where is god when people suffer?

Question

A kid from a rich family gets all the comforts in life , grows up and lives to a ripe old age. A kid from the slums of india, pakistan or africa is born in the slum , suffers and dies young.

English writer samuel beckett once asked this question,

WHERE IS GOD WHEN LIFE IS NOT FAIR AND WHEN PEOPLE SUFFER?

comments?

ex muslim turned atheist here

Answer 1

God allows suffering in the world for many reasons. We cannot understand all the reasons for these things, for an infinite God is, after all, knowable only in a limited sense by our finite minds. Nevertheless, we can determine some of the reasons why God would allow suffering.

First suffering can be a test of faith such as described in

1Pe 1:7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Second, suffering can be a sanctifying experience. Joseph saw how an apparent evil towards him was meant for a greater good by God:

Gen 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Third, suffering could be a chastisement as the result of sin in a person’s life. Chastisement does not mean complete and total rejection by God, only that our souls may be cleansed from the malady of sin. Paul spoke of this chastisement:

1Co 11:29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
1Co 11:30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
1Co 11:31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Yet, not all illnesses or sickness is the result of sin. Christ clearly said as much:

Joh 9:1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Jesus did not imply that the man or his parents had not sinned. He meant that the man’s blindness was not a direct result of sin in their lives. God had allowed this man to be born blind in order that the man might become a means of displaying the mighty works of God. Before the man was born, the Lord Jesus knew He would give sight to those blind eyes.

Fourth, suffering can sometimes be considered a means by which we display the sympathy of Christ in a practical manner, thus proving our faith through works. The Apostle Paul notes:

Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

The afflictions endured by Paul in his flesh were for the sake of Christ's body, namely, the church. The sufferings of non-believing people are, in one sense, purposeless. There is no high dignity attached to these sufferings. They are only a foretaste of the torment of hell to be endured forever. But the suffering of the believer is not the same. When believers suffer for Christ, Christ in a very real way suffers with them.

Fifth, suffering can be a means by which we are tempered (strengthened) for the eventualities to come. Christ, when speaking to Peter of his eventual death stated:

Joh 21:18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.

Like the old saying, “what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”, suffering can build us up so that we are better prepared for the future and its travails.

Sixth, suffering can be used as a witness to others of God’s unmerited grace. Our attitude towards an illness, accident, etc. and our reception of the same speak volumes when our spoken testimony is rejected.

Seventh, suffering is sometimes a means of weaning us from the things of this world to cause us to draw nearer to God. Suffering should be a means of educating us to the prospect of heaven. This earthly world is not the home of the believer. We are pilgrims and strangers whose citizenship is in another place. Our minds should be focused on things invisible and not in the temporal things of this life.

We must remember that with the fall of mankind in Eden sin entered the world, corrupting earth and all its inhabitants. Thus we have sin directly causing suffering when sinful people commit sinful acts. We have sin causing suffering indirectly by the deteriorating earth and all its natural disasters.

Some people argue that since God made everything, He made evil too. Let’s consider this. An omnipotent God could not have created a morally free creature incapable of choosing evil. Thus, created beings could choose evil if they wanted to. Yet, that does not mean God made evil. Yes, God is the author of every *thing* in the created universe and when he created the first man and woman as morally free agents, the potential for them to sin existed.

But evil is not a *thing* or a substance; it is a *privation* or *lack* in things, e.g., blindness is lack of sight, pain is lack of health, hate or murder is lack of love. Therefore God did not create evil.

Christ told us that we would suffer in this world:
Joh 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

But why doesn’t God just stop evil actions that cause innocent people to suffer?

Jer 12:1 Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
Jer 12:2 You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart.

Why doesn’t God intervene to stop evil if He is all-loving and all-powerful? Why doesn’t He stop the drunk driver’s car that is going to crash into a bus? Why doesn’t He deflect the murderer’s bullets? The person asking doesn’t really want God to stop all their evil actions. They don’t want to be invisibly gagged every time they’re about to say something hurtful; they don’t want to stub their toe when they try to kick the dog. They just think it would be good if God stopped certain evil acts or just the evil acts of others. But that would make life impossible. There would be no freedoms, no regularity and no personal responsibility.

Having said that, never forget that God is not indifferent to our sufferings. God restrains sin and sinners so that we can appreciate mercy and unmerited grace in light of sin. If He did not our streets would be running with blood drawn by the lost, hell bound, and sin bent.

Answer 2

What should God do?

When some tragedy strikes, people ask "Where was God?" I ask "What precisely did you expect God to do? If you were in His place, what would you do?" If you would use your power to stop evil, would you punish it or prevent it? Either choice presents you with problems.

One reason God doesn't wipe out all evil immediately is that the alternative would be worse. This becomes evident by asking a simple question: If God heard your prayer to eliminate evil and destroyed it all at midnight tonight, where would you be at 12:01?

The discomfiting reality is that evil deeds can never be isolated from the evil doer. Our prints are on the smoking gun. Each one of us is guilty in some capacity, and we know it.

That's the problem. Any judicial action God would take today would pin us all under the gavel. When God wipes out evil, He's going to do a complete job. C. S. Lewis soberly observed, "I wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realize what it will be like when He does....When the author walks on the stage the play is over."

