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John 9-10

Read these chapters now with the BIBLE READER to the right of this post or at http://www.bible.gateway.com/

WHY IS THERE SUFFERING?



Cancer. Starvation. Poverty. Disease. Death.

Again, I ask: WHY IS THERE SUFFERING?

Many people have struggled with this question since the dawn of time. Why must good people suffer? Are they being punished? In Biblical times, it was believed that you or your parents sinned if you had a disability.

People thought that lepers and blind people were that way because they were BAD people, and that God was punishing them for their sins.

Sometimes people think that today, too. But the Bible does NOT teach that. In today's reading, Jesus was explaining why this man was blind. The disciples asked Jesus why he was blind, and if it was his or his parents' fault.

I love Jesus' response:

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

John 9:1-3

It's a weird way to think of things, right? Maybe you were raised to believe this-- or maybe this is completely new. God uses people's suffering for a greater purpose?

Yep.

Once you think about it-- it makes complete sense. God loves us. A LOT. So He would never punish us with blindness or cancer because we've been "bad." He has eternal love for us that will never run dry.

So, why do people suffer? Why was this poor mad born blind?

If you continue reading, you see that TONS of people witness the man being healed, and they had a faith in Jesus. Poverty and sickness are used by God every day to help others believe. They're just a few examples of suffering.

Sometimes, people need to fall into the worst part of their life to start fresh with God. God is literally ALL they have, and He encourages them to push forward.

So, next time you hear about someone suffering, don't just think to yourself, "Aww. Stinks for them."

Pray for them! Pray to God that His will will be done, and people will come to know Him through the process.

Have a lovely day :)

Peace.


www.pdh-togo.org/html/english/suffering.html

Comments

Granny said…
When your Grandpa Terry got cancer at such an early age, almost the age of your Mother, and died, I wondered why God took him so young, and I knew God could cure him in a heartbeat...I had that faith. It did not happen to be, but through all the suffering and sorrow, I gained. I felt my faith get stronger, my family ties stronger, and I found out who my friends truly were. So, out of bad things happening, good came. That too is in the scriptures.
November 4, 2010 at 7:41 PM
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