Why is it that people use "It's part of God's plan" to explain suffering?

Question

It seems like one of the poorest arguements ever...its horrible. I mean, its God's plan that a baby is born still born, its God's plan that someones Mother lasts months of constant pain before finally dying of bowel cancer. Its disgusting.

Answer 1

As a person who lives with chronic pain, I agree.

People argue that natural disasters and the recovery from them strengthen us, and in a way I suppose they are right. But would any God be so cruel as to completely strip away the very foundations of our lives in order to help us learn from adversity? No, he would not.

And what lesson am I learning from chronic pain? What does a 4 year old cancer patient learn? It's simple, really. Pain hurts, and more than just the person enduring it. It changes the entire family when someone is ill and dealing with disability.

But again, it would be a cruel God, not a loving one, who would do this.

Answer 2

What's disgusting to you is not disgusting to someone else. For example, it's disgusting to me to think that anyone could, say, eat spinach. But lots of people love spinach.

Likewise, lots of people take comfort in thinking that there may be a bigger plan out there - that perhaps "God's plan", which includes suffering, is part of a greater good.

Don't believe that suffering can be a part of greater good? Surgery can cause much suffering - yet it's usually for the greater good. How about pulling out a splinter? Ripping off a band aid? Getting a divorce after a bad marriage? All of these cause suffering that in the long run may be for the best.

Most people who use this phrase believe that God does indeed have a 'greater plan', that we know nothing about (and could know nothing about, since it's a god and all), and that our suffering is not, in fact, in vain, that something good can and will eventually come out of it. These people believe in fate to some extent - they believe a higher power is involved in their - and our - lives, and that "not even a sparrow falls without His knowledge".

I don't find the idea repulsive. I'm not even Christian, nor do I believe in fate. But I understand where they're coming from.

[Edited for spelling. Also to say: I also don't believe suffering is part of anyone's plan, exactly, but I do believe that it is indeed a part of life, a natural one, and that learning to cope with it is simply part of being human.]

Answer 3

Hey. I'm in constant severe pain but I don't blame God for it. If some people believe that to get them through the day, what business is it of yours? Stick your Christian attacks it up your *ss.

Answer 4

John 12:24 - unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone and bears no fruit. Jesus is teaching that suffering and death are part of every human life, and it is only through suffering and death that we obtain the glory of resurrection.

Rom. 5:2-3 - Paul says that more than rejoicing in our hope, we rejoice in our sufferings which produces endurance, character and hope. Through faith, suffering brings about hope in God and, through endurance, salvation.

Rom. 8:17 - Paul says that we are heirs with Christ, but only if we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. Paul is teaching that suffering must be embraced in order to obtain the glory that the Father has bestowed upon Jesus.

Rom. 8:18 - the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. We thus have hope that any sufferings we or others endure, no matter how difficult, will pale in comparison to the life of eternal bliss that awaits us.

Answer 5

I do not know of anyone who when they say "It is part of God's plan" mean that He had infinite choices, and choose to kill the baby or give someone cancer. Rather what they mean is that because of sin, death has power within the earthly realm. Like it or not, people die. But God is able to somehow turn even those experiences around so that He can bring something good out of them.

A good example in the Bible is the story of Joseph. He was beaten by his brother, nearly killed, sold as a slave, falsely imprisoned, and left there without family or friend. Not something that God wanted. He was there because of the sins - of his brother, of the slave traders, of the woman who falsely accused him, and of the friend who abandoned him in prison. But God turned it around, and used Joseph in that position to save the lives of his entire nation. As Joseph himself said "What you (the people who had sinned against him) meant for evil, God meant for good."

When people say that "It is in God's plan", they mean that He can yet redeem the situtation and bring something good out of it.

Answer 6

Because it is "part of God's plan" not because God is punisher but because for some reason which only He knows lets things happen. God foreknowledge everything.

Answer 7

look, His ways are higher than ours, and His thoughts higher than ours. who are we to argue and contend with Him?

and besides, the bad things didnt come from God but the Adversary.

Finally, know that because man first sinned and fell into the world, which was given to satan, the land is cursed for their sake and there're things that happen which shouldnt have happened to anyone.

Answer 8

Disease and health are both from God.

He takes it away to test your faith, and He gives it to whom He wishes to test their faith also.

Without the existence of illnesses, do you think people would learn to be thankful for good health?

Without something to compare to, nothing has meaning on earth. Thus, good has no meaning without evil, health has no meaning without illness. Riches have no meaning without poorness.

Wisdom is knowing to accept them both as they come.

Answer 9

Never forget that god is a jealous vengeful god... it says so in the first commandment:

for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me (Exodus 20 / Deuteronomy 5)

Talk about suffering!

Answer 10

sure, and when needed, they turn around and say "that's free will". It's just weaseling. Bah.