Does God have a purpose in allowing Christians to suffer?

Question

Its been said there are two categories of suffering. Does the Bible explain what they are? One might be largely unnecessary because it is the result of problems we bring on ourselves.

Would you say one area is: for righteousness' sake and brings us nearer the Kingdom of God.;

Answer 1

Repeat post of mine:

This question has to do with why God permits suffering and all the problems that plague society.

First, you cannot blame God for everything that happens. If you do you don't understand the vital issue that all of us on this planet are a part of.

It has to do with the Universal Sovereignty of Almighty God.

I will cite a few paragraphs from an excellent publication I have.
However, it is interesting that when people ask their preacher or whatever they get a blank look, then maybe a "God needed another angel" answer. Isn't that true? It is also commented on in the opening paragraph.
Try it once and then consider the following. Please note that I can't post the entire chapter here, but if you would like me to send it in a .doc for you I would be happy too. Email be from yahoo answers first with the email you want to use.
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People of various religions have gone to their religious leaders and teachers to ask why there is so much suffering. Often, the response is that suffering is God’s will and that he long ago determined everything that would ever happen, including tragic events. Many are told that God’s ways are mysterious or that he brings death upon people—even children—so that he can have them in heaven with him. As you have learned, though, Jehovah God never causes what is bad. The Bible says: “Far be it from the true God to act wickedly, and the Almighty to act unjustly!”—Job 34:10.

Do you know why people make the mistake of blaming God for all the suffering in the world? In many cases, they blame Almighty God because they think that he is the real ruler of this world. They do not know a simple but important truth that the Bible teaches. You learned that truth in Chapter 3 of this book. The real ruler of this world is Satan the Devil.

The Bible clearly states: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) When you think about it, does that not make sense? This world reflects the personality of the invisible spirit creature who is “misleading the entire inhabited earth.” (Revelation 12:9) Satan is hateful, deceptive, and cruel. So the world, under his influence, is full of hatred, deceit, and cruelty. That is one reason why there is so much suffering.

A second reason why there is so much suffering is that, as discussed in Chapter 3, mankind has been imperfect and sinful ever since the rebellion in the garden of Eden. Sinful humans tend to struggle for dominance, and this results in wars, oppression, and suffering. (Ecclesiastes 4:1; 8:9) A third reason for suffering is “time and unforeseen occurrence.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) In a world without Jehovah as a protective Ruler, people may suffer because they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It is comforting for us to know that God does not cause suffering. He is not responsible for the wars, the crimes, the oppression, or even the natural disasters that cause people to suffer. Still, we need to know, Why does Jehovah allow all this suffering? If he is the Almighty, he has the power to stop it. Why, then, does he hold back? The loving God that we have come to know must have a good reason.—1 John 4:8.

A VITAL ISSUE IS RAISED
To find out why God allows suffering, we need to think back to the time when suffering began. When Satan led Adam and Eve into disobeying Jehovah, an important question was raised. Satan did not call into question Jehovah’s power. Even Satan knows that there is no limit to Jehovah’s power. Rather, Satan questioned Jehovah’s right to rule. By calling God a liar who withholds good from his subjects, Satan charged that Jehovah is a bad ruler. (Genesis 3:2-5) Satan implied that mankind would be better off without God’s rulership. This was an attack on Jehovah’s sovereignty, his right to rule.

Adam and Eve rebelled against Jehovah. In effect, they said: “We do not need Jehovah as our Ruler. We can decide for ourselves what is right and what is wrong.” How could Jehovah settle that issue? How could he teach all intelligent creatures that the rebels were wrong and that his way truly is best? Someone might say that God should simply have destroyed the rebels and made a fresh start. But Jehovah had stated his purpose to fill the earth with the offspring of Adam and Eve, and he wanted them to live in an earthly paradise. (Genesis 1:28) Jehovah always fulfills his purposes. (Isaiah 55:10, 11) Besides that, getting rid of the rebels in Eden would not have answered the question that had been raised regarding Jehovah’s right to rule.

Let us consider an illustration. Imagine that a teacher is telling his students how to solve a difficult problem. A clever but rebellious student claims that the teacher’s way of solving the problem is wrong. Implying that the teacher is not capable, this rebel insists that he knows a much better way to solve the problem. Some students think that he is right, and they also become rebellious. What should the teacher do? If he throws the rebels out of the class, what will be the effect on the other students? Will they not believe that their fellow student and those who joined him are right? All the other students in the class might lose respect for the teacher, thinking that he is afraid of being proved wrong. But suppose that the teacher allows the rebel to show the class how he would solve the problem.

Jehovah has done something similar to what the teacher does. Remember that the rebels in Eden were not the only ones involved. Millions of angels were watching. (Job 38:7; Daniel 7:10) How Jehovah 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.

The teacher in our illustration knows that the rebel 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 the teacher is the only one qualified to lead the class. They will understand why the teacher thereafter removes any rebels from the class. Similarly, Jehovah knows that all honesthearted humans and angels will benefit from seeing that Satan and his fellow rebels have failed and that humans cannot govern themselves. Like Jeremiah of old, they will learn this vital truth: “I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”—Jeremiah 10:23.

