to you how ugly, horrifing, and just sick I felt all of the sudden, it was anxeity, and loss of hope just smoothering me, I heard no voices/ seen no hallucinations, I was with my dad and mom, but I felt changed within 20 minutes. I went from being a happy, 16 year old girl without a care in the world, but that happend I didn't know- understand what was happening to me, but I got on my knees asking God to help me out, my parents are christians, I wasn't in the moment and didn't want to become one (Romans 10:9) <salvation. so I fought with God kinda, I just wanted help, him to cure this that whatever was happening to me then I wanted to go back to my way of life, I wasn't the worse person ever but, I didn't want an all powerful God telling me what to do, so I asked for help (with a strong conviction that I should be getting saved, not just help) nothing came, no help, I asked my mom to pray for me she did, I felt no better, I went to school the next morning feeling awful, didnt eat, only slept three hours, and had to have my mom pick me up by 12 noon I felt freaked out again.. So I couldn't stand it anymore I got saved after she picked me up, on the phone through a ministry line. And I felt a relief, instant! it was so peaceful, I mean I couldn't have made up/imagend the way I felt, how God just lifted all of that anxeity/pain/depression right off as quickly as it invaded me! So I thanked God, but I'm kinda stubborn see, and I thought in the back of my mind selffishly thats it then..I'm fine now, I'll go on my way now. But now that I was God's child he wanted to make my world new, give me a new perspective, a plan and a new life. thats why my user name is plan2911, Did you know theres a bible verse that says 'I know the plans I have for you, declares the lord'-good plans to prosper you, give you a future, and hope"? I had seen that verse on a bracellette I found in the past, on a plaque my grandmall bought, on a necklace my aunt gave me, it followed me, and when I was going through this awful depression I was watching tv and to myself, I asked Jesus, I said 'God if your there, and you still care about me let me see that verse, you always shown me' (jer.2911) (3 seconds later) no less! It popped up on the tv screen in front of me! I did not have a single doubt then, that no matter what he does care, and he'd be there for me! I will have you know I have been healed, joyful, I have built faith, learned to appriciate everything, every good thing! because all Good things have come from God! (psalms1).
So I can put my life on it, If* You accept Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, allow him to fill your heart with his love, and his mercy.. he will open up your options! expand your possiblities and you will be healed too!
I have been saved since 9-23-11 And I'll never go back
God bless you!

 

[heirmiles]

Hi plan2911, thankyou for sharing your testimony.
Its when God helps us with all the daily 'stuff' (anxiety, depression, anger, hurt), that we begin to trust God more and more. There are too many people out there who discount the power of God in the real world. If you share a testimony of what God has done, they will throw one of your faults back in your face, as if saying, 'Yeah, well if God did that, why aren't you ____________?" You could fill in the blank with almost anything. By doing that they are basically saying "God doesn't exist and you're no proof that He does". Which is really sad, since I've seen Christians do it thousands of times. I'm so glad that God has helped you the way He has. Honestly, Praise the LORD!!!

 

[plan2911]

@mileshier
Yeah, I mean I guess you just have to believe for them, pray for them until they come around thats what my mom had to do for me, then I caught on once I realized. 'hey .. everytime I feel doom of gloom, when she prays for me I within 2 minutes feel completly better'? ...uhhh duh.
so they have to build faith through experiences theirselves most of the time

 

[redblue22]

I want to be careful here. Sometimes prayers do not end in happiness. I mean, I go to a church where they are pretty accepting of me. Not used to that. But one day they got to talking about God making life ever so perfect. So, I just kindof quietly said, well, "my life is hell." Instead of telling me to pray or that I needed faith. They opened up and shared how life was also hard for them. The weird part was that them listening to me and accepting me really was an answer to prayer for me.

I don't always understand my relationship with God. But I understand that he loves us. And he answers prayers in a way. But we also live with mental illness, physical impairments, and disease. We will die. People trust and die of cancer. Amputated legs do not grow back. And while I get a break sometimes, my brain will change again.

I have heard people say things to the mentally ill like they need to trust Jesus, confess, pray, believe God loves them, and such. I've worked with the mentally ill. And they often have far greater trust and faith and do all those things. They truly believe God loves them. They outshine all the suburban christians who think they have it good because of their faith. And the great believers still remain mentally ill.

I am happy that your experience was different. And I am encouraged to hear it. I just am careful about thinking that it is the normal thing. Or that there is something people with pain just aren't doing right. You will be in pain again, and that doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong.

I know some very nice people who care deeply about the mentally ill. And they'll say things like, "Oh, I just wish all the mentally ill would know that Jesus loves them. Then the hospitals would be so empty." But the mentally ill often do know Jesus loves them deeply. Getting the idea that one is in pain because of lack of trust or having done something wrong just makes life harder. (Job) Be an answer to prayer by loving and understanding.

 

[plan2911]

I know there are people out there far worse off then I am, I know God has a reason for everything, I don't know why certain things are the way they are... how little innocent babbies are born deformed awful things like that. Sometimes there are miracles, yes there are. I found that when I let myself slump down in the pit, and kinda go back and forth 'maybe i'll get better' 'maybe god will heal me'..either way blahblah. That got me nowhere, I did that for about 4 months because I was afraid to hope, because I wanted it so much, when you look past doubt and the distraction, and follow God's word and go about your life, you will find beauty in it. If everyday your *people in general too* talking doubt, negeitivly, and beileving negetivly, thats one not the right thing to do, and two not going to help...at all. but, no, I know the waiting is the hardest part. the hope gets hard but you have to keep going.

 

[Christownsme]

I'm so tired of fighting this fight. I can't teach nobody anything anymore - for I know nothing. God - take me in your time

 

[Gottservant]

God answers prayer, He does not withhold suffering.

If you desire healing, you must ask for it; if you have asked for healing, you must wait; if you have waited, you must seek God's will.

These things are not meant to weary you, but to fashion in you a holy strength.

 

[redblue22]

so many beautiful thoughts and feelings.

remember, Jesus did not cure everyone while he was here.

and he did not stop all the evil going on during the early creation or old testament times.

I don't know if there is a purpose or anyone's fault or blame, but it is ok for us to experience this pain. someday we will be ok. and God does love us. and I think he will try to make something beautiful out of it just like he does with the pain other people stuggle with.

but I think it is good we keep talking about how we think and feel. thank you for being brave and bold to share what you believe or feel or is on your mind. I admire that.

 

[plan2911]

He has made everything beautiful in its time
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Yes! And I admire your lighthearted attitude towards the issue of pain, because most people if its bleak to them, and they can't understand why they just say...'op God isn't that or or isn't that powerful'.
We all have to go through our own personal pain and hurt in this life... Christian or not, rich or poor..etc.
We all gotta try to live life to the fullest which I think is having the courage and heart to go out and do what God calls you to do, and enjoy every moment with people you love cause its all going to pass away like dust in the wind before you know it and the only thing that'll matter is If you've accepted Jesus' sacrifice and have been forgiven and saved (Roman 10:9) and that you've fulfilled your life's purpose.