If God is Loving, Why is There So Much Pain in This Life?

[dara_01]

^no prob po...
kya nga we have this topic to share something na alam natin na makakapagbless and inspire to our fellow girltalkers...

[xtine524]

Why is there so much pain in life?  Because in pain can we only grow spiritually.  Faith feeds on sufferings, tribulations & trials.  Rarely will your faith be tested on the happy moments of your lives.  It is only when we are beset with trials that we can only surrender to Him.  Besides if puro happy moments, our roots will never grow strong.

[dara_01]

^correct, sis!

Parang how can we define happiness if we don't know the meaning of pain...

[commish]

because were christians. sabi nga diba, we are heirs to the throne just as christ and being with Him also means that we share His passion and suffering.

[youngmommy]

Kaya nga lalo natin dapat maramdaman na mayroong Diyos habang me pain kasi may nagsasalba satin sa mga pain na nararanasan natin at umaangat tayo sa ibang level ng buhay natin.Dahil after ng pain nakakaranas tayo ng ibayong saya dahil nakalagpas tayo sa sitwasyon ng buhay...at kaya may saya dahil hindi hinayaan ng Lord na lamunin ka ng paghihirap dahil mahal ka NYA!at ginawa Nya tayo hindi para pasakitan kundi pagpalain pero ang mga pagsubok natin sa buhay ay pagpapalakas sa ating pananamapalataya.ang Lord kinaya lahat ng pain just to save us because of His love for us.ano mang pain narranasan natin wala pa sa kalingkingan ng hirap ng Lord dahil He is the Loving GOD!
to God be the glory!

[the_witness]

Here's an illustration:

Mr. Guro is telling his students how to solve a difficult problem. A clever but rebellious student named Dunung-dunungan claims that the Mr. Guro’s way of solving the problem is wrong. Dunung-dunungan insists that he knows a much better way to solve the problem. Some students think that Dunung-dunungan is right, and they also become rebellious. What should Mr. Guro do? Kapag pinalayas niya si Dunung-dunungan out of the class, what will be the effect on the other students? Will they not believe that Mr. Guro is guilty and they are right? All the other students in the class might lose respect for Mr. Guro, thinking that he is afraid of being proved wrong. But suppose that Mr. Guro allows the rebel to show the class how he would solve the problem.

Mr. Guro knows that Dunung-dunungan and the students on his side are wrong. But he also knows that allowing them the opportunity to try to prove their point will benefit the whole class. When the rebels fail, all honest students will see that Mr. Guro is the only one qualified to lead the class. They will understand Mr. Guro thereafter removes any rebels from the class.

Mr. Guro ->  God Jehovah or Yahweh
Dunung-dunungan -> = Satan the Devil when he rebelled and became a serpent and lure Adam and Eve that "God is lying" therefore raising about God's power.
Dunung-dunungan's classmates who believed him->  Adam and Eve

Other classmates watching-> Remember that the rebels in Eden were not the only ones involved. Millions of angels were watching. (Job 38:7; Daniel 7:10) How God handled the rebellion would greatly affect all those angels and eventually all intelligent creation. So, what has Jehovah done? He has allowed Satan to show how he would rule mankind. God has also allowed humans to govern themselves under Satan’s guidance. Check 1 John 9:15. Satan rules the world.

So there's the answer to your question ? SUFFERING LEFT and RIGHT... God is NEVER the source of it. He allows it temporarily. Yes, the keyword here is temporary. Just like Mr. Guro in the illustration, He will raise His sovereignty and in the end, these rebels will be gone and yung mga "Nagtitiis hanggang sa wakas ang siyang maliligtas!" Matthew 24:3, 13

This is the Bible's answer. Not mine.

[shane_meshiel]

God let us experience pain so we can be stronger. It's His aim. Because without pain, we will not learn how to be stronger in every trials He give.

[the_witness]

Always remember, when under trials, kahit kailan, hindi iyon binigay sa atin ng Diyos. Hindi tayo sinusubok ng Diyos.  Period. Malinaw yan sa Bible. Lahat ng negative, hindi puwedeng manggaling sa Diyos. God is love.

When under trial, let no one say: ‘I am being tried by God.’ For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.” - James 1:13

On the contrary, from God comes “every good gift and every perfect present”!—James 1: 17.

[bry10ann]

To be more closer to Him and to strengthen our faith with Him.

[faithfulwife18]

As for my personal point of view, we can be a better person if we surpasses pain in our life..we need to accept the reality and face it with faith to GOD until such time pain will not hurt us anymore...

[poshgal24]

I personally have the same belief--- sa tingin ko lahat ng suffering eh sa earth natin mararanasan dahil its the only way na ma-appreciate natin ang rewards of heaven later on.

