You’re going through life, and you think that everything is going wonderfully.
It’s blue skies and green lights in all areas of your life.
Things couldn’t get any better for you.
But then suddenly, something unexpected happens and your world is turned upside down.
Maybe it’s the death of a loved one. Maybe your health takes a turn for the worse. Or maybe you end up losing your job.
You ask God to help you out, but your bad situation doesn’t change.
You pray that there’ll be an 180-degree U-turn in your circumstance, but nothing happens.
How come God isn’t answering your prayers?
Does God Care? Are You Sure God Exists?
Whether you’re a believer in God or not, most of us believe or have believed in God at some point in our lives.
When bad things happen to us, it’s easy to think that God doesn’t care about you, or that He isn’t involved in the world today.
It’s easy to think of God sometimes as your uncaring boss at work. You know the kind that sits down in his office with his feet up on his desk, clipping his nails?
He watches all of his employees do the hard work and having difficulties, but he doesn’t lift a finger to help out.
Is this an accurate picture of God?
I don’t think so.
I once made the mistake of thinking this way about God.
I ended up believing that He didn’t exist, and that’s why I became an atheist for eight years of my life.
Sometimes the reason He doesn’t reverse the bad things that happen in your life is because God has three choices.
These three choices are things that most people never think about when it comes to God.
I explain everything in this video.
After that, continue reading to find out the three reasons why God sometimes allows bad things to happen in your life.
3 Reasons God Allows Bad Things to Happen in Your Life
1. Reason #1 – To Change Your Character
It isn’t when everything is hunky-dory that you end up experiencing a change in your character.
Talk to the most successful people in life and they’ll tell you that they changed for the better when they faced adversity.
[Tweet “The ultimate goal for the Christian is to become more like Jesus.”]
God will sometimes use bad situations in our lives to transform our character so that we can be more like His Son.
2. Reason #2 – To Prepare You For Bigger Plans
If you’re a child of God, then God has a plan for your life.
Most of the time, you don’t see the big picture, you only see what’s in front of you.
But the view from above is much different.
God sees your entire life, and He’s preparing you for what’s ahead.
I remember reading the story of Pastor Jon Courson a few years ago.
He pastored a church in Oregon.
Pastor Jon is an incredibly nice guy. He serves God; he volunteers in many areas, and he helps a lot of people every day.
Many years ago, he and his wife were driving on a wintry day. As the curvy road was winding, he was in a head-on car accident with his wife.
He survived the car crash but his wife passed away. She left behind Jon, and three beautiful children.
He could have easily asked why God allowed this to happen to him, especially since he’s someone who serves God full-time.
I’m pretty sure that he had his weak moments. But Pastor Jon continued to serve and worship God.
But the story doesn’t end there.
A few years later, Jon’s daughter was involved in a car accident at exactly the same spot on that curvy road.
Like her mom, Jon’s daughter didn’t survive, and she ended up going to heaven too.
All the time, Pastor Jon says that there was one verse that God kept on bringing to his mind during both tragedies in his life.
There is no doubt that God allowed both tragedies to happen to Pastor Jon for different reasons that we probably don’t know about.
But one thing is for sure. Pastor Jon now knows how to comfort those who have lost loved ones because he has been comforted by God.
God has been able to use him in many ways now that He had gone through these difficult life trials.
I’m not saying that God is the cause of these car accidents that took Pastor Jon’s wife and daughter away.
But I am saying that God permitted these trials to happen for certain reasons.
3. Reason #3 – To Save Your Life
Have you always made the best decisions in your life?
If you’re human, then you’ve probably made some decisions that you’ve regretted.
Some of those decisions can be so devastating, that you can be on the road to destruction.
So God has to get you off your way so you can avoid a major collision on your life-journey.
This was the case with my new Senior Pastor, Pastor Jeff Gill.
Pastor Jeff’s story is that he was a successful businessman who had his own company. He and his wife were well-off financially.
However, even though they were successful on the outside, they had no peace on the inside.
