Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Why does God allow suffering?

I have been in a tough spot this past week.  My six year old son had surgery on his hips and has been in quite a bit of pain every day.  He has a cast on both legs so he cannot roll over or anything.  It’s stressful on myself and my wife because he is nonverbal so he can’t tell us what hurts or how we can help him.  I think it’s the unknowing that makes it worse.  This then drives a wedge between my wife and I because we are on edge.  Luckily we know God is bigger and we talk to each other (she’s better at this than I, that’s one of the things I’m working on).  

That begs the question, why does God allow us to suffer?  We suffer because of sin.  I also believe that suffering brings us to Christ.  We turn to Him when we are in need.  He has always been faithful to me and has always prevailed.  

1 Peter 1:6-7 says “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ”

The struggle is real though, I still get angry sometimes.  I. Get. Angry.  Very angry, very quickly.  I struggle with this from time to time in stressful situations.  It is usually fleeting, but strong none the less.  I’m never angry at God, but I do get angry at the situation and have to be reminded that this too will pass and God is good.  I think God is trying to get me back to the patience that I had before, and I’m working on it.

If you take a look at Job 42:5, he says “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.”  Job endured much suffering, but it brought him an intimacy with the Lord.

I also believe that suffering and healing will help me in my journey to minister to people in their time of suffering.  I can walk alongside them since I have been on this journey before.If you are suffering, reach out to God.  Tell him you love him, tell him of your pain, and ask for healing.  Just know that this triall will pass, and you will be closer to Him because of it.

-Adam