I do not believe in HELL. For me, there's only EARTH, PURGATORY and HEAVEN

If your soul is not ready for heaven, then you will be purged first of all earth-bound feelings then you go to heaven. I dont think God created anyone of us para lang i-condemn sa hell---I do not believe this miski yan ang turo ng mga madre sa amin na pag makasalanan ka, you go to hell. I think its more of you go thru a LONG purging process so parang nagpaparty na mga kabatch mo sa heaven, ikaw repeat ng repeat sa purgatory where there is only emptiness but no fire.

Ang hell for me is earth, dahil lahat ng klaseng pagsubok dadanasin natin habang tayo ay nabubuhay. Hindi ba minsan may problems tayo na parang halos sasabog na ang dibdib mo sa sakit,  anything more than that I dont think anyone can stand pa. Sa earth lang yan nangyayari-

If there is no pain, then how can you feel the opposite of pain which is happiness, di ba? Ganun lang.

[sales_lady]

because learning comes with it.....

[shalee]

Everyone experiences pain. Its also a test of faith. When you have a strong faith, you can slowly overcome your pain. 

[Schuyler]

In moments of pain, I just hang on to my God for I know He has other plans for me, that something good will come out of it.  When I gave birth to my eldest, he's barely breathing and had to stay in NICU for 12 days.  With my second child I was hospitalized for days due to water leak on my sixth month.  They injected steroid that if ever I gave birth the lungs will be mature enough.  Those moments in my life test my faith.  I cried a lot but I prayed even more because only God knows and have the power to change the situation.  We survived it all.  Whenever we are in pain, just pray, pray, pray and have faith in God.  He alone knows what's best for us. 

[Ench]

I heard this from a pastor in baguio... Don't blame God for your misfortune for he gives you trial to face, to learn and to grow... He will make many trials. trials after trials until we learn...

[the_witness]

Hindi ang Diyos ang nagbibigay ng trials sa atin. Hindi tayo sinusubok ng Diyos. Hindi sa Kanya galing ang mga pagsubok. Hinding-hindi.

When under trial, let no one say: ‘I am being tried by God.’ For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.” - James 1:13

On the contrary, from God comes “every good gift and every perfect present”!—James 1: 17.

[innocent_beauty]

Hindi ang Diyos ang nagbibigay ng trials sa atin. Hindi tayo sinusubok ng Diyos. Hindi sa Kanya galing ang mga pagsubok. Hinding-hindi.

minsan ang Diyos ay sumusubok din sa atin kung paano tayo katibay sa ating buhay at pananampalataya.


1 Pedro 4:12-13
           Mga minamahal, huwag kayong mangagtaka tungkol sa mahigpit na pagsubok sa inyo, na dumarating sa inyo upang kayo'y subukin na waring ang nagyayari sa inyo'y di karaniwang bagay. kundi kayo'y  mangagalak, sapagkat kayo'y mga karamay sa mga hirap ni Cristo ; upang sa pagkahayag ng kaniyang kaluwalhatian naman ay mangagalak kayo ng malabis na galak.

1 Pedro 1:6-7
         Na ito ang totoong ikinagagalak , bagama't ngayo'y sa sandaling panahon kung kailan ay pinalumbay kayo sa muli't muling pagsubok , upang ang pagsubok sa inyong pananampalataya na lalong mahalaga kay sa ginto na nasisira bagama't ito'y sinusubok sa pamamagitan ng apoy , ay masumpungan sa ikapupuri at ikaluluwalhati at ikararangal sa pagpapakahayag ni Jesucristo.

Apoc 3:10
      Sapagka't tinupad mo ang salita ng aking pagtitiis, ikaw naman ay aking iingatan sapanahon ng pagsubok , na darating sa buong sanlibutan , upang subukin ang mga nananahan sa ibabaw ng lupa.


Santiago 1:3-4
      Yamang nalalaman na ang pagsubok sa inyong pananampalataya ay gumagawa ng pagtitiis. At inyong pabayaan na ang pagtitiis ay magkaroon ng sakdal na gawa , upang kayo'y maging sakdal at ganap, na walang anomang kakulangan.

Zacarias 13:9
      At aking dadalhin ang ikatlong bahagi sa apoy, at sila'y dadalisayin ko na parang pilak na dalisay , at sila'y susubukin ko na parang pagsubok sa ginto. Sila'y magsisitawag sa aking pangalan at aking silang didinggin: Aking sasabihin , Siya'y bayan ko ; at Aking sasabihin , Ang Panginoon ay aking Diyos.

