What do people not get about this -- Why God allows suffering?

Question

I always see people say "if there is a God then why is there suffering?" I mean, the way I see it, God rewards people for their suffering in this world or in the after-life. What if everyone got what they wanted? It'd be a pretty pointless existence wouldn't it? Its not like that, because this life is a TEST.. for the next world. So why do people still ask this question?

I noticed a lot of people are saying that we cause our own suffering? Not true. What of an orphan child born in Chechnya? Or a good, pious villager stuck in a famine in Africa?

Answer 1

Why does God permit suffering?

Who really is to blame for it?

Humans are to blame for much of the suffering. They fight wars, commit crimes, pollute the environment, often carry on business in a manner motivated by greed rather than concern for their fellowman, and sometimes indulge in habits that they know can be harmful to their health. When they do these things, they hurt others and themselves. Should it be expected that humans would be immune to the consequences of what they do? Is it reasonable to blame God for these things that humans themselves do?

Satan and his demons also share responsibility. The Bible discloses that much suffering is because of the influence of wicked spirits. The suffering for which so many people blame God does not come from him at all.

How did suffering get started? Examination of the causes focuses attention on our first human parents, Adam and Eve. Jehovah God created them perfect and put them in paradise surroundings. If they had obeyed God, they would never have got sick or died. They could have enjoyed perfect human life forever. Suffering was not part of Jehovah’s purpose for mankind. But Jehovah clearly told Adam that continued enjoyment of what He had given them depended on obedience.

Obviously, they had to breathe, eat, drink, and sleep in order to continue living. And they had to keep God’s moral requirements in order to enjoy life fully and to be favored with such life forever. But they chose to go their own way, to set their own standards of good and bad, and thus they turned away from God, the Life-Giver. (Gen. 2:16, 17; 3:1-6) Sin led to death. It was as sinners that Adam and Eve produced children, and they could not pass on to their children what they no longer had. All were born in sin, with inclinations toward wrongdoing, weaknesses that could lead to illness, a sinful inheritance that would eventually result in death. Because everyone on earth today was born in sin, all of us experience suffering in various ways..

Ecclesiastes 9:11 says that “time and unforeseen occurrence” also have a bearing on what happens to us. We may get hurt, not because the Devil directly causes it or because any human does it, but because by chance we are in a place at the wrong moment.


Jesus performed many miracles to demonstrate that he was the Messiah. He even raised the dead. Those works attracted the crowds, but Jesus did not come to earth merely to do a social work. He came to bear witness to the truth. He knew that any material benefits he provided were temporary. Even the resurrected ones would die again. Only by bearing witness to the truth could he help some to gain everlasting life. (Luke 18:28-30) Today, some individuals try to imitate Jesus’ good works by opening hospitals or performing other services among the world’s poor. In some cases, they do this at great personal cost, and their sincerity is commendable; but any relief they supply is temporary at best. Only the Kingdom will bring permanent relief. Hence, Jehovah’s Witnesses concentrate, as Jesus did, on bearing witness to the truth about that Kingdom.

Answer 2

Why would God *want* suffering? Just to give our existence a point, a reason? So that we could be hurt here, but then be happy later? Why not just skip the suffering part?

No, you've given the wrong answer. Yes, God rewards people for their suffering, but He doesn't allow it just so that we can be happy later. The truth of the matter is, God gives us all the means by which to be completely happy and not suffer -- free will. But it is *our* fault that people suffer, because we are the ones choosing to sin.

If God is testing us, as you say, why wouldn't He test us all equally? Why let some of us be born into a fairly decent middle class life, while others are born in the jungles of Africa, under the regime of militant governments? Is that fair? No! God let us all be born -- now it is our turn to help start the next new life, a child, in a better world! It is by free will that people have chosen to become a part of a corruption -- now we must use our free will to fight it, and give the oppressed the same opportunity that we have received.

Answer 3

You seem to believe that *your* answer to that question is so obvious that you can't understand why people even ask. Believe it or not, other people have other opinions and don't see things the same way as you. Unless you have access to some source of secret knowledge that the rest of us don't, you have to accept that the 'Life is a test' view is just one among many. What if in the end suffering is just an illusion? What if we suffer for the sins of past lives? What if there is no God and life is just tough and that's it?

Answer 4

Well, that's your opinion, but I respectfully disagree.

This is my belief:

We are here so that God can experience God's self.

God is absolute. In this state there are no contradictions and no relativity. Everything is constant, absolute.

God knows what God is, but the knowing of a thing and the experiencing of it are two entirely different things. For example you know what ice cream is, but experiencing the taste of it is different (and SO much better) than just intellectually knowing that it is frozen cream and sugar.

God created life as we know it so that God could experience God's self in the world of relativity through us, who are each an individuation of the whole.

God does not judge us for our actions...after this physical incarnation ends we will return to the spiritual dimension and decide if we want to stay or experience another physical incarnation. This is how we serve God.

So live life in love, joy and gratitude, without worry, guilt or fear and fully appreciate every experience in your existence.

Answer 5

I agree with you. It is a test of sorts to see how you react and respond ... to see if you are worthy of Gods reward. I know there have been certain times in my life that I have felt God's presence and realized that my suffering was a test. Good question ... hope you get the answers you're seeking.

Answer 6

Good point. Many people feel that God should be as WE want it to be, and not as it is. It would be like saying, "If there is a God, than why are we not all professional atheletes and rich?". Suffering is a part of nature and only the EGO hates it.

Answer 7

I, personally, believe in many gods, and contrary to popular belief they have NOTHING to do with happiness or sadness. suffering is caused by humans, bacteria, and other things that are earthly and bodily. They only reward you for being good, and punish you for being evil. they cleanse you of evil, then take you to a holding place until reincarnation. You live on earth to learn and become a wiser being. THE GOD OR GODS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EVIL IN HUMANS!!!!! Get it through your thick heads....sheesh!

Answer 8

Well, my teacher taught me that life is a gift, and that suffering is caused by people using their free will to cause it.
That throws your theory out the window, eh?

Answer 9

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Disney says ""Wishing will make it so""

These are the religions of many who ask questions like that.

Answer 10

God blesses our spirit to endure adversity. We all suffer for something.

We must continue to teach Gods word...........