Why does God make Christians suffer?

271 why do christians suffer?As servants of Jesus Christ, we are often asked to comfort people as they go through various kinds of suffering. In times of suffering, we are asked to donate food, shelter or clothing. But in times of suffering, in addition to asking for physical help, we are sometimes asked to explain why God allows Christians to suffer. This is a difficult question to answer, especially if it is asked at a time of physical, emotional or financial distress. Sometimes the question is asked in such a way that the character of God is questioned.

The image of suffering Christians in an industrialized Western culture is often very different from that of suffering Christians in a poorer economic region of the world. What should be our expectation in terms of suffering as Christians? Some Christians are taught that once they become Christians, they should no longer suffer in their lives. They are taught that suffering is caused by Christians through lack of faith.

Hebrews 11 is often called the chapter of faith. In it, certain people are praised for their trusting faith. Among the people listed in Hebrews 11 are those in need, who were persecuted, ill-treated, tortured, beaten, and killed (Hebrews 11: 35-38). It is clear that their suffering was not caused by a lack of trust, as they are listed in the "Faith" chapter.

Suffering is a consequence of sin. But not all suffering is a direct result of sin in the Christian life. During his earthly ministry, Jesus came across a man who was born blind. The disciples asked Jesus to identify the source of the sin that caused the man to be born blind. The disciples assumed that since the man was born blind, the suffering was caused by the man's sin, or perhaps his parents' sin. When asked to identify the sin that caused the blindness, Jesus replied: Neither this one sinned nor his parents; but in him the works of God should be revealed "(Joh. 9,1-4). Sometimes God allows suffering in the lives of Christians as an opportunity to present the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Christians who lived in the first century certainly did not expect a Christian life without suffering. The apostle Peter wrote the following to his brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Pet. 4,12-16): Beloved, do not be alienated by the ordeal that has arisen among you, as if something strange happened to you; but to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, so that you can also rejoice at the revelation of his glory. Blessed are you when you are reviled for the name of Christ! For the Spirit of glory [the Spirit] of God rests on you; with them he is blasphemed, but with you he is glorified. Therefore none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or evildoer, or because you mix yourself in strange things; but if he suffers as a Christian, he should not be ashamed, but should glorify God in this matter!

Suffering should not be unexpected in a Christian's life

God doesn't always remove suffering from our lives. The apostle Paul was in pain. He asked God three times to take this suffering away from him. But God did not remove suffering because suffering was a tool God used to prepare the apostle Paul for his ministry (2 Cor. 1 Cor2,7-10). God does not always remove our suffering, but we know that God comforts and strengthens us through our suffering (Philippians 4:13).

Sometimes only God knows the reason for our suffering. God has a purpose for our suffering whether or not He reveals his purpose to us. We know that God uses our suffering for our good and glory (Rom. 8,28). As God's servants, we are unable to answer the question of why God allows suffering in every particular situation, but we know that God is exalted and is in complete control of all situations (Dan. 4,25). And this God is motivated by love because God is love (1.Joh. 4,16).

We know that God loves us with an unconditional love (1 John. 4,19) and that God never gives up or forsakes us (Heb. 13,5b). As we serve our suffering brothers and sisters, we can show them authentic compassion and support by looking after them in their trials. The apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian Church to comfort one another in times of suffering.

He wrote (2 Cor. 1,3-7): Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercy and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our distress, so that we can comfort those who are in all distress through the consolation with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ pour out abundantly on us, so our consolation also flows abundantly through Christ.
 
If we have affliction, it is for your comfort and salvation, which proves effective, in steadfast mortification of the same sufferings that we too suffer; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort and your salvation; and our hope for you is certain, for we know that as much as you share in the suffering, so also in the comfort.

The psalms are good resources for anyone who suffers; because they express sadness, frustration and questions about our trials. As the Psalms show, we cannot see the cause of suffering, but we know the source of comfort. The source of consolation for all suffering is Jesus Christ our Lord. May our Lord strengthen us as we serve suffering people. Let us all seek comfort in our Lord Jesus Christ during times of suffering and stay in him until the day when he permanently removes all suffering from the universe (Revelation 2 Cor1,4).

by David Larry


pdfWhy does God allow Christians to suffer?