Awit 66:10
        Sapagka't ikaw , Oh Dios , tinikman mo kami : Iyong sinubok kami na para ng pagsubok sa pilak.

[the_witness]

Kung sinusubok tayo ng Diyos, bakit sasabihin ni St. Paul yung na-mention ni the_witness sa James 1:13 na hindi tayo binibigyan ng trials ni God? Hindi ba parang sobrang mag-co-contradict naman na sasabihin yan sa Bible  na hindi tayo sinusubok ni God tapos biglang sinusubok pala tayo paminsan minsan?

Pero sa mga nabanggit mong Bible verses,  tingingnan ko isa isa pero it looks like totoong may mga pagsubok na dinadaanan ang mga tao, pero wala akong nakita na sinabi mismong direkta na sa Diyos nanggaling ang mga pagsubok o na siya ang nagbigay. More like parang ina-allow lang niya ang mga pagsubok and that it refines a person's character. Pero hindi pa rin ang Diyos ang nagbigay sa kanya. Because I don't want to think that way as well. Ayokong isiping ang Diyos ang nagbibigay ng problema dahil cruel yun and unfair kung galing sa Kanya! Halimbawa, nasunog ang bahay ko, nagka-cancer ako? kagagawan ng Diyos yun? so unfair ha! Bakit ang iba hinde! Bakit ako lang? Anyway, personal opinion ko lang naman.

Cristeen, Thanks for reading my post.

You have answered your own questions correctly. God only "allows" but does not "give" the trials to us.

Innocent Beauty's Bible verses provide the correct answers in the context of "trials exist and they test our faith and endurance, and they refine us".  In fact, many of them provide answers to the subject of this entire post which is about trials in the context of pain and suffering.  But then again, the trials never came from God.

We experience trials due to human imperfections and the imperfect system of things we live in  (imperfections were passed on by our first parents  when they disobeyed God) and oh let's not forget, Satan the Devil is a major source of trials .

Remember the faithful man JOB? He was tested with all the most painful trials, suffering, and calamities, any human being could possibly get. Did God gave the trials to him? NO WAY!  (Job chapter 1,2) Satan gave them to him! God Jehovah "ALLOWED" them to happen and regardless of the trials that Satan brought upon him, Job maintained his faith in God, he exercised endurance and integrity and GOD's role here is rewarding Job for his faithfulness.

We should remember that Jehovah is the Source, NOT of trials, but of good things. (James 1:16-18)

The Bible should never contradict itself. Only one GOD is the author of it. If He says "He is not the source of trials, then He is not the source of trials" and that makes a lot of sense being said by a loving God.  “God is love.”—1 John 4:16,

Nagsa-sanga-sanga na itong subject na ito sa ibang sub-subjects and I would not want to aggravate that. I apologize in advance.  I'm going to refocus it back to the real subject by the final post I'm submitting on this particular subject.

[the_witness]

Why Does God Permit Wickedness?

(this article answers it all all based from the Bible itself)

YOU do not have to look far to see that evil and suffering abound. Wars kill civilians as well as soldiers. Crime and violence are commonplace. Perhaps you have recently been a victim of prejudice or injustice. In view of what you have seen and experienced, you have very likely asked, ‘Why does God permit wickedness?’

That question is not a new one. Some 3,600 years ago, a loyal servant of God named Job asked: “Why is it that the wicked themselves keep living?” (Job 21:7) Troubled by the evil deeds of his countrymen, the prophet Jeremiah of the seventh century B.C.E. asked: “Why is it that the way of wicked ones is what has succeeded, that all those who are committing treachery are the unworried ones?” (Jeremiah 12:1) Both Job and Jeremiah knew that God is righteous. Yet, they wondered why there was so much wickedness. Perhaps you too are puzzled by this.


Some people blame God for wickedness and suffering. Others wonder: ‘If God is all-powerful, just, and loving, why does he not put an end to evil and suffering? Why has he allowed evil to continue until our day?’ The following article considers answers to these and other vital questions.

JEHOVAH [GOD] is righteous in all his ways,” says the Bible. (Psalm 145:17; Revelation 15:3) Concerning him, the prophet Moses declared: “Perfect is his activity, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice; righteous and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4) “Jehovah is very tender in affection and merciful,” says James 5:11. God cannot and does not cause wickedness.

The disciple James wrote: “When under trial, let no one say: ‘I am being tried by God.’ For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.” (James 1:13) Jehovah God neither tempts people with wickedness nor entices them to commit vile deeds. Who, then, is to blame for wickedness and the suffering it causes?

Where Does the Blame Lie?