God ended up allowing Pastor Jeff to lose his company and all of his money so that he can get off of the road that he was on.
Pastor Jeff and his wife (Connie) ended up accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior in the process.
It was a hard and difficult journey, but it was worth it in the end.
Takeaway
Just because God doesn’t respond to your prayer the way that you want Him to then it doesn’t mean that He doesn’t care.
Just because God doesn’t bring your trial to an end, then it doesn’t mean that He’s not listening when you pray.
It also certainly does not mean that God doesn’t exist.
As you saw from the video, I made that mistake of thinking that God didn’t exist when bad things happened to my family when I was in high school.
I’ve shared about it before in my personal story of how I came to faith, lost my faith and then came back.
When you’re going through a difficult circumstance, don’t walk away from God.
God loves you, He cares about you, and He’s going to be there for you every step of the way.
You just have to put your trust in Him and endure for a season.
There is a purpose behind the pain.
[author title=”About the Author”]
Comments 65
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Great post. Also, I believe that trials and bad things are used to make us turn or return to God and become humble and dependent on Him. When things go our way, we can become prideful or selfor reliant. Thankfully, God uses adversity and trials to bring us from self centeredness to Christ likeness.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Evan! Thank you for sharing that great insight 🙂
The problem we have as humans is that we conceive God the way we think He’s supposed to operate, which means that we limit Him to our own human conception and understanding instead of seeing Him in the context of His own sovereignty as the God of the universe. That’s the main reason once a tragedy occurs, it’s very easy for us to think that God doesn’t care or for us to start questioning why God has allowed something like that to occur.
Well said, Arold!
Do you have any tips on how we can see God in the context of His own sovereignty?
Beautiful post and very thoughtful comments from observers. Everything said here makes sense even from a Muslim perspective – a faith that I adhere to. Thanks all.
Author
Thank you very much Farooq for your kind words. May I please ask you where are you located?
A Excellent post,can come as an enlightenment to many people who have lost faith in God,due to various reasons.From my personal experience,i can say that,everything god allows, happens for a reason.I am of of Hindu faith,and in the Vedas,it is said that,a successful person is one,who has rid himself of the greed,malice and ambition.He knows that these are universal bondage,created by the devil,which leads one away from god.He is happy and contempt,whether,people praise him or curse him.He knows that there is only one ultimate way,and that is the way of god.
Author
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us Debayudh. May I please ask you what it is that you were searching for online that led you to this post?
I just went through something today while driving and was very angry but the interesting part is i was talking about the Lord and certain things i was going through in my personal life with a sister from church how I need and want to draw more to God and do his will and this incident happened so I decided to look up why God allows certain bad things to happen in our lives and i came across these comments I appreciate and thank the Lord for spiritual brothers and sisters like yourselves to help educate spirituality people like myself and others who need to understand and know the Lords will in us
After having spent months in and out of hospital and feeling dejected and close to breaking point,emotionally as well as physically and wondering what the purpose of it all was,something amazing happened.After having been discharged from hostpial and feeling almost completely better,I travelled to Birmingham England to do a little retail therapy,something I hadn’t been well enough to do for nearly a year.
A woman approached me on the main high street,asking me to answer a few survey questions,something I was always avoiding and reluctant to to do!!BUT for some reason I sucommed and agreed to talk with her for anew minutes.When asked I gave her my name and to my utter amazement she said she knew about me,told me where I lived and that I had been recently hospitalised and which hospital it was,,,,,I was flabbergasted and couldn’t understand how she knew so much about me.It turned out that her best friend had been on the same ward as me and had told her about this woman on the ward who had sat at her bedside and told her all about the love that God had for her And this woman had prayed with her!!!! Sadly this dear lady had since passed away with cancer…….but I believe that that woman is in heaven now!!!And the Lord God was confirming to me by this amazing encounter on a main high street in a city of a few million,,that He is in total control and that,truely all things do work out for good and to His glory in the lives of those if us who love HIM…..To God be the glory forever…amen
,
From Hildi Boyd. July 30th 2016 12.30pm
Wow, that is so AMAZING Hildi!
