The other day someone asked the question, “Why does God let us feel pain?” I don’t know anyone who has not felt pain. Not too long ago, I experienced the greatest pain of my life. The pain was so intense that it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my body.
At one time or another, all of us will feel pain. It might be the pain from a sore or a sickness. Maybe it is the pain from the death of a loved one or the pain of betrayal. There are all kinds of pain. And if you haven’t experienced any, just keep living.
The Casualties of Life
In life there will always be casualties. It is the nature of living. Pain entered the world when sin entered the world. There was no pain until Adam and Eve rebelled against the will of God. Pain or suffering is the result of sin.
The first married couple felt pain as soon as they committed the first sin. They experienced the pain of breaking their holy fellowship with God. Adam and Eve felt the pain of being forced to leave their home in the Garden of Eden. And then they felt the pain of losing a loved one when they suffered the loss of their youngest son. And to make matters even worse, he was killed by his older brother. Then God sent the older brother away. So now not only did Adam and Eve lose one son, but they lost two sons.
Reasons Why
Many of us have cried out in our pain. God, don’t you care? Don’t you see what I am going through? We have asked God, “Why?” Letting us feel pain does not mean that God does not know or see. Remember our God is the Triune God. He is omniscient and omnipresent – omniscient, knowing all and omnipresent, everywhere.
Why does God let us feel pain? Sometimes, it is to bring us closer to Him. Or maybe we just need to build some spiritual muscles? Can it be that God is allowing us to have our own experience so that we have a testimony? The day may come when we help someone else who is feeling pain.
The Other Question
Our conversation started with the question, “Why does God let us feel pain?” Now we must ask the other question, “Are we in a place where God can help us in our pain?” Where are we in our relationship with God?
The Apostle Paul was a man who proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He wrote at least 13 books of the New Testament. But Paul also had a problem. (https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Paul.html)
Paul’s problem was called “a thorn in the flesh.” We don’t have a description of this thorn. The Bible tells us that the Apostle prayed three times asking to have the thorn removed. Imagine the Apostle Paul crying out to God, asking, “Why are you letting me feel this pain?” God responded to his request to remove the thorn, saying, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (II Corinthians 12:9, NLT)
Our Hope and Expectation
The hope of the Christian is that God will deliver us from pain. We believe that if He does not deliver us; it does not mean that He cannot deliver us. Our expectation is that although God might let us feel pain, He will give us the strength and comfort to endure the pain.
Our Special Request
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God Has Spoken Ministry (GHSM); Celebrating God: The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost