Why should we be grateful for this gift? Audio download options Share Would you like to read this article in %%? 16 However, Jehovah has not fixed the problems caused by Satan. What Can the Bible Teach Us? Jehovah has deep love for people. The short answer is that we don’t always know why in specific cases. A TSUNAMI destroys a village. If you watch TV you see the world-wide suffering all across the world of children … The only way to begin answering this question is to view our fallen world from God… For example, they write: “God is not responsible for bad things that happen to people; nor d… The Bible provides a satisfying and comforting answer. “It is unthinkable for the true God to act wickedly, for the Almighty to do wrong!”​—Job 34:10. Sometimes, people suffer as … (Isaiah 55:8, 9) So then, let’s discuss the question, Why is there so much suffering in the world? Copyright © 2021 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. 20, 21. In order to understand some of the big questions that surround this topic we have to look at God’s plan as a whole. Let us imagine that a Witness named Michelle has come to the home of a … Why Does God Allow Evil and Suffering? It has taken time to prove that  Satan’s rule has failed. Even so, innocent people are suffering,” (Watchtower Nov. 2012, “Question 3 – Why does God allow me to suffer”). Why Does God Allow Suffering? Life Without Suffering—A Trustworthy Promise. 3, 4. 6 Many people blame God for all the suffering in the world because they think that God rules the world. Many ask why the world is so full of hatred and suffering. Satan challenged Jehovah in front of millions of angels. (b) Why has Jehovah allowed Satan to be the ruler of this world and humans to govern themselves? The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (commonly known as “Jehovah’s Witnesses”) teaches that God does not have a purpose or will at work in individual events of suffering or tragedy. It Reminds Us of the Reality of Sin. We can decide whether we will serve him or not. Jehovah knows when all of Satan’s challenges will have been fully answered. “God neither causes bad things to happen nor incites others to do what is bad,” (Watchtower July 2014 “Bad things happen to good people – Why… Good News From God! All those in “the memorial tombs” will be resurrected. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”​—Jeremiah 10:23. He’s not to blame for war, crime, and mistreatment. Why are destruction and violence before me? (Ecclesiastes 4:1; 8:9) Sometimes people suffer because of “time and unexpected events.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) When they are in the wrong place at the wrong time, accidents and other bad things can happen to them. Jehovah never causes bad things to happen. They came as a result of man’s disobedience to God… (John 5:28, 29) People will never get sick or die. Publication download options There are millions of others who have decided to please God and to reject Satan. But we do know that God loves each person who is suffering, and that He does … The purpose of this post is not to attempt a theodicy, that is, a defense of why God allows suffering. And why do quarreling and conflict abound?”​—Habakkuk 1:3. Audio download options Would you like to read this article in %%? so that I can make a reply to him who taunts me.”​—Proverbs 27:11. Share How and when will he do this? 9 Jehovah never causes suffering. The Bible says: “It is unthinkable for the true God to act wickedly, for the Almighty to do wrong!”​—Job 34:10. Why would a powerful and loving God allow suffering, evil and death? Satan wanted humans to believe that they had the right to decide for themselves what was right or wrong. Other times the cause is our own weakness or God’s discipline in our life. For example, the prophet Habakkuk asked Jehovah: “Why do you make me witness wrongdoing? Jehovah wants us to serve him because we love him. But actually, the opposite is true. On the proposition that the presence of suffering rules out the existence of a benevolent God, I’d ask what humanity would be if God didn’t allow suffering. Even though they have made advances in science and technology, there is more injustice, poverty, crime, and war than ever before. Learn what God says about the reasons for suffering. Each of us knows firsthand what it means to suffer as a result of … Jehovah is patient and has allowed time for us to come to know him and to choose him as our Ruler. Avoid jumping to the rash conclusion that God somehow wants us to suffer or that he is personally testing us. He gave humans the gift of free will. 4 At Habakkuk 2:2, 3, we read God’s answer to Habakkuk’s questions and His promise to correct the situation. 11 Adam and Eve disobeyed Jehovah and rebelled against him. There is this intimate bond between the cross, the epitome of the sufferings of Christ, and the suffering of the people which is a participation in the self-same cross. And because of sin, humans cause other humans to suffer. Every belief system has to account for suffering in some fashion or another. Jehovah wants us to enjoy life. God has nothing to do with it, and therefore one cannot find comfort in God’s will or purpose when painful things occur, for that would be to “blame” God. Satan wanted them to believe that he would be a better ruler than Jehovah and that they did not need God.​—Genesis 3:2-5; see Endnote 27. Have you ever wondered about that yourself? Jesus called Satan “the ruler … 14 For thousands of years, humans have tried to rule themselves, but they have failed. (Job 34:10) Who, then, is the prime instigator of misery? . (Proverbs 30:24) Also, we are not like machines that do only what they are made to do. (a) What questions did Habakkuk ask? We aim to spread the teaching of God’s Word through Christian media with the goal of … Some may say that everything that happens to a person, including tragedies, has already been decided by God and that we can never understand why. 15 Why has Jehovah allowed suffering to continue for so long? Share It's our choice whether to accept God's free ticket to eternal life in paradise (Acts 4:12). 17 Can Jehovah repair all the damage that has been caused by the rebellion of Satan and humans? God does not cause disasters such as earthquakes, … Yes. Satan, our adversary, will be banished forever, and God will make all things new. On the contrary, he gave the first human couple a wonderful start. Many bullies and tyrants who inflict pain are unwilling to change … Question: "Why does God allow the innocent to suffer?" Answer: There is so much suffering in the world, and it is felt by everyone to one degree or another. Why So Much Suffering? Jesus will undo all the damage that Satan has caused. Second, someday God will intervene, and all the evil and pain and sorrow we now experience will be destroyed. The ruler of the world is Satan the Devil. Even when we suffer, he helps us to endure.​—John 4:23; read 1 Corinthians 10:13. Humans have had many kinds of governments, but they cannot rule the earth successfully without God. Jehovah’s Witnesses would be … 9 Jehovah never causes suffering. What do you think? He is “misleading the entire inhabited earth.” (Revelation 12:9) Many people imitate him. “Far be it from the true God to act wickedly!” states the Bible. Why does God allow suffering? God allows suffering to continue at present for good reasons. Jehovah’s purpose was to fill the earth with perfect people, and that was going to happen no matter what the Devil tried to do.​—Genesis 1:28; Isaiah 55:10, 11. Many argue, "Why would an all-powerful, all-loving God allow pain and suffering?" (a) Why did Jehovah not destroy the rebels immediately? The problem of suffering has been with us since the Garden of Eden and it will be with us until Christ comes back. What will Jehovah do about all the damage that Satan has caused? God has promised to remove all causes of suffering. This is a difficult question and also a very common one. God has allowed men to rule for long enough to demonstrate that they cannot resolve mankind’s problems Evil began on earth when Satan told the first lie. 19 Jehovah’s wonderful gift of free will makes us very different from the animals. James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith … (Matthew 22:37, 38) He is like a father who is happy to hear his child say “I love you” when the child says it from his heart and not because he’s forced to. Many are told that God’s ways are mysterious or that he brings … Why doesn’t Jehovah force us to serve him? why it is god wow suffering you work out didn't intended for humans to suffer on the contrary he gave the first human couple of wonderful start what say to regular angel called godara wire and influence the first humans to reject god so forty when i am alive disturbed god … Why is there so much suffering in the world? It is true that suffering can bring out the best in us and that the Bible says that the trials God … To start off with, God did create a world without suffering… It is only IF God exists … your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.”​—Genesis 3:5. (Proverbs 27:11) What can you do now so that you will be there in God’s new world when he removes all suffering? The Bible says: “He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) In fact, God hates to see suffering much more than we do. He also gave humans time to set up their own governments under Satan’s guidance to show whether they could be successful without God’s help. So, at first glance it seems that suffering gives us good reason to rule out God. Satan, a rebel angel, called God a liar. Why Does God Allow So Much Suffering in the World? Before we speak to the question of why God allows children to suffer, we need to ask the bigger question: Why does God allow suffering to happen to any person, whether he’s two years old, two months old, or twenty years old? Good News From God! The prophet Jeremiah was right when he said: “I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. PRIVACY POLICY, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/m/502018850/univ/art/502018850_univ_sqr_xl.jpg, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/fg/E/wpub/fg_E_lg.jpg. And that’s just one reason why the world is so full of lies, hatred, and cruelty. Why did Jehovah not ignore Satan’s challenge? 17, 18. “Be wise, my son, . God is not the cause of human suffering. 5 Pastors, priests, and religious teachers often say that it is God’s will that people suffer. And why do you tolerate oppression? TERMS OF USE Many think God is to blame for all the suffering in the world. Satan accused God of being a bad Ruler. With God, all things are possible. They teach that when bad things happen, it is always the result of Satan and/or of human sin. They  often want to be more important than others. Why do many people blame God for all the suffering in the world? Copyright © 2021 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. They thought that they had the right to decide for themselves what was right and what was wrong. Often, the response is that suffering is God’s will and that he long ago determined everything that would ever happen, including tragic events. 19. Why does he not stop bad things from happening? Instead, he allowed them to have children. They mainly act because of their instincts, but we can choose how we want to live our lives and decide whether we want to please Jehovah. Also, humans would believe that they are able to rule themselves successfully. Why can we be sure that Jehovah has a very good reason for allowing suffering to continue? Suffering forces us to turn from trust in our own resources to living by faith in God’s resources. This question has been asked from time in memorial. Cancer takes a mother’s life, leaving behind five children. This is a question that has baffled people for generations and I am going to give you a great theological answer right now: I don’t know. Suffering is a tool God uses to get our attention and to accomplish His purposes in our lives. Sometimes people suffer because they are at the wrong place at the wrong time. Others may even say that people, including little children, die so that they can be with God in heaven. The Bible promises that all disasters and tragedies will soon be gone forever. (b) Why has Jehovah not fixed the problems caused by Satan? He claimed that God was keeping something good from Adam and Eve. Does God Use Natural Disasters to Punish Mankind Today. 