The Bible writer James puts part of the blame for wickedness on humans. He states: “Each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire.  Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn, sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death.” (James 1:14, 15) Individuals may act according to their improper desires. Consider, too, man’s inherited sin. The power of sin can amplify wrong cravings and bring about very bad consequences. (Romans 7:21-23) Indeed, inherited sin has “ruled as king” over mankind, enslaving humans with wicked works that cause great suffering. (Romans 5:21) Moreover, wicked men can influence others to become corrupt.—Proverbs 1:10-16.

The primary cause of wickedness, though, is Satan the Devil. He brought wickedness into the world. Jesus Christ called Satan “the wicked one” and “the ruler of the world,” or unrighteous human society. Mankind in general obeys Satan by heeding his urgings to ignore the good ways of Jehovah God. (Matthew 6:13; John 14:30; 1 John 2:15-17) “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one,” says 1 John 5:19. In fact, Satan and his angels are “misleading the entire inhabited earth,” causing nothing but “woe.” (Revelation 12:9, 12) Thus, the major part of the blame for wickedness has to be placed squarely on Satan the Devil.

Revealing another cause of affliction or suffering

Ecclesiastes 9:11 states: “Time and unforeseen occurrence befall [us] all.” Jesus Christ spoke of a certain calamity involving 18 people who were killed when a tower fell on them. (Luke 13:4) They suffered because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Similar things happen today. For example, a brick may break loose from the top of a high building and strike a pedestrian. Is God to blame? No. It was an unplanned and unforeseen occurrence. The same may often be said when sickness invades a household or sudden death leaves behind orphans and widows.

Clearly, then, God is not responsible for wickedness; nor does he cause suffering. On the contrary, it is Jehovah’s purpose to eliminate wickedness and those who cause it. (Proverbs 2:22) In fact, he will do more than that. The Scriptures declare that God’s purpose through Christ is “to break up the works of the Devil.” (1 John 3: The present system of things—based on greed, hatred, and wicked deeds—will then be gone. God will even “wipe out every tear from [all] eyes,” thus bringing an end to suffering. (Revelation 21:4) But you may ask: ‘Why has God not already done this? Why has he allowed wickedness and suffering to continue until our day?’ A key to the answer is found in the Bible account of Adam and Eve.

A Vital Issue Is Raised

The reason why God has permitted wickedness to exist until our day is related to events that happened early in human history. An incident that took place back then raised an important issue concerning the Creator himself—a question that could not be settled quickly or easily. Let us take a close look at what happened.

Jehovah God created the first man and woman perfect and placed them in Paradise. They were endowed with a gift that distinguished them from animals—the gift of free will. (Genesis 1:28; 2:15, 19) As free moral agents, Adam and Eve could use their intellect to choose to love, serve, and obey their Creator. Or they could select a course of independence from God and deliberately disobey him.

To give Adam and Eve an opportunity to demonstrate their love for him, the true God placed one restriction upon them. He commanded Adam: “From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will positively die.” (Genesis 2:16, 17) To remain in God’s favor, to their own benefit and that of their future family, Adam and Eve would have to refrain from eating the fruit of that one particular tree. Would they?

The Bible tells us what happened. Using a serpent as his mouthpiece, Satan the Devil approached Eve and said: “Is it really so that God said you must not eat from every tree of the garden?” When Eve repeated God’s command, Satan said to her: “You positively will not die. For God knows that in the very day of your eating from it your eyes are bound to be opened and you are bound to be like God, knowing good and bad.” Consequently, the tree seemed so desirable to Eve that “she began taking of its fruit and eating it.” The account continues: “Afterward she gave some also to her husband when with her and he began eating it.” (Genesis 3:1-6) Both Adam and Eve thus misused their free will and sinned by disobeying God.

Do you see the seriousness of what transpired? The Devil contradicted what God had said to Adam. Satan’s words implied that Adam and Eve would not need Jehovah in order to decide what was good and what was bad for them. Satan’s challenge therefore brought into question the right and validity of Jehovah’s rulership over man. The all-important issue that Satan raised, then, was that of the rightfulness of Jehovah’s sovereignty. How did the true God answer the challenge?

The Need for Sufficient Time

Jehovah had the power to destroy the three rebels—Satan, Adam, and Eve. God was unquestionably stronger than they were. But Satan did not question God’s power. Instead, he questioned Jehovah’s right to rule. The issue affected all creatures having free will. They needed to see that the gift of free will must be used properly—within the bounds of physical, moral, and spiritual guidelines from God. Otherwise, harm results, just as surely as injury will occur when a man jumps off the roof of a tall building without regard for the law of gravity. (Galatians 6:7, All intelligent creatures could benefit from observing for themselves the bad fruitage of choosing a course of independence from God. This required time.