I used to believe the Bible was inspired by God, but life has taught me that the many verses in the gospel about prayer are either lies by Jesus, or lies by the people who wrote the gospels. I get tired of all the excuses people make for God not being true to his word. I don’t make excuses for him anymore.
Author
So Stephen, can you give us an example of a Bible verse that you thought was true but it turned out to be not true?
WOW! That is an offense to God! How and why have you come to this state? I don’t serve your god that isn’t of the bible and doesn’t answers prayers. I serve the God of the bible! The Lord of Lord, King of Kings. The Sovereign Lord. I serve a God who’s Kingdom will never end! I suppose you have made a god in your own mind. A god that operates the way you want it to. Nope. We must accept the Lord as He is. Who is He? “God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” – Exodus 3:14
God is good all the time, all the time God is good. Thank you so much for amazing message. That’s really encouraging me and also blessed☺
Why life is hard for me?
Author
You are most welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed this blog post.
As far as your question about why life is so hard for you; The first thing that came to mind is the verse that Jesus said that in this life we will have tribulation. But we are to be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world.
Thank you pastor for sharing good news with us,am lucky to read this I was in need according to my present situation.God bless you!
Whenever I trust and hope, the opposite is happening.All my works are uprooted. Lots of problems since my childhood.iam fear to anything now. Am at my limits. Pls pray for me and all who suffers
Author
Praying for you, Rinu! May God give you strength, faith, and the grace to go through what you are going through.
Please help me am tired of being disappointed 😢😢😢
Sure Annie, what is causing you the disappointment?
I need real prayers from you guys, coz for real am stuck in darkness, i don’t know what to do, i lost ma job for now almost 6 months, i don’t work, i sometimes fail to get what to eat, so i need a financial break through and of course spiritual way…
thanks
Hi Ivan God is in the Midst of everything he will not give us more than we can bare hold on to him he loves you and wants you to trust him
But what if you can’t take the tribulations God has allowed?
I like this post because I was thinking different from what happened to me three days ago(31/12/2016). I had a head-on accident just few minutes before crossing over to 2017. A car left it lane into my lane and straight hit my car. The the driver does not know why he did that to me. I ma still confused as to why this happened. This is the eighth accident very similar. Almost every car I buy there has be an accident. Please help me pray to know what God is telling me to do. I am am now scared to drive. Thanks.
Praying for you, Harry! May God reveal His perfect will in your life 🙂
Thank you Peter. May GOD richly bless you.
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This is really great. Many years down the road, I lost my marriage and this really affected me. i have been looking for answers to my ” whys”. God actually has control over everything in our in lives. It really hurts when grieving but we have got to trust God. Thank you so much Pastor Peter.
Author
You are most welcome, Deborah. And by the way, please feel free to just call me Peter since I’m not a pastor. May God bless you in all that you do 😊
I noticed no one answered Elizabeth’s question. I would like to know the answer to that as well.
Author
Hi Debra, that’s a great question that Elizabeth answered. I’ve heard it shared by some people before that God will not give you more than you can handle. In my opinion, people who quote that Scripture take it out of context. I believe that the Bible teaches that God will not allow us to be tempted more than we can handle, but that is different than going through trials.
I believe that there will be many trials that we go in life that we cannot handle. During all of those times, we are to turn to God, surrender to Him, and put our trust in Him for the solution to our problems. This can be done through constant prayer throughout the day as praying just in the morning or at night will not be enough to get one through the hard times.
I’ve also found it very helpful that when I am going through a trial that is too hard for me to bear, that I encourage myself in the Lord. The way that I do this is that every time that I have a negative thought come into my mind, I replace it with one of God’s truths. For example, if I get a negative thought that says, “This situation is so bad,” then I replace it with a godly truth and I say to myself, “I can trust God because He will deliver me from this problem just like He’s delivered me in the past.”