No, God hasn't banished evil from His kingdom--yet. The Bible describes a time when God will wipe away every tear and repair the effects of evil on the world. Men will no longer endure the ravages of wickedness or be victimized by evil seemingly out of control. And no one will ever ask the question, "Where was God?"

Until then, God has chosen a different strategy, a better plan, one that's moral on a higher level. It's a plan that ultimately deals with evil, but allows room for mercy as well. It's called forgiveness.

And that’s what God is doing.

Answer 3

Why so much suffering? Does God care or not? Does God cause suffering for humans?

Many asks these questions thinking that God is behind suffering, wondering why he does not intervene.

Let us look back from the beginning of it all. When Satan told Eve that she will not die from eating the forbidden fruit and that she will be like God knowing what is good and bad, Satan was implying that God is hiding something good from humans, in a way, that he is not fit to rule over man, that man is better without God,further that he (Satan) can rule them better. Satan questioned God's sovereignty. God could have then and there destroyed Satan, even Adam and Eve and start anew, but there were billions of angels watching, how would God answer the question Satan raised?

In a way, the situation could be illustrated like this: 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.

God has done something similar, he has allowed Satan to prove his case. 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 God 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.

If you think of it, the 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.

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)

Answer 4

God exists within silence. It is people that cause suffering.

I agree with your point, rich grow up with all opportunities and die having everything on earth. While the poor live poor and die poor.

I have been poor all my life .

Yet , too, what matters most is knowing that in the end, when one dies, one will either have more knowledge of love or not.

To forgive others for there mean actions, is a lesson that will bring a person to god's level of understanding about god.

God knows there is no suffering , that the spirit lives on and heals when one dies.

there is no worry .

Jesus found it hard to be here, as do most of us, yet when one sits out of body, THEN do you know why God's centre conciousness exists outside this welm.

You and other s have done so too. Chosen not to come back to earth and just remain in the spirit world.

It hurts to be here.

so why come here? And why worry about those you love, when you KNOW they will return to heaven.

Answer 5

He said it correctly. Life is not fair. Where is God when life is not fair and when people suffer? He is here for those who believe and trust Him.

You are mistaken. Rich people don't escape problems in this world. God has guided Christians to be the hands and feet of Jesus for those who need help. Rich and poor.

The problems in this world are brought on because of Adam's disobedience to God and man's inhereted sin nature because of that disobedience. We must all suffer because of sin, disease and death.

This is why Jesus has come to die for our sins, heal our diseases and give us etenal life.

Acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior and repentance which means to turn away from our sins, is what God requires for our salvation.

So you see, you too can become the hands and feet of Jesus to help others and Samuel Beckett could have done so also.

Answer 6

Our Heavenly Father loves all of His children. He provided this earth life as an opportunity to grow and develop to be more like Him. Suffering is allowed because it helps us to understand what happens when people make bad decisions or it allows us to gain empathy or many other reasons.

When we return to live with Him, we will understand how to be happy in a far more meaningful way than just having Him tell us.

The link below has a good video about this.

Answer 7

The Buddha told us, "Human life is suffering". We all need to understand and recognize the meaning of this. The Buddha also said, "The human body is an illness, a carbuncle, and an ulcer, and this is what we all experience." We all experience the conditions of sickness and suffering. But all human and sentient beings cannot avoid illness and suffering. The only differences are less suffering, or more suffering, less sickness, or more sickness!

If we can reduce our suffering, then of course, we will feel much better. Please try not to compare yourselves with others, hoping for happiness without suffering, and health without sickness. This will only increase your unnecessary suffering. You must understand that all beings in this world are not able to avoid suffering. We always have some problems. The only way to solve these problems is by accepting them, and letting them go. This is the only way of going beyond life and death, and towards a state without suffering and illness!

http://www.buddhanet.net/

Answer 8

God is there, suffering entered the world on the heels of original sin. and the said suffering would be less if we all obeyed God, but as a whole we do not, we instead choose to obey our own sinful natures and other people. when we suffer that is when we should seek God and the comfort that He offers. in essence a test of our faith. When ever a person of faith suffers, who knows how that will effect someone that witnessed this suffering, like Stephan, when he was stoned to death, and Saul whom witnessed this event and later became Paul.

Answer 9

For whatever reason God chose to make man as He is—limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death - He had the honesty and courage to take His own medicine. Whatever game He is playing with His creation, He has kept His own rules and played fair. He can exact nothing from man that He has not exacted from Himself. He has Himself gone through the whole of human experience, from the trivial irritations of family life and the cramping restrictions of hard work and lack of money to the worst horrors of pain and humiliation, defeat, despair, and death. When He was a man, He played the man. He was born in poverty and died in disgrace and thought it well worthwhile.

Answer 10

God does not cause the suffering. Most suffering is caused by mankind itself. As to where God is...he is out their pushing one of his children to do something about it.

Fight the wars for those who are being persecuted..feed the hungry...heal the sick...gave a homeless person a home...help clean up after a tornado or a hurricane or an earthquake...

Every year millions of small but important random acts of kindness and love are poured out on those who are suffering...That is where God is. Is that where you are also?

Answer 11

Right there among them

God takes no pleasure in their suffering

Man made the slum not God