WHY SO LONG?
Why, though, has Jehovah allowed suffering to go on for so long? And why does he not prevent bad things from happening? Well, consider two things that the teacher in our illustration would not do. First, he would not stop the rebel student from presenting his case. Second, the teacher would not help the rebel to make his case. Similarly, consider two things that Jehovah has determined not to do. First, he has not stopped Satan and those who side with him from trying to prove that they are right. Allowing time to pass has thus been necessary. In the thousands of years of human history, mankind has been able to try every form of self-rule, or human government. Mankind has made some advances in science and other fields, but injustice, poverty, crime, and war have grown ever worse. Human rule has now been shown to be a failure.

Second, Jehovah has not helped Satan to rule this world. If God were to prevent horrible crimes, for instance, would he not, in effect, be supporting the case of the rebels? Would God not be making people think that perhaps humans can govern themselves without disastrous results? If Jehovah were to act in that way, he would become party to a lie. However, “it is impossible for God to lie.”—Hebrews 6:18.

What, though, about all the harm that has been done during the long rebellion against God? We do well to remember that Jehovah is almighty. Therefore, he can and will undo the effects of mankind’s suffering. As we have already learned, the ruining of our planet will be undone by the turning of the earth into Paradise. The effects of sin will be removed through faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, and the effects of death will be reversed by means of the resurrection. God will thus use Jesus “to break up the works of the Devil.” (1 John 3:8) Jehovah will bring all of this about at just the right time. We can be glad that he has not acted sooner, for his patience has given us the opportunity to learn the truth and to serve him. (2 Peter 3:9, 10) Meanwhile, God has been actively seeking sincere worshipers and helping them to endure any suffering that may come upon them in this troubled world.—John 4:23; 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Some might wonder, Could all this suffering have been prevented if God had created Adam and Eve in such a way that they could not rebel? To answer that question, you need to remember a precious gift that Jehovah has given you.

Answer 2

If there are 2 categories of suffering, they probably are suffering because you have done right and suffering because you have done wrong.
God does have a purpose for allowing Christians to suffer. One is that we live in an evil world that has rejected God and if the world is hostile towards Him, they will be hostile towards us, but God still allows this because of free will. He is letting evil run it's course so that people will see how horrible it is and how it makes the innocent suffer.
Also, sometimes suffering can be a great blessing to Christians because it builds character and helps us strengthen our faith.

Answer 3

You need to ask and answer questions from the spiritual point of view instead of the ungodly view point. In order to do this it is necessary to get born again and spend years studying the Bible, which includes hearing anointed spirit-filled teachers, and preachers, and reading books by spirit-filled authors, worshipping God, and many other important god-fearing activities. The wicked turn the truth upside down, so as long as you are listening to them, you will not get the truth. Proverbs 9:10 (New American Standard Bible) 10The (A)fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Cross references: A.Proverbs 9:10 : Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; Prov 1:7

Answer 4

For those who endure any trials or suffering and cling to God and remain faithful to Him they always come out wiser and stronger and rewarded. They grow and they are better prepared for other challenges that lie ahead. A lot of it is brought upon ourselves but not always. Check out Job in the Bible. God allowed Satan to test him because He knew that Job was faithful. Job lost absolutely everything but never gave up his faith in God. The Bible says that everything he lost was restored to him and he was even wealthier and more respected than before. The Bible refers to this a the refiners fire. We are placed in the fire so to speak to burn away the impurities. The process is painful but necessary and we come out as shining gold.

Answer 5

Every race ,creed and color goes through suffering it is the curse of the fallen creation.Jesus said "God causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust alike"
In other words "Stuff Happens"...it isn't really Karma or any crap like that ,it just happens.It is what you do about it when it does happen,that makes or breaks you.Are you gonna mope and whine like Job? Or are you gonna stand up and spit in it's face and push on?

Answer 6

yes, and no...

part of our suffering is brought on by ''the curse'' or ''the fall'' way back when mankind sinned against God, ''cursed is the ground b/c of you, all your days you shall toil and work the fields...'' and ''your pain in childbearing will be greatly increased.'' i believe that before that happened, life was literally perfect.

now, as for God being able to work out His will through the curse that mankind has brought upon himself, yes, i believe He is able.

there's an old analogy of a silversmith: a lady once went to a silversmith's shop and watched him refining it in the furnace. he explained to her ''first, i have to let the fire burn up all the impurities in it, so i have only silver left over. but if i leave it in there too long, it will ruin the silver.'' a few moments passed and she asked ''how do you know when it's been in the furnace long enough?'' he answered ''when i can see my reflection in it.''

Answer 7

Unnecessary?
If God's will is for us to suffer, then so shall it be.

At least we know about Jesus.

IMO - We have it loads better than our early Christian friends who were used as night lights for Nero or the Jews/Israelites who were carried off in captivity to Babylon.

Answer 8

Read the story of Job, it is a test of faith at times, and at other times it is satan. God and Jesus don't ring from the sky and kiss your boo boo everytime you fall. God is here for the next life. He is here for this one but he expects you to be able to function and keep your faith. Go in Christ

Answer 9

As god only exists in the minds of individuals, it is up to you to decide whether there is a purpose or not.

Answer 10

Sometimes I feel that only God knows.