What if suffering actually has an aim? A purpose. A point. Thankfully, this is true for those who know Christ. We do not suffer randomly or without purpose. There is nothing random or purposeless with a Sovereign God and His ways.
Discussion
9 comments
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Since I have high regards to God’s providence, I hold the view that there is no gratuitous suffering in this world. Even the suffering of the unbelievers have purpose
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Suffering physical mental spiritual has it s purpose to cause us to pray and seek God at great deeper levels then we would with out it .
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When there is suffering in my life, God uses this to bring me closer to him. I seek him more, pray more and read his word more and my faith grows stronger.
God is faithful he will not let you be tested beyond your strength 1 Corinthians 10:13 -
If suffering comes upon the righteous as well as the unrighteous, why can’t it be random? God redeems suffering and sometimes may bring it – but the norm seems to be circumstantial suffering. Take coronavirus – following your line every individual who contracts it does so by intent and design, for a specific purpose. Which ultimately takes away our own responsibility and agency.
I think this idea you’ve presented is a non-starter on quite a few levels.
The most merciful and supreme action of a sovereign God was to grant us agency. Indeed, we cannot be made “in his image” if we lack it, as it’s a key attribute required to freely love. Chained love is no love at all.
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It’s never nice but we all at one time have some sort of suffering.
Only Father God knows the answer or reason to that! However, All will be revealed in glory ? -
Book recommendation: The Problem of Pain, by CS Lewis 🙂
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Pain also serves the unbeliever by pointing out his need for divine help.
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The suffering, as being Christian is the method in which God test the true Faith.(1Peter 1:7)
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Amen. That is true. He is strategic, and knowing the God of that strategic plan as Lord that…and that he has a plan for the good helps one through. He is faithful and has promised never to leave us nor forsake us and He is not a man that He should lie. We can lean on Him in good and through the challenging.
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