Why We Suffer

We all go through times in our lives where we feel like things are just not going the way we had hoped. We have financial problems, relationship issues, career changes or health challenges. We know, however, these things will pass and they are only temporary. But as we go through them, we have to wonder why things happen to us like they do.

We see other people enjoying life and it seems like nothing is wrong in their lives. We see others who appear to have money, wonderful relationships, good jobs and great health. As we watch them live their lives, we may think we are suffering for a reason. Perhaps it is a reason we cause or it could be a reason we may never really know.
1 Peter 3:17 “Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!”

We do suffer for a reason. God has a plan for us and part of His plan is suffering. The Bible says it is better to suffer for good than for evil. Some of the suffering we have is for good; however, some of the reasons we suffer are from our own choices and not because of God’s plan for us.

That is why we should always do what is right and ask God to help us make the right decisions. When we strive to do what is the will of God, the suffering we have to bear will be from God and will make us stronger. The suffering we have to bear will be part of His plan and will be for His purpose. The suffering we have to bear will be rewarded so we shouldn’t be afraid or worried about what is God’s plan.
1 Peter 3:14 “But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t be afraid and don’t worry. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be read to explain it.”

God causes suffering so we can share with others. When they see the issues we have to go through and how we handle it because God is in our lives, we can be a witness for God. When they see we are struggling but we are not afraid or worried, they will see we know God has control over our lives. When they see we are not panicking about what is going to happen to us because of what we are going through, they will see we have faith in God and know He will handle things.

When we are suffering, we need to look at what actions took place before we began having issues. If it was something we caused based on our poor decisions, we need to ask God to forgive us and help us. Then we need to trust Him to handle things and continue to live without worry and fear about the outcome. If we feel we did nothing to deserve our suffering, we need to remember God has His reasons and it will be so we can make a difference.