The fact that it requires time to settle some issues can be illustrated this way: Suppose the father of one family challenges the father of another to a contest that will prove which man is stronger. That issue could be decided quickly. Strength could be measured by lifting rocks. The father who lifted the heaviest rock would be the stronger man. But suppose the challenge involved which father truly loves his sons and daughters and whether they love him in return. Or what if the challenge raises the question of which father manages his family in the best way? Neither a display of strength nor mere words would be adequate. Sufficient time would have to pass, careful observation would be required, and right conclusions would have to be drawn in order for the issue to be settled.

What the Passing of Time Has Shown

Some 6,000 years have passed since Satan questioned God’s right to rule. What has history revealed? Consider two aspects of Satan’s allegation against God. Satan boldly told Eve: “You positively will not die.” (Genesis 3:4) By saying that Adam and Eve would not die if they partook of the forbidden fruit, Satan was in effect calling Jehovah a liar. A serious charge indeed! If God were not truthful in this matter, how could he be trusted in anything else? However, what has the elapsed time shown?

Adam and Eve became subject to sickness, pain, aging and, finally, death. “All the days of Adam that he lived amounted to nine hundred and thirty years and he died,” states the Bible. (Genesis 3:19; 5:5) And from Adam, this sad legacy has been transmitted to all mankind. (Romans 5:12) The passing of time has proved Satan to be “a liar and the father of the lie” and has shown that Jehovah is “the God of truth.”—John 8:44; Psalm 31:5.

Satan also told Eve: “God knows that in the very day of your eating from [the forbidden tree] your eyes are bound to be opened and you [both Eve and Adam] are bound to be like God, knowing good and bad.” (Genesis 3:5) With those cunning words, Satan presented humans with a sham opportunity to be self-governed. Deceptively, Satan implied that humans would be better off independent of God. Has this proved true?

Throughout the course of history, empires have come and gone. Every conceivable form of human government has been tried. Time and again, however, dreadful things have happened to the human family. “Man has dominated man to his injury,” a Bible writer wisely concluded some 3,000 years ago. (Ecclesiastes 8:9) “It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step,” wrote the prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 10:23) Even scientific and technological achievements of recent years have not negated the truth of these statements. The passage of time has only proved these observations to be true.

What Will You Do?

The time allowed by God has proved Satan wrong on the issue of the rightfulness of Jehovah’s sovereignty. Jehovah God is the absolute Sovereign of the universe. He has the right to rule over his creation, and his way of ruling is the best. Acknowledging this fact, heavenly creatures who have intimately experienced life under God’s rule declare: “You are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.”—Revelation 4:11.

Where do you stand on the question of God’s rulership? Do you agree that God is worthy to rule over you? If you do, you must recognize Jehovah’s sovereignty. You can do this by applying the marvelous truths and counsel found in his Word, the Bible, in every aspect of your life. “God is love,” and his laws and commandments spring from his love for his creatures. (1 John 4: Jehovah does not deprive any of us of what is for our good. You can therefore take to heart the Bible’s admonition: “Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight.”—Proverbs 3:5, 6.

You can choose God’s rulership by studying the Bible and applying in your life what it says.

 

[innocent_beauty]

Kung sinusubok tayo ng Diyos, bakit sasabihin ni St. Paul yung na-mention ni the_witness sa James 1:13 na hindi tayo binibigyan ng trials ni God? Hindi ba parang sobrang mag-co-contradict naman na sasabihin yan sa Bible  na hindi tayo sinusubok ni God tapos biglang sinusubok pala tayo paminsan minsan?

Pero sa mga nabanggit mong Bible verses,  tingingnan ko isa isa pero it looks like totoong may mga pagsubok na dinadaanan ang mga tao, pero wala akong nakita na sinabi mismong direkta na sa Diyos nanggaling ang mga pagsubok o na siya ang nagbigay. More like parang ina-allow lang niya ang mga pagsubok and that it refines a person's character. Pero hindi pa rin ang Diyos ang nagbigay sa kanya. Because I don't want to think that way as well. Ayokong isiping ang Diyos ang nagbibigay ng problema dahil cruel yun and unfair kung galing sa Kanya! Halimbawa, nasunog ang bahay ko, nagka-cancer ako? kagagawan ng Diyos yun? so unfair ha! Bakit ang iba hinde! Bakit ako lang? Anyway, personal opinion ko lang naman.

opo sis yung pong verse sis is hinahayaan ng Diyos na minsan sa ating buhay ay may pagsubok pero hindi mismo sa Diyos galing o binibigay ng Diyos.