Does that make sense?
Couldn’t read the article until I either selected to read the book, or that I wanted no part of God’s voice. Thankfully I am a grateful christian, who is unaffected by such cheap ploys. This is akin to those “share Jesus to ten friends or go to hell”memes I sometimes see. I hope the curious non saved did not see this cheap attempt on their conscience, and simply give up on Christ.
Author
Sorry Randall, I’m not sure what you’re referring to. Are you referring to my free e-book about hearing God’s voice?
Nice article Peter! Simple question: technically shouldn’t we say, “Thank God” when anything happens, even something we may perceive as a tragedy? God permits all, and all is for our good, so it stands to reason that if we are of true faith, we’re grateful to God for Everything that happens, right? Unless I’m missing something and there are some things which happen and we should NOT thank God for…
Author
Yes Tony, technically, you are correct. However, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Sometimes it’s hard to be thankful amidst the death of loved ones or financial hardships. But thank God that we have a God who works all things together for our good for those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose 😊.
Stephen,
It was no so long ago that I was starting to have the same feelings you express. There was a thought that repeatedly came to mind that saved me from following the same path of belief you did and that is, “the things of God come by faith.” Faith, which I interpret as an “undeniable confidence,” in God is what brings the promises of God into our lives. We know from the Bible that faith is a gift of God. We can’t make ourselves have faith by trying to conjure it up or repeating a scripture over and over. The Bible also tells us “faith comes by hearing and hearing from the Word of God.”
I recently heard someone speak on us being deceived we have more faith than we do because these thoughts are coming from our soul (mind, will and emotions) but it is not empowered by the Spirit because it is not real faith. Real “undeniable confidence” only comes from God, an experiential relationship with God, meditating on the Word of God and, of course, the grace of God. Reading through psalms really helped me because I realized that God responded to David because of David’s integrity…and I had to ultimately come to the conclusion…I didn’t have integrity to live the life I knew I should be living.
As a side note, I am going through an extremely difficult battle that has dragged me through severe depression and even crazy prayers because I just wanted God to end my existence. I have yet to see the hand of God dealing with the people in my situation, but I do know He is changing my heart toward the matter and building my character through it.
god is fake
Author
Why do you say that?
Thank you for posting this. I have been going through 2 different trials since July. One was by my hands and now i have been dealing with rhe aftermath and been trying to hear what God has been trying to say to me about why that took place. The other trial I’ve been dealing with is more recent. I fully believe there is a reason for both events and so believe that in time I will understand why these have taken place.
Thank you.
For over two years I had and still struggle with 5 autoimmune diseases. The newest one was misdiagnosed by two so called specialists in the field.
I cried out to God in my wilderness with no answer or word from Him. I hear praying, pleading and begging.
My family doctor knew what it was, however he just needed confirmation.
Finally in November of last year, I saw a specialist who nailed it, put on medication that is helping beyond belief.
She told me she suspected another underlying problem connected to this new autoimmune disease and referred me to another specialist.
This doctor is amazing, after examining me.
He hit the nail on the head, finally giving a name to the underlying process, I had suffered with since childhood.
This doctor increased the current medication which blew the two processes out of the water.
For the first time in decades I was almost normal.
Then, and this is where I am livid and wonder where God is.
I was out of town on business, thing were good I had some pain nothing I could not handle.
Then on the morning I was to drive 180 miles back home. I take a huge ugly fall in the hotel bathroom.
I could not get up I had to butt scoot to the bed to get my cell phone, I still could not get up.
The manager on duty had to come up, she called 911.
The medics were wonderfully caring.
The helped me up.
After staying with me for 40 minutes i told them I would seek treatment at home.
The drive was beyond excruciating, I have dealt with pain but not like this.
No broken bones just several sprains.
Now my underlying condition is off the charts, and am back to ground zero.
I railed on on God yesterday, I let all my anger, hate, resentment and everything else loose on Him.
