Why does God allow suffering?

People ask the questions; how can there be God when there is so much suffering in the world? If God is so powerful then why does He not eliminate suffering? Etc

These questions are asked for different reasons

Others ask because they genuinely seek answers

Others ask to discredit the existence of God

Others ask for other reasons which I may not know

In this post I will attempt to answer the question as briefly as I can and I pray this can edify someone.

There are many sufferings and to name a few; wars, poverty, hunger, corruption, abuse, sickness, death, sorrow, pain etc. So where is God in all these? What is the reason for all these?

Reason 1

Suppose I decide to steal from my neighbor. My neighbor languishes as a result.

Suppose also a man gets jealous of his relative because he has great wealth and poisons his relative so that he can seize his wealth after he dies. The man dies and the wife becomes a widow and the children orphans. They lose their wealth and from then life is never the same.

Or what if a General Manager withholds wages from his workers just because he has the power to do so and because they do not have the power or resources to defend themselves and refuses to listen to their plea. Will not those workers suffer? Who has caused the suffering?

When a man’s heart is evil it causes suffering to others. That’s right an evil heart will result in evil actions that will cause suffering on others.

Job 35:8 Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only the sons of men.

But why does God not do something?  

God helps those who trust in Him.

If your trust is in the help of man, the help of friends, the help of lawyers then you will soon realize that that help is worthless. Psalms 108:12 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

Not to say that we do not receive help from our friends or lawyers because God can work in our lives through people but that we cast our cares and burdens to God first and that our ultimate trust should be in God. Psalm 118:8 “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”

 It is not true that God does not do something.

When Jesus was on earth He said the work He does He has seen the Father do. John 5:17 …..”My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”

And we know that Jesus went about doing good, healing the sick, delivering the oppressed, forgiving sinners, performing miracles, raising the dead, welcoming children and blessing them, teaching in the temple, helping the poor and so much more. Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.

And this shows the nature of God – Hardworking. God is not on His throne sleeping! Have you not heard that God does not sleep nor slumber.

God raises the poor from the dust and sits them with Kings.

God hears the cry of orphans and widows and helps them.

God opens the womb of the barren.

God remembers the righteous on their sickbed and even if they die it is to their gain for they will sleep until the blessed day when they will be raised in glorified bodies and there will be no more pain or death.

 God is long-suffering even to the wicked.  

2 Peter 3:9 ….He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

A man with an evil heart who goes about doing what is evil causing pain and suffering to others may boast that he is rich, healthy and living better than the holiest man on earth. The evil man does not realize that He is alive because it is God sustaining him so that perhaps the man will turn from his evil ways, follow God and begin to do good so that he may not die in his sins. God knows that if a man dies in his sins then that man has perished.

For it is the worst thing that a man should die in his sins when the sacrifice for the world’s sins was paid in full

Let it be known that the Kingdom of God is home of righteousness, how then can evil dwell with righteousness?

Can darkness dwell with light? No!

Evil and darkness dwell in hell where there is blackness, worms, gnashing of teeth and fire that is unquenchable. In hell people are not partying up a storm! In hell many people who died in their sins are in torment day and night, they wish they had lived in the fear of God but it’s too late.

They could have received eternal life but they thought themselves wise and rebelled against God. For God does not force anyone to worship Him.

We have freewill

Those who worship God follow Him willingly and surrender themselves to His will and His will is that all may believe in His Son Jesus, be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and begin to walk and learn from Him even as the heart is changed to begin to do good to others thereby walking in love for love is kind and heals those who are suffering.

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Reason 2

Now that we have established that a man’s evil heart and actions causes suffering. It is also good to note that there are principalities and spirits at work to cause suffering. I don’t think a man is born with an evil heart so where do the evil thoughts come from?

There is an enemy of what is good. The devil and evil spirits. John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…..

he is a thief

he is a liar

he is a destroyer

he uses crafty ways to deceive. He doesn't work in isolation, many have sold themselves to him and he works through them to bring about all manner of evils. They are antichrist. They promote evil. They serve money. They are shameless in doing evil. They use media and other means to promote immorality, orgies, adultery, false religions, homosexuality, idolatry, violence, abuse, vanity, greed, selfishness, pride, disobedience, sexy dressing, slander, lying, stealing, dirty language, porn, drugs, smoking etc

While others are sleeping at night, they are busy at work, for they love darkness most. They use magic, divination, incarnations and all manner of falsehood to pour out curses so that you will suffer and blame God for your sufferings.

Remember how the devil caused Job a lot of suffering hoping Job would curse God and die but Job blessed the Name of God and God in turned blessed his latter more than his former.

Do not be a partaker or supporter of things that do not please God. Always be alert, watching and praying that you do not fall into temptation. More so now that the devil knows that his time is short and wants to cause as much suffering as he can.

Reason 3

God

Yes God can cause suffering. Isaiah 45:7 I form light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I the Lord, do all these things.

Can God do what is evil? No God cannot do what is evil!!!

