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Why God Allows Suffering

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. JOHN 9:1 ESV

Suffering makes us all better

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. HEBREWS 2:10 ESV

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 TIMOTHY 2:3 NLT

Suffering forces me to ask the big questions

And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. JOHN 9:2-7 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ROMANS 8:28 ESV

Suffering reveals who my real friends are

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. PROVERBS 17:17 NLT

The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” JOHN 9:8-12 ESV

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” JOHN 9:13-17 ESV

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” JOHN 9:18-23 ESV

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” … They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. JOHN 9:24-25; 9:34 ESV

Suffering creates space for God in my life

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. JOHN 9:35-38 ESV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take some time to slow down, offering to God any notable events from the day. When you are ready, invite God into the following question: God, if you are good, why do you allow me to suffer? Sit in this for a bit. When you think about suffering, what thoughts and feelings surface? What do they reveal about what you believe about God? Are there any lies from the Devil that have found their way into your thinking? Next, examine how suffering has led you to ask important questions about God and life. What ways has God shown himself in a more real way through these experiences? Thank God for how he used your suffering to lead you to live in his truth in a deeper way. Write down any reflections in the space below, sharing with the group if you feel comfortable.

Discussion Questions

  1. PERSONAL REFLECTION: Begin group time by completing the Personal Reflection Guide, found on the sermon notes. Use this time to process your own experiences with suffering. (Tip: playing some soft background music is helpful here!)
  2. REAL WITH SELF: The world's problem has always been self righteousness. Where might this be at play in your life?
  3. REAL WITH SELF: Where in your life might God be revealing his glory in and through your suffering? (Or, if you have come out of a season of suffering, where was his glory seen as a result of your suffering?)
  4. REAL WITH GOD: Have you ever wondered if God is really good? What lies might the devil be whispering to you just like he did in the garden?
  5. REAL WITH OTHERS: What does it look like for us to be real friends who grieve and celebrate with one another? Is there any area where you can tend to struggle here?
  6. TAKE ACTION: Ultimately hardship, suffering and pain is an opportunity for you to connect more deeply with God. Where in your current struggle might you be missing this? What would it look like on a practical level to take your pain and give it to Jesus?