I just don’t get it. I tried to see His goodness in all of this but this time I just cannot see it.
I dont feel like praying for understanding, or even praying at all.
In all of my other trials I have and totally leaned on him.
It’s like something broke and I don’t care.
How do I get back?
Author
Hi Vivian, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I know what it’s like to be angry at God because you feel like He doesn’t help you when obviously He has the power to do something. I think it’s not just you that struggles with this, but there are many other Christians who struggle with it as well. I struggled with this in the past so many times.
Let me ask you this, who do you blame for your fall in the hotel bathroom? Was it God’s fault, your fault, or the hotel’s fault? I ask this with 100% respect to you and to your situation.
Hi Vivian, I pray you are doing better physically and emotionally. I know it’s been 6months since you shared your story, but I feel the Holy Spirit is leading me to share with you and others, to know of the life saving truth I received when I was at the lowest and most desperate state of my life. I had an awful huge mountain of heartache. Starting with a really hard childhood and upbringing that was constantly riddled with despair and devastating circumstances. Followed by being held up at gunpoint, robbed and pistol whipped by a man who murdered 4 innocent victims that same week- which resulted in the development of PTSD, and tortured by multiple, daily panic attacks so severe I would lose consciousness within seconds and my hands would tense up into a position we started to refer to as the “t-Rex” hands- even causing a dangerous wreck where I smashed into the vehicle in front of mine so hard, that my car looked like an acordian, and on a handful of occasions woke up to being carried by a total stranger on my college campus, rushing me to the health clinic at my school. after having to be heavily medicated with anxiety pills, to do the smallest task, like walking to the mailbox, I soon developed a crippling case of survivors guilt. And the onset of my anger and resentment questions with God asking “WHY?” became something I dealt with every single day. I battled with self harm and started to party excessively as a distraction, to the chaos my life was. And then a couple of years following that, I was staring death in the face again. My ex boyfriend threw me to the ground and restrained me while he assaulted me- I was almost beaten to death, and every doctor was puzzled how I survived. My face was broken in 4 places, which warranted reconstructive surgery, on the left side of my face with plates and screws being placed in certain areas, I also had four horrible brain contusions that ended up leaving slight Brain damage that’s irreversible. Along with countless smaller but still severe injuries from head to toe. And not even a full year passed before I was back in the emergency room, screaming in pain, and asking God “WHY?” again- after months of testing I was diagnosed with severe fibromyalgia and haven’t lived a single day since then, where Im not in debilitating pain and discomfort. I was completely hopeless, and use to ask God through tears of despair to just give me a minute to catch my breath before I was faced with the next tragedy. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. I soon went through a devestating event, and lost everything I owned in a huge flood that came without any warning or clues. I was at the end of my rope, and couldn’t see past the darkness and pain that my life consisted of starting from the tender age of 3. I thought I was unrepairable and worthless. The only answer, I thought, to the constant “WHY’s” I experienced everyday was, suicide. I felt relief , while planning how I was going to kill myself. In a last ditch effort to find the answers, to those “why”s- I randomly opened the Bible to see if God had anything to say and to my absolute amazement, and almost disbelief ; I starting reading the beginning of a paragraph in the book of proverbs, chapter 3, verse 5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING” …for the first time in my life, I could answer WHY, even though that answer isn’t the most insightful, poetic or full of excitement and substance. It was the raw and stripped down truth that I was able to apply to each circumstance individually and to my entire life, collectively- that didn’t lead to more questions or didn’t need any previous bible knowledge required,the reality is- you might not ever learn or hear the answers you’re looking for…but you will find the peace and content required to begin truly healing and moving on, from the one who knit you together in the womb, Jesus. He knows the struggles and heartbreak you have seen, and has a plan for your life!!! Don’t try to answer the questions from your struggles, with a worldly perspective- like we rush to do after tragedy strikes. Instead accept the truth and answers that only Jesus, Christ can offer; even when it doesn’t make sense in our own minds. God won’t let your pain be wasted and has chosen you, specifically for a special task and purpose. You are a fighter and a survivor whose worth is more than rubies!!! If you’re not dead- Gods not done!