Here is a scenario

A man commits a crime and is taken to court. The judge sentences the man to 2 weeks community service as fair punishment for his crime.

Is the judge wrong in pronouncing a judgement?

I don’t think so

So also God can cause suffering when He is punishing His children. After David had committed murder and adultery, God pronounced punishment on David through the prophet Nathan. And that was a time of suffering for David and yet later on when David repented God gave him comfort in the child Solomon.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God pronounced captivity for His people for a number of sins they had committed.

I myself have suffered punishment from God. It is painful but it is also a cause for great rejoicing for me. It means God cares and loves me. My parents have punished me when I have done wrong and I love them for it, if they had not corrected me I would have been lost.

Hebrews 12:5-11 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have trained by it.

The conclusion

If your neighbor (Friend, relative, workmate, stranger etc) is the reason for your suffering, forgive them. You also at one time have caused suffering to others maybe through words or actions but God has forgiven you.

You may have a heavy heart and it may seem impossible to forgive but God cannot tell you to forgive if He thinks you can’t do it. God is your Helper and will help you to forgive them then you will know you serve a living God. Remember this is achieved by the help of God by His Spirit.

If the devil and evil spirits are the cause for your suffering; Resist him meaning don’t allow him to steal from you. Don’t allow him to destroy your health. Don’t allow him to kill you in your sins.

One day I had a dream, before me was a plate of food and I knew that it was my food then suddenly and quickly came this black dog and began eating from my plate. The dog was eating so fast, my food was finishing quickly. I tried to deter the dog then it turned fiercely and wanted to attack me but I didn’t back down. I woke up and wrestled in prayer. Soon after my prayer doors of breakthrough opened for me in many directions.

We fight against principalities in the heavenly realms

We may not understand all of it but as you take steps in trusting in God and in reading your Bible, meditating on it you gain the tools to resist the devil

There are things that are rightfully yours but satan and his agents want to get them forcibly from you.

The fact that it is rightfully yours doesn’t mean you have to relax. A thief doesn’t care that you hold titles and receipts for your property, all they care about is grabbing it from you.

After receiving blessings from God, the greatest being the gift of life we cannot afford to sleep and relax while the thief is roaming about seeking whom to devour.

Resist the devil and he will flee; Do not give satan chance

Fight the good fight of faith

Do not love the world or the things in the world

If God is causing you suffering in order to discipline you, you may feel tempted to justify yourself and to confront God with many questions like Job did. Whatever you do remember God knows better than you, take it as a sign that God loves you enough to discipline you. Instead of justifying yourself rather humble yourself and admit to your errors, renounce your sins and find grace to take you through those sufferings.

God bless

A Clean Cup

I've been disturbed in my spirit because of certain messages
One minister will preach and say NOT the fasting of food but the fasting of Isaiah 58 of taking care of the oppressed
Another preacher will say NOT outward holiness but inward holiness
Still another will say NOT revelations but doctrine/ scriptures

It is sad that divisions are occurring because of different opinions. I just want to share my knowledge on it all, my hope is that this might help someone who is confused to find clarity.

I'm going to use personal examples.

There was a time when i was fasting (the fasting of food) and someone send me a video message of a pastor who was teaching and saying true fasting is found in Isaiah 58 and its not the fasting of food but the taking care of orphans and widows.
I knew the video was intended to discourage me from fasting food

There was another time after i made my choice to clean my wardrobe of short, tight & see through clothes and also fake hair, jewellery and makeup and by God's help i replaced those with long skirts and dresses and products to help me nature my natural hair, skin and nails.
Then a leader in the church spoke at a conference and said, "Who told you that to go to heaven you have dress in long skirts....?"
He was not speaking directly to me but i could sense a message meant to discourage women who dress in long skirts and dresses

Then in another instance as i began to share the revelations i have had from God. Revelations concerning the Coming back of Jesus, Baptism, Dressing & Prayer. Most of the revelations i have received through dreams. Then some messages shared by man of God via Whats App were discouraging the sharing of dreams saying just speak the Word.

All this made me wonder.
As much as the ministers are encouraging the fasting of Isaiah, inward holiness and the Word of God as recorded in the Bible; how come they are discouraging the fasting of food, outward holiness and revelations?

Is the one better than the other
Is not all of it from One God?
Then i searched more about it and came to the conclusion that all of it is important.

Here is why

Truly Isaiah 58 gives knowledge of the kind of fasting that God requires from us. The fasting of sharing with others, the fasting of doing good to others, the fasting of defending the cause of people in the margins and so forth. This is truly a fasting that pleases God.
Yet there is also a fasting of food, water, sleep etc
We know that Jesus Himself practiced fasting of food and water forty days and forty nights before He began His ministry. Luke 4:2 ......And in those days He did eat nothing......
We also know that Jesus disciples didn't fast when they were still with Jesus and a time came when they failed to deliver a boy in bondage and Jesus told them that that kind could only come out from prayer and fasting. Mark 9:29 And He said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting.
There are more examples of fasting of a widow who served God in the temple with fastings and prayers night and day (Luke 2:37)
And of Cornelius who received a divine visitation when he was fasting (Acts 10:30)

So then let us embrace all types of fasting whether it is the fasting of Isaiah 58 or the fasting of food. Both fastings originate from God. If you love to fast food but do nothing to take care of marginalized people i encourage you to continue with the fasting of food but add also the fasting of helping those who are sick, abused, oppressed, hungry and disadvantaged in society.
Same applies if you love to help the marginalized and you are active in advocating for the empowerment of  the oppressed but you can go for months without a day or days that you fast food, now i want to encourage you to also embrace the fasting of food, embrace both and watch God do great things in your life and the lives of those around you.