10 In the garden of Eden, the Devil misled Adam and Eve. 9. If God can prevent such tragedies, why does He allow them to take place? Good News From God! If he did, it would mean God supports Satan’s rulership, and He will never do that. God does not cause disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods. A: There are no easy answers to the question of the purpose of suffering and evil. Here is the classic statement of the problem. Satan was originally a perfect angel, but “he … Why me? * But there is good news. Humans do need God’s help. “God knows that . Then he will make the earth into a paradise, as it was meant to be. Then Jehovah made it possible for the children of Adam and Eve to choose whom they wanted as their ruler. He hates to see them suffer. Likewise, God does not cause innocent people to suffer. How could Jehovah prove that the rebels were wrong and that he knows what is best for us? Jehovah has deep love for people. Jehovah will use Jesus to undo all the damage that Satan has done. . But suffering is not just a problem for Christians. If … . Jehovah will use Jesus “to break up the works of the Devil.” (1 John 3:8) We are grateful that in the meantime Jehovah has been patient with us so that we can come to know him and can decide that we want him to be our Ruler. The Bible … 5. 12 Jehovah didn’t destroy Adam and Eve immediately. But whatever the origin of our … Read these Top 9 Bible Verses-Why Does God Allow Suffering? Or He is … God didn’t intend for humans to suffer. Share 2 When disasters or tragedies like those happen, many people ask, “Why?” Many ask why the world is so full of hatred and suffering. Life Without Suffering—A Trustworthy Promise. 12, 13. 6. Satan, Adam, and Eve chose to reject Jehovah. . The Urban Alternative is a Christian Bible teaching and resource ministry founded 39 years ago by Dr. Tony Evans. He’s not to blame for war, crime, and mistreatment. Learn From God’s Word. God is good but evil is also real and has influence in the world for now. Satan has been proved a liar. So God has allowed Satan to rule this world for a time. What Can the Bible Teach Us? TERMS OF USE 9. The next chapter will answer that question. We cannot successfully rule ourselves without God. Satan accused God of being a bad ruler. But that isn’t true. By allowing the consequent suffering, the need to recognize God's right to rule and obey him would become clearly evident. Either God is all-powerful but He is not all good, therefore He doesn’t stop evil. “It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”​—Jeremiah 10:23. But you may wonder, ‘If Jehovah is the most powerful person in the universe, why doesn’t he stop those terrible things from happening?’ We know that God cares deeply about us, so he must have a very good reason for allowing suffering to continue.​—1 John 4:8. Publication download options The following is a typical conversation that one of Jehovah’s Witnesses might have with a neighbor. What wonderful gift has Jehovah given us? He never lies.​—Hebrews 6:18. 15, 16.  |  21 Use your free will to serve Jehovah. Still another reason might be persecution or simply the consequence of ignoring good principles. They fight, they go to war, and they bully others. Why Does God Allow Suffering? What do many religious teachers say about suffering? But that is a lie, and Jehovah would not support that either. What is the best choice that you can make now? How will you use your gift of free will? (Job 38:7; Daniel 7:10) So Jehovah gave Satan time to prove whether his accusation was true. 7, 8. Why does God allow suffering in the world? 7 The Bible tells us that “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) The ruler of this world, Satan, is vicious and cruel. What Can the Bible Teach Us? (a) Why has Jehovah allowed suffering to go on for so long? What does the Bible teach? Physical death is just the death of the body, but the spirit lives on. PRIVACY POLICY, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/bhs/E/wpub/bhs_E_lg.jpg. Everyone wants to know if there is a God, why does God allow suffering. We have the freedom to make choices about whom we want to be, whom we want as our friends, and what we want to do with our life. Animals act primarily because of instinct, but Jehovah has given us free will. It is designed to build our trust in the Almighty, but suffering requires the right response if it is to be successful in accomplishing God’s purposes. One of the most pressing challenges to Christianity is the problem of evil. Jehovah gave us the freedom to choose whether to serve him or not. The Scriptures tell us that suffering … A gunman opens fire in a church, wounding and killing a number of people. But as we learned in Chapter 3, the real ruler of the world is Satan the Devil. The tendency is to blame God for these conditions, but He did not create them. 18 Jehovah does not force us to choose him as our Ruler. Why is there so much suffering in the world? The Bible promises that all disasters and tragedies will soon be gone forever. What is God doing? Suffering and death in this corrupted world are guaranteed for each of us. That explains why we see so much suffering around us —it’s because Satan, not God, is the real ruler of the world. 3 In the Bible, we learn that men who had deep faith in God also asked such questions. 20 Jehovah wants us to love him. Consider just one: It is often people who cause suffering to others. This article raises questions you may have asked and shows where you can read the answers in your Bible. Choice whether to accept God 's free ticket to eternal life in paradise ( Acts 4:12 ) has?... Memorial tombs ” will be like God, why does he not stop bad happen. Human couple a wonderful start have with a neighbor the animals to get our and. Why do quarreling and conflict abound? ” ​—Habakkuk 1:3 did not them... ​—Genesis 3:5 question of the purpose of suffering would mean God supports Satan ’ s to. Seems that suffering gives us good reason to rule themselves successfully of this world and humans suffering? intervene why does god allow suffering jw... 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