Author
Oh my goodness, Elise, what a powerful testimony you have! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for sharing this. I can’t tell you enough for the encouragement it is to me to read your story. After all that you have been through and to see that you still believe in God and still praise Him despite of your lack of understanding of why all of the things that happened to you ended up the way that they did is such a HUGE encouragement.
Elise, I’m planning on publishing a book next year about trusting in God during the difficult seasons in life. May I please have your permission to publish your story in my book?
I’m so sorry for the delayed response! I’m horrible with emails and to be honest, didn’t think anyone would read my comment. I would absolutely love to talk more about your book! If my tragedies can help other people, i consider it a blessing! I’ve never shared my testimony before but God was leading me that night when I responded to her comment. Thank you for your kind words, you’ve given ME the encouragement I needed! I’ve left my husbands email bc he checks it everyday! Let’s chat soon!!! God Bless!
Sure Elise, I totally understand. You can give me your contact information privately by sending it through my contact form if you like https://notashamedofthegospel.com/contact
Hi peter! I filled out the form with my contact info! Looking forward to being able to communicate with you soon! Thank you for your patience! -Elise
I don’t believe in any religion fully but i guess if i had to choose 1 I’m closest to id say christian i like to believe what some people call karma is actually god if you listen to all of his hints and stay true to yourself he will always be there to help you. But when you stray from a good path usually he punishes and those are usually your down times think about when bad stuff happens to you and just think of god as santa he watches you and racks up your naughty list points and than pow all of the bad things you done weather it be little or big will get paid back to you in a fair manner usually whatever is painful enough to learn a lesson he just wants you to learn from it and become a better person he’s always testing and always trying to teach and the closer you are with him the more you will understand him and the more you see these test and lessons it becomes so visible his genuine care and understanding of you. next time something bad happens think about this what lesson from god did you ignore, in my opinion the worst things always happen when u do ignore his lessons. nobody perfect and I’m not saying I’m close either I’ve been through my fair share of ups and downs recently we’ll actually just yesterday morning i just crashed my car into another moving vehicle I would consider my self a great driver but i stopped on the right side of 2 lane road at stop sign it was on a 4 way stop sign and i stopped and went at the same time a big truck pulled up on the left and stopped with me simultaniosuly so i couldn’t see the other car on the left that was gonna cross straight to the road on my right but when i was pulling up i saw no one coming from the left so i stopped and went and it seemed like this car came out of nowhere and i collided head on with the passenger side door. I’m 17 i promised my dad i would stop smoking 2 weeks ago because he didn’t want me driving high the day he drug tested me was the day i promised him i would quit i kinda feel thats what god wanted to because he would always give me test and hints to make me stop because i know he cares about me but to keep it short i completely disregarded my dad and the lesson god tried to teach me an continued to smoke even while driving once although not the time of the of the crash. i completely ignored his lessons and more so disrespected my fathers wishes who has only done nice stuff for me that i dont even deserve. So he punishes me now i don’t have a car and i have to deal with all the disappointment. but the important thing from bouncing back from times like this both into life and into your relationship with god is to admit your faults to god and repent he will forgive you he will always forgive you won’t know right away he will only show you that he forgives when you earn it make the necessary changes to your deep down wrong doings and do what you can to make up for any of it if you can and he will forgive and probably even reward.