Then to the issue of holiness. Some will say Inward holiness. Others will say Outward holiness. Still others will say Social holiness.
I say all of it!

Inward holiness is the phrase people use to mean a good heart. Sometimes people go further to say, God looks at the heart and this is absolutely true (1Samuel 16:7). I fully support Inward holiness. In fact the greatest command centers on a heart that loves God and neighbor. Therefore it is important to have a good heart. Notice that the command to the heart is that it may Love God and Neighbor this means a good heart is one that is fully devoted to God and the things of God, a heart of integrity, a heart of worship to God, a heart of absolute reverence to God, a clean and blameless heart. All of this is achieved by the help and leading of the Holy Spirit who instructs us in the things of God.

Outward holiness is usually shunned by those who embrace Inward or Social holiness. It is shunned because it is regarded as not important. People will say God looks at the heart and not the outward so there is no need for outward holiness.
Those who practice outward holiness are nicknamed, Holier than thou, Jesus freak, Pharisee etc
This is so because those who practice outward holiness profess the holiness of God on their outward person in the way they dress, the way they talk, their mannerisms etc.
With Inward holiness, a person cannot easily tell if a person is a believer or not unless they engage discussion with the person but with outward holiness even before a person talks to someone they already have a hint that, this person must be a believer because of what they have seen.
And this pleases God because we are His ambassadors.
People should see Christ in us in both our inward and outward.
Let that which is our heart reflect on the outside also. The cleanliness of the inside should help to the clean the outside.
Outward holiness when done with the right motive considers others in love, in order not to put a stumbling block on another person's life. Some people have become adulterers not because it was in their heart but after looking at a man or women dressed seductively their eyes lusted after them. Some people of other faiths like Judaism, Islam, Hindu, Bhuddist etc who have high value for modesty cannot join Christianity because they cannot see what is in your heart they look at the outward and they see Christians dress in tight, seductive, figure hugging, reveling clothes like the world and they think if that is what Christianity is all about then let me stick to my own.
Let us resolve not put a stumbling block on anyone through our outward appearance

Social holiness is more like the fasting of Isaiah 58. It is a demonstration of God's holiness in the lives of others through active actions that have transforming powers.
It is a demonstration of our faith in a Holy God through Holy lifestyles in our communities and nations. People who practice social holiness are social justice fighters. They have the heart of Christ to see those in the margins empowered.
People who practice social holiness are usually hated by those who hold power like government people, business people etc. This is because these people usually confront powerful people demanding for justice for the afflicted.
Social holiness pleases God because like the Prophet Micah said.... what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly..... Micah 6:8
Let us embrace social holiness even as we also embrace inward and outward holiness.

Moving on to the last but not the least issue.
Its not a new thing for a person to receive a message from God in a dream, a vision or an audible voice. God spoke to Joseph in dreams so much that his brothers nicknamed him a dreamer.
God spoke to Prophet Samuel in an audible voice when he was still a young boy. Ezekiel saw vivid visions of God. Joseph was warned in a dream to flee with his family.

God does all these according to His pleasure.
Those who receive dreams are compelled to share for the encouraging or rebuking of others. The dream is admittedly not above the Word of God for we see in part.
Those who receive visions are also compelled to share them
Those with the Word of God are compelled to preach it, teach it and to put it into practice.
All of this is from God

So let no one silence you and keep you from sharing what God has given you whether it is a dream, vision or Word. It is all from God and to be able to use it to the Glory of God we need the help and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

A clean cup

You have probably wondered why i titled this post ‘A Clean Cup’
I believe when we embrace all the above then we are likened to a clean cup.
If a cup is clean inside and the outward is dirty then that cup is a dirty cup
Likewise if our hearts are blameless but our outward is profane and worldly then we are ultimately unclean vessels.
If a cup is clean on the outward but is dirty on the inside that cup is a dirty cup
Likewise also if our appearances to others are clean but our hearts are filled with all kinds of evils we are unclean vessels
If a cup is clean both on the inside and outward then that cup is truly clean, so also if we put effort to rid ourselves from all filthiness in our hearts or on our bodies we become clean vessels ready for every good work.

....Dearly beloved, let us CLEANSE ourselves from ALL filthiness of the FLESH AND SPIRIT, perfecting HOLINESS in THE FEAR OF GOD -  2 Corinthians 7:1