If there is a god, why is there suffering?

Question

Ok, im 15. I have read the bible thoroughly and that is what I have based my atheists beliefs on!
My mum has MS (multiple sclerosis) which affects mobility, balance and coordination. It is incurable and terminal. She suffers every day of her life with basic things; walking, lifting, sitting etc. I want to know what she has done to deserve this because in my eyes, on a practical and moral basis, watching my beautiful mum suffer pain every day is unbearable and very unfair. If God created suffering for a reason, what is that reason?

Here are some possible reasons i have come up with:
-'If there wasn't suffering, one wouldn't feel true happiness.' This seems logical but for me, as long as my mum lives with MS, i will feel some for of sadness and any happiness i fell isn't true happiness because i will always have my mums suffering at the back of my mind.

- 'Suffering punishes people who deserve it" My mum has never murdered, hated, stole, cheated etc. I her crime is being an Atheist, you christians are sick minded to make someone innocent go through what she goes through.

Does God like to see people suffer? If God creates suffering to establish you, why doesn't he put it on the people who deserve it?

Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Answer 1

There is suffering because there is a very evil person causing it, his name is Satan the Devil and Revelation the 12th chapter reveals that Satan has been cast to the vicinity of the earth and is causing human suffering!



A better question would be, why has God allowed it? To get the answer to that question, we have to study the word of God. There we find satisfying answers to this very important issue. Notice what is said in the book, What Does the Bible Really Teach published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society:





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.





7 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.



8 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.



9. Why can we be sure that Jehovah has a good reason for allowing suffering to continue?

9 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

10. What did Satan call into question, and how?

10 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.



11. Why did Jehovah not just destroy the rebels in Eden?

11 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.





12 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. He has allowed Satan to rule and for humans to govern themselves to prove that only he has the right to "teach the class" or to rule mankind. Soon he will act to restore perfect life to mankind and he will end all suffering! Your mom and all humans right now have an opportunity to benefit from this. To find out how, go to jw.org

Answer 2

Suzie,



I would suggest you move toward spending time with someone walking close to the Lord. A single post here probably won’t be satisfactory. God has your answer, don’t move away from the one who can help you…I would suggest. It is great that you’ve gotten into God’s word. Suffering for a little while may be referring to time here. If you haven’t, I would suggest to take in consideration the verses before and after 10. A single verse can be incomplete often.



I think suffering can establish you. It does say “in Christ” though, Do you know what this means? If you claim Atheism, is this an option?



Below is link to a teaching. I would suggest if you watch it that you compare it to the word you’ve read (does it line up). It won’t have all your answer yet it may have some. Did you read the Holy Bible…or was it something else?



Suffering comes through poor choices. Sin can affect others too. Satan, Adam, myself, any one of us. Doing something God has asked us not to affects more than ourselves. God does allow suffering. He also has a remedy/is restoring what was. Even a body w/o decay.



You have read and seen how He works. As you read, did you notice He doesn't always do what we would? Can you trust His way?



Please contact me if I could offer more.



Edit: The first 9ish minutes is congregational.

Answer 3

It is possible that he is a God that creates, however, does not interfere with what has been created and allows the world to work in it's own way. As people learn to find their way to live and develop, there will be suffering and struggling. Through the pain and suffering, we more appreciate the things we do have and the things we went through the struggling to get. Through struggle, we advance as a society and grow as people.

Answer 4

You don't live with the MS your mother does, you sound like a victim when you say you will always feel some sadness for her and any happiness wont be true. Get over yourself.

Take a walk around a children's cancer ward and then see what happiness really is. You are angry because your mother suffers, I too was angry as I watched both my father and my mother die, my father had cancer and my mother Parkinson's disease. Did they ask for this, no, they just accepted it. I swore that every day I saw them wither away I would make them laugh, and I did.

You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and get on with your life, you dont know how long your mother has on this earth so instead of questioning why, get on and cope with things as they are or you will never know true happiness.

Things on earth are sent to try us, you sound like you have given up already.

