Why does God allow believers to suffer?

Too many people, often with good intentions, offer opinions regarding believers facing trials, tribulations, and suffering, but not always aligned with what Scripture teaches.

These passages of Scripture explain the purpose of it all, without opinion, or misguided interpretations.

If you ever questioned, “why” when something “bad” happens in your life, this is for you. God is a good and gracious God and what He does for us is good and gracious so that we can be made into the image of Jesus and prepare us for eternity with Him.

Ultimately, to make us into the image of Christ.

No doubt, there is evil in the world. Much of the suffering that occurs is a direct result of the consequences of that evil. Never forget, however, that God is still and always in control.

Transform and Conform

I Pet 2:21 — To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

I Pet 3:18 — For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

I Peter 4:1 — Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.

Romans 8:29–30 — For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Eph 4:13 — till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Phil 1:29 — till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

1 Thessalonians 3:4

For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.

2 Timothy 1:8

Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,

Mt 24:9 — “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

I Pet 5:10 — After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

Rom 5:3–5 — Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

II Corinthians 4:17 — For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison…

To prepare you for ministering to others

II Corinthians 1:3–4 — Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

To correct, chastise, return you to where you should be in your walk with Christ

Proverbs 3:11–12 — My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

For whom the Lord loveth he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.

Hebrews 12:6–11 — My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

I Corinthians 11:27–32 — So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

Jeremiah 40:3 — The Lord has brought it about and has done as he said. Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you.

I Kings 11:11 — Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.

Job 5:17 — Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore, despise not the discipline of the Almighty.

Psalm 94:12 — Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law…

Revelation 3:19 — Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

To bring glory to God

I Peter 1:6–7 — In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Job 1:8, 2:3 — Have you considered my servant, Job…

James 5:11 — You have heard of the steadfastness (faithfulness, patience/longsuffering) of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

John 9:1–3 — As He [Jesus] passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

John 11:1–4 — Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it He said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

Acts 5:41 — Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name [of Christ].

II Corinthians 3:18 — And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory

Isaiah 48:10 — See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.

Summary

When tested, think of those in Scripture who were also tested:

· Jesus — tested to glorify God, identify with us in ministry/servant, paid the penalty of sin

· Joseph in Egypt — to glorify God, testimony to others — what you meant for evil, God meant for good

· Job — to glorify God

· Jonah — for correction

· Stephen — to glorify God

· Paul — thorn in the flesh to remain humble, transforming into Jesus’ image

· Peter — transforming into Jesus’ image, glorify God in martyrdom

When facing suffering, you are in good company. The cloud of witnesses in Hebrews are there to encourage you in your faith and walk with God.

Embrace what God is doing in and through you. Approach Him with rejoicing, thanksgiving, and praise for counting you worthy to be transformed and conformed into Christ’s image as He prepares you for your inheritance — eternity in Heaven with Him.