Peter thank you for your story I had to read it twice when I saw you said you were 17 .What a blessing to hear of a young man with all the temptations of this world at that age trying to do right in Gods eyes,Its hard living in a worldly place on earth. I have two sons and this is one of the scriptures that I shared with them at a young tween age when Satan really tries to attack spiritually this scripture is important to read and take in its Nehemiah 4;1-23 know that Christian Identity with this may mean some rejection and opposition here and know that is nothing compared to our inheritance as children of God.Satan never bothers halfhearted people that are ho-hum spiritual existence.But if you come on fire for Christ look out the adversary he is committed to opposing God especially if you are Zealous to exalt Gods Glory.and when he does respond with vigilance and prayer. But do know this Peter that we do good because our soul wants to please God not for brownie points but because its our desire because we cant earn his love OK…One pastor that I turned on to my sons on to when a teenager is Leading the way with Michael Youssef And there are more Like Charles Stanley but the reason they enjoyed Michael Youseff is because when he preaches you learn a lot of history with him he used to be an Atheist he is from Egypt check it out .Find friends that are on the same path as you desire to follow Christ.Find a healthy church as I was growing up i went to so many different and some were very charismatic and not always lined up with the word with a lot of slaying in the spirit not that God cant do that but not cookie cutter style as these evangelical churches are doing and speaking in tongues Gods word says if its from me then only two speak in tongues and one interpreter then you know its from me God says … its that type of worship causes a socio psychosomatic manipulation .No church is perfect but one that if lined up in the word. Lol I wrote you a novel but God wanted me to tell you this and since I have sons they are grown now but they always volunteered and worked in healthy ministries in summer. So its a blessing you are choosing that path if you fall get up straighten your crown and ask ok God im back up thank you..He is beaming at you.God Bless you Peter .
I’m going through battle with myself, this is my guilt my hurt my pain my fear. I know Jesus Christ is real ik his words is true but figuring it out in his word that trapping myself in my lustfulness self pleasing being judgemental not having faith in Jesus, not having a personal relationship with him being a hypocrite arrogant boastful envy jealous prideful self-centered fleshly needs dishonoring my parents/myself seeing the evilest smile in me scares me being with a woman I did not truly loved or her 3 boys in a godly way I do truly care about them but I want they forgiveness ik its not going to happened and ik God forgiveness I should go after first but I can’t get myself to truly repent for my sins I know loves and cares for me and don’t want to hide from my sins anymore I God answer me from sinful soul and I know he can through his only son Christ so whoever see this this letter I truly hope they turns from their wicked ways so God can move in they lives and can be saved and live for Christ only God have the last words in your life HE IS SOOO REAL ITS NOT A LIE OR FAKE HE IS TRULY REAL SO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REPENT DON’T BECOME LIKE ME IT’S NEVER TO LATE FOR YOU DON’T GIVE UP ON HIM LORD FORGIVE ME I’M SOOO SORRY….😢😢😢😢😭😭😭😭
Kevin if you need someone to talk to, I’m here
Who hurt you Stephen? Why are you reading this if you lack love for God?
First of all, I love Jesus and have all my life, but I struggle with God’s “protection.” What does it mean exactly? My husband is Jewish so I know all about the holocaust, and I watched a movie last night about the Armenian genocide. There have been nearly 70 genocides as defined by the UN Convention and this doesn’t include other mass murders and crimes against humanity. Please help me understand how this 1) changed their character, 2) prepared them for bigger plans, or 3) saved their lives. I know that God’s ways confound even the wise, and I am, by no means, among that group, and in so knowing that I continue to love and trust him, but it makes me wonder what it is I am praying for when I pray for his protection for myself, for my loved ones, for my country, for the world. And no, I don’t really expect an answer. That movie last night just hurt me. I have already been before God’s throne this morning begging to understand. I am just not wise enough.
A good sermon I highly recommend listening to is : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6xZfOkeIr0 by John Piper.
If you still struggle with this and you don’t mind reading a 236 page book on this subject, than I recommend reading the book called. “Not God enough” by J.D. Greear. He does a very well job at explaining this. I would be willing to write here, but space and time do not permit me to do so.
One thing I can say is this; God is sovereign and He does what He wills. We are simply His creation. When Job suffered and then challenged God, what did God reply? Job 40:809 “Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? 9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?” (ESV). No, I am not saying that God “likes” to “hurt” us. it clearly says in Lamentation 3:31-33 “For the Lord will not reject forever, 32 For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness. 33 For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of men.” (ESV). In NLT, verse 33 it put this way: For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow. Why does He then? For His glory!!! Just like in the case of Lazarus. Also, we must understand this one thing also: In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.n- 1 Peter 1:6-7. The whole purpose is to test our faith and so that we would be blameless and holy before God for His glory (Colossians 1:22, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, Philippians 2:15, 2 Peter 3:13-14, and 1 Thessalonians 5:23) We have hope for eternal life! Biggest comfort for us Christians is the fact that this life will end! There is life afterwards! Most beautiful thing found in Revelation is Revelation 21:3-4 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)!! God himself will wipe away our tears! That should comfort us and bring us hope. What we must do when we “suffer according to God’s will” is to entrust our “souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1 Peter 4:19 ESV)
Hope this helps in any shape or form. God bless you!!!
Can you please prove your thoughts with scripture?
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Good post except that you forgot one of the biggest and most important reasons why we suffer!!! It is ALL for God’s glory!!! (John 11:4 “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.” ESV). This illness will turn out for the glory of God and the glory of the Son of God. This illness will put the glory of God on display. It will make Jesus look amazing.
Therefore (verse 6), love lets him die. Love lets him die because his death will help them see, in more ways than they know, the glory of God.
So what is love? What does it mean to be loved by Jesus? Love means giving us what we need most. And what we need most is not healing, but a full and endless experience of the glory of God. Love means giving us what will bring us the fullest and longest joy. And what is that? What will give you full and eternal joy? The answer of this text is clear: a revelation to your soul of the glory of God — seeing, admiring, and marveling at and savoring the glory of God in Jesus Christ. When someone is willing to die — or let your brother die — to give you (and your brother) that, he loves you.
Love is doing whatever you have to do to help people see and treasure the glory of God as their supreme joy — to help people see and be satisfied with the glory of God. -John Piper
Hello Peter, I have a suggestion to make for you. Can you please quote scripture as it is? I haven’t seen you quote scripture from the bible as it is. It seems to me that you are more paraphrasing rather than quoting scripture.
Today I prayed that God would give me his wisdom in all things. I said to the Lord that although I read, listen to sermons, lean into his word I am always seeking relief from an outside source! Wisdom, verbal support, feel love from others, etc, but God wants us , me, to not look for comfort outside of us but thru he that Lives in us! But how is this fully possible? Why did he give us others? How do we fully depend only on Gods comfort?
There is a verse in the Bible , “God say’s My way of Thinking is not the same as your way of thinking .
God is a real evil monster the way i look at it since he never gave me the luck to meet the right good woman to get married and have a family, and yet so many millions and millions of others had found love with no problem. And i hate being a single and lonely man all the time since i was never ever single by choice in the first place.
This post confirms why I am going to commit suicide. That’s gods plan for me
Stephen my friend, you left a door open somewhere in your heart and mind to allow satan to bring you closer to him. Don’t fall for it ! Please come back to God !!!
God created man in his own image, male and female created he them.
And God blessed them. (Genesis 1:27-28)
There is not one person who has not had some kind of difficult heart felt issue in their life, like those who are born into life with no arms or legs or blind or deaf or etc. ,etc. or born in countries they have no freedom to do as they please!
All suffering is not God’s “will” for anyone he created for his pleasure or Adam and Eve would never had “freewill” to choose to do anything.
Lord Jesus guarantees to answer to everyone:
If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
If you love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you can know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.
God will render to every man according to his deeds:
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness.
Tribulation and anguish, is upon every soul of man that does evil.
(Romans 2:6-9 KJV)
Therefore I say unto you, what things so ever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.
And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:24-26)
There would be no arguments on any site against the Lord Jesus Christ through the Power of the Holy Spirit, guaranteed by Lord Jesus Christ himself when anyone earnestly seeks him by their “freewill”.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
In your patience possess you your souls. (Luke 21:19 KJV)