Answer 5

God said "If they hated you know that they hated me first!" It is the same with suffering. God knows' you pain Because people have made God suffer. Not just in the body of Jesus. And read Job. It was the devil that caused the suffering and not God. Put the blame where the blame should be. Not where you want it to be!

Answer 6

Suffering is man made and is due to egotisic pursuits. This is based off ignorance (not knowing), which is another word for sin. Adam and Eve at from the Tree of Knowledge which is a sin. Knowledge only begets more knowledge and implies the degree of what one doesnt know. All Knowledge belongs to God and cannot be known by man. It is until we surrender all knowledge to God that we truely realize Him and are free of sin, like Jesus Christ, who was also without ego.

Answer 7

I'm sorry about your mother and everything you've been through but even people that have been and are still going through worse don't blame God for their suffering because they know it's not His fault.

Instead they keep thanking God day in and day out that they are blessed with what they do have - however small it maybe - because the Bible clearly states that earthly possessions are worth very little and that he who suffers now and embraces what they do have will be rewarded in heaven.



Believe it or not your mother is blessed with many things other people don't have.

Answer 8

So sorry to hear about your mom. She is lucky to have a caring daughter.



You probably know much about this illness, but I would like to suggest you to read these articles:

Living With Multiple Sclerosis - What it is? How to live with it? How to manage it? http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102003844

Living Successfully With Your Ailment—How? http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102001043

You might find some good suggestions, what might help both of you.



And here's a great article about why God permits suffering:

Comfort for Those Who Suffer http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2003001

Young People Ask . . . Why Does God Let Us Suffer? http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102004204

Answer 9

If we assume God exists and is all-powerful or at least powerful enough to stop suffering, then he is either indifferent to suffering or approves of it for some reason, or there is some hidden purpose to human suffering which supercedes the need to stop it.



All three options negate any need to worship God: he is either an asshole or an incompetent.

Answer 10

If all is to be explored by consciousness, then the action of participation is divine.

As to explore all possible outcomes within any system, all the possible relationships must exist.



This life is but a reflection of a small part of it all.

Maybe consciouness is exploring the abstract of emotion.

Answer 11

There is no god.

And today i just found out my own theory has EVIDENCE.

so here is the new REAL history.



BREAKING NEWS :D I did it :D i unlocked the past,



Around 100,000 years ago people tried to leave Egypt, they died, they could not survive in those areas in those conditions.

Sometime between 100,000 Years and 5,000 Years Neanderthals led Egyptians to Israel. Eventually sumerians began and told the tales



God is nothing more than a story told to explain when the Neanderthals came knocking.

It explains your flood, it explains why the ideas in exodus, it explains the ideas of genesis, it explains the connection with stars.



And looks like I WAS RIGHT. there was hints through history, and now i have the evidence.



Sorry religious people, check right back at my early posts, its exactly what i was saying, its also exactly what evidence i was looking for., You are wrong, we atheists are right all along.

Answer 12

Whether there is a god or not, i doubt anyone will ever know for sure, but if there is one, it's said that everything is down to free will and nature. People become ill, it's tough but that's life.

Answer 13

Good question. It is made much simpler when you consider that there probably isn't a good. When you think like this it's much simpler to understand. The universe is unfeeling. Nature may seem crule but that is because life is tough!! Humans have afforded ourselves many luxuries and comforts. We share this planet spinnnig round a burning ball of gas we call our Sun so enjoy your time with those you love and have as much fun as possible!!

Answer 14

because there is no god! if there was he wouldn't want to see your mum suffer, multiple sclerosis is very unlucky and my heart goes out to your and your mum, instead of wondering why she has to suffer, just enjoy everyday as much as possible and keep smiling! :D good luck x

Answer 15

We are born with a human nature deprived of original holiness and justice.

Answer 16

Throw the bible in the fire and get yourself a girly mag or something

Answer 17

The Problem of Evil:

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/evil/



The Problem of Evil - Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?



---



Honestly, if there really is a benevolent being out there, and it's omniscient and omnipotent, it should be held accountable for its inaction.

Answer 18

This question can only legitimately be asked if you can conclusively say that suffering is ungodly.

Answer 19

All gods are myths, evolution proves it.

Answer 20

There is suffering because Eve couldn't follow one simple commandment: "Don't eat from that tree!"

Answer 21

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY5LZopqyio

Answer 22

1.there is god

2.Who said there are no obstacles in life that we need to solve?

Answer 23

A world without suffering would be monotonous.

Answer 24

.



Tweety pie, there is suffering because we believe Satan.



.

Answer 25

Oh sweetie, there is no God!



See, doesn't it all make sense now :-)

Answer 26

The sin of our first parents (Adam and Eve) brought about the fallen state of mankind. Humans are sinful because of their iniquity, sins bring curses and both iniquity and curses pass down the generations if they are not cleansed by the blood of Christ. Children are born with defects and suffer unfortunate circumstances because of curses due to their ancestors’ unrepented sins. Hereditary illness is an example of a curse. In the future, God will make a new Heaven and earth, and there will be no more suffering, sickness, sin, evil, old age or death. God’s people (those who accept His Son Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord) will joyfully and peacefully live in this new and perfect earth, with the Lord Jesus Christ as their King forever. See chapter 21 of the Book of Revelation.



Almighty God was, is and will always be triune (one God in three persons, not three gods). God is comprised of the Father, the Son (Lord Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Triune Godhead has a different role. There is only one God (Isaiah 43:10-11; 44:6,8; 45:21-22; 46:9; John 17:3; 1 John 5:20-21). The Father is God (1 Peter 1:2; Philippians 2:11), the Lord Jesus Christ is God (Matthew 1:23; John 1:1; 20:28; Hebrews 1:8; Hebrews 13:8; Revelation 1:7-8; 2 Peter 1:1; Titus 2:13) and the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4; Acts 28:25-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 3:17).



Without God, man’s spirit is unilluminated. This illumination happens at the time one’s spirit is united to the Holy Spirit (which happens only after one has accepted Christ as their Saviour). The Light went out of the spirit after the fall of man. Man had lost communion with God. Christ, the second person of the Triune Godhead made the sacrifice for our sins so the Light could be lit in the spirits of all. There is no redemption or unity to God apart from receiving Christ as one’s Saviour and Lord. The infilling of the Holy Spirit was possible only after Christ’s sacrifice. Before the death of Christ, the Holy Spirit only fell on persons who worshiped and served the true God (Judges 15:14; Ezekiel 11:5). Hebrews 9:6-8 (KJV) tells us that unity to God “the way into the Holiest of all” was also possible only after Christ’s sacrifice which brought an end to the Old Covenant. Christ made the sacrifice for our sins as the spotless lamb (1 Peter 1:9) and took the place of the Jewish high priest and became our eternal High Priest (Hebrews 6:20). The Book of Hebrews explains how the Old Covenant was replaced by the New Covenant.



The blood of Christ was shed so our sins could be paid for and we could have direct unity to God. The Holy Spirit leads us to remain focused on God so we can grow spiritually. God the Father lives within believers (John 14:23), God the Holy Spirit lives within believers (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and God the Son also lives within believers (2 Corinthians 13:5, Galatians 2:20). Because Christ lives in us, we are a new being, having our old self with its evil practices stripped off, and we are being renewed and remoulded after the image of God, in order to bring us to a full knowledge of Himself (Colossians 3:9-10). Because He lives in us, we have His peace (John 16:33), we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), we have His strength to do all things (Philippians 4:13) and we are a chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation and God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God (Peter 2:9). As Christians, the Lord Jesus Christ is always interceding for us (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25), He is preparing a place for us in heaven (John 14:1–3) and He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11).



The truth about Jesus Christ can be found only in the word of God which is the Holy Bible. Three days after the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, He resurrected from the dead (Luke 24:1-8; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4) and 40 days later, He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:3; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-11).



1 Timothy 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”



Jesus Christ is Lord over all:



Philippians 2:9-11

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.



False doctrines claim that there are several paths to God. The word of God tells us that THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD AND THIS IS THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AS ONE’S LORD AND SAVIOUR.



John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.



John 3:36

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him



Shortly after physical death, humans pass into either Heaven or Hell. Before Christ’s sacrifice, access into Heaven was not possible for human souls. The souls of those who loved and served the true God were kept in the paradise part of a spiritual place within the earth called Sheol, and the other part of Sheol was a prison of torment where the souls of those who rejected God ended up (Luke 16:19-31). There was a spiritual gulf fixed between these two parts so no soul from one side could cross over to the next (Luke 16:26). Access into Heaven was made possible for humans by Christ’s sacrifice and right after He died on the cross He went into the paradise part of Sheol, told the good souls (who were there for thousands of years) what He did and took them up to Heaven (Matthew 12:40; Ephesians 4:8–10; 1 Peter 3:18–20). The paradise part of Sheol no longer exists but the prison part of Sheol still does. This part of torment is called Hades or Hell. Those who reject God by not receiving Christ or any one of the Triune Godhead (Jeremiah 15:6; Matthew 12:311; Chronicles 28:9; 1 John 2:23) end up there and then go into the Lake of Fire after the Millennium (Revelation 20:15). Earthly fire, Godly fire (the type Jesus baptizes with) and the tormenting fire of the Lake of Fire are three different types of fire. There is also demonic fire which demons can produce.



Reincarnation is a false teaching (Hebrews 9:27). The Lord Jesus said that the human being’s afterlife state whether torment or paradise, will be eternal (Matthew 25:46). In the original text, the Greek word for eternal, aiōnion is used. He didn’t say that we would be born again and again until we got it right and received liberation. He would not have made that huge sacrifice for us if we could have had unity to God another way, and if there was another way, He would have taught that. The Lord said he could have employed legions of angels to prevent His crucifixion (Matthew 26:53), but because of His great and perfect love for humanity, He chose to endure a very painful death so we could be redeemed and united to God.



Salvation, redemption, reception of the Holy Spirit and adoption as God’s own children happen the instant a human being has faith in Christ as their Saviour and Lord and not at some future time in the believer’s life.



People who have not accepted Christ can become better individuals, but only to a certain extent. The Holy Spirit calls out to everyone but only those who have let the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Triune Godhead) into them by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour are the ones who are transformed and experience abundant and constant spiritual growth.



Iniquities (tendencies that cause one to sin) pass down the generation line (Numbers 14:18). After one accepts Lord Jesus as their Saviour, God forgives their sins as they truly repent and removes their iniquities (evil tendencies) in the transformation process which makes one more and more like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:12-14). After genuinely accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, ALL sinners (alcoholics, liars, drug addicts, fornicators etc.) will be saved and transformed. Each believer is cleansed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and receives the infilling of the Holy Spirit who renews them.



REDEMPTION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH



Because mankind is incapable of meeting God’s standard of perfection necessary to abide in God’s presence (Romans 3:19-20,23), God sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the total debt for the believer’s sins and mercifully credits to his account Christ’s righteousness (Romans 3:21-28,5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). Jesus’ gracious act of atonement was complete and covers all sin (Colossians 2:13-14; 1 John 1:9). Salvation is not based on good deeds but according to the mercy of God (Titus 3:4-5). Believers are justified by faith; it is a gift by God’s grace (Romans 4:3-8; Ephesians 2:8-9). A true, living faith will result in a desire to live a holy, loving life of good works (Ephesians 2:10; Galatians 5:6; James 2:14-26), but failure to be absolutely successful at righteous living does not negate the believer’s justified status.



If you sincerely say this prayer, your sins will be washed away, you will be redeemed to God, be saved from eternal torment and inherit the Kingdom of God:



"Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. I repent of my sins. Please forgive me and save me by your shed blood. Come into my heart. I want to receive you as my own personal Lord and Savior. Amen"





https://victoryinjesuschrist.wordpress.com/