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L E S S O N 9
Why Does God
Permit Suffering?
Why does God allow suffering? It is hard at times
to comprehend why God would allow people to suffer
intense pain and very difficult circumstances. Some
suffering is brought about by natural causestornadoes,
fires, earthquakes, etc. Philosophers call this natural evil.
Other suffering is the result of the actions of people who
use their freedom to commit sinful, destructive, and cruel
acts. Philosophers call this moral evil.
While we will never understand all the reasons why
God permits suffering, the Scriptures do provide some
consistent answers to the hard questions of life. In fact,
the more we can learn about this subject now, perhaps
while things are going well, the better we will face trial
and hardship and the better equipped we will be to give
answers to those who wonder why they suffer.
Jobs life is an example of riches to rags. The first two
chapters of the book of Job describe what happened to
him. But the subsequent thirty-five chapters deal with
what was happening inside of him. We are introduced
to Job as a successful man. He enjoyed good health,
children, and wealth. Yet God allows Job to suffer. God
permits Satan to take away everything Job had. His good
health is shattered; his workers murdered; his animals
stolen or killed; and his sons and daughters perished. In
the midst of this calamity, Jobs reaction is honorable.
Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.
Then he fell to the ground in worship (Job 1:20). Jobs
reaction to suffering is a great model for us. He realizes
that the things of this world are temporary. His children
and possessions belonged to God. Job understood that,
as humans, we come into this world with nothing, and
we leave with nothing.
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Moreover, instead of cursing God for his suffering, Job
asks rhetorically, Shall we accept good from God, and not
trouble? (Job 2:10). In the midst of all his loss, Job does
not sin with his words. While he expresses great anguish
and even wishes to die (read Job 3), he never abandons his
faith or curses God. Later, God comforts Job and restores
him to good health and greater prosperity than before.
Nobody wants to suffer, but the truth is that there are
some lessons that can only be learned through suffering.
LESSON OUTLINE
Suffering Produces Fruit
The Product of Good Character
Suffering at the Hands of Satan
Suffering Rebukes Our Sin
Suffering Unites Believers with Christ
Suffering Teaches Dependence on God
Suffering Equips Us for Ministry
LESSON OBJECTIVES
1. Explain how suffering aids in the development of the
fruit of the Spirit.
2. Explain how suffering produces good character.
3. Identify tactics Satan uses against Gods people.
4. Explain why God uses suffering to discipline
disobedient Christians.
5. Describe how suffering unites us with Christ.
6. Explain how suffering increases our dependence on
Christ.
7. Point out how suffering equips Christians for ministry.
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Suffering Produces Fruit
Objective 1:
Explain how suffering aids in the
development of the fruit of the Spirit.
Producing Fruit
God insists on fruit in our lives, and He has many
different ways of producing it. Some of these ways
include the effect of the Word of God on our lives, the
outcome of prayer, and even suffering. None of us looks
forward to adversity, but if God allows it in our lives, it is
meant to produce good fruit. God longs to see fruit in our
lives. Jesus said, This is to my Fathers glory, that you
bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples
(John 15:8). Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said,
The only people who do not have problems
are those in the cemeteries, and some of
them really have problems. If you have
problems, it simply means you are alive
and the more problems you have the more
alive you are. If you dont have man-sized
problems you should get on your knees and
ask God to trust you with a few.
While suffering can produce good fruit, it also has
the potential to produce bad fruit. How we respond to
suffering is our choice. We can either become bitter or
better, grateful or hateful. Let us discuss some good fruit
that suffering produces.
Patience out of Suffering
Patience is a characteristic that seems lacking in
many people these days, yet it is an essential feature of
Christian maturity. As we face trials and learn to wait on
God, patience and perseverance develop. Luke 8:15 says,
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble
and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by
persevering produce a crop.
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A story is told about a young Christian who went to
an older believer for prayer. The young man wanted more
patience. The elderly man prayed that the Lord would
send the man tribulation all throughout the day. When
the confused younger man asked why he was praying for
tribulation and not patience, the older man replied, Its
through tribulation that we learn patience.
Thus, we must allow God to work in us until His job
is finished! James 1:24 advises, Consider it pure joy,
my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops
perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that
you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Joy in Suffering
Joy is a product of suffering. Some of the greatest
joy you will ever experience will be in the lessons you
learned through adversity. After suffering, you will have
a testimony for the rest of your life. Jesus told us tough
times would come: I have told you these things, so that
in me you may have peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world
(John 16:33). We can find joy in knowing that God will
bring us through, so there is no need to worry.
The Product of Good Character
Objective 2:
Explain how suffering produces good character.
Suffering produces a character of moral excellence
and strength. Our character is revealed by how we react
to suffering and adversity. Let us look back at Job. The
Bible describes him as blameless and upright, one who
feared God and hated evil (Job 1:1). This was before he
faced any misfortune. His true character was not seen
until after calamity struck. Notice what the Bible says
following Jobs hardship, In all this, Job did not sin by
charging God with wrong-doing (Job 1:22). When you
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seek God while suffering, He will enable you to react
well and build much fruit in your life.
Are you a person of good character? Character has
been described as what you are when no one is looking.
Allow me to touch on three areas of character that have
the potential of developing when we suffer.
Suffering Toughens the Weak
First, suffering helps you to become stronger. A
vacationer watched with curiosity as a lumberjack
occasionally jabbed his sharp hook into a log, separating
it from the others that were floating down a mountain
stream. When asked why he did this, the worker replied,
These may all look alike to you, but a few of them are
quite different. The ones I let pass are from trees that
grew in a valley where they were always protected from
the storms. Their grain is coarse. The ones Ive hooked
and kept apart from the rest came from high up on the
mountains. From the time they were small, they were
beaten by strong winds. This toughens the trees and gives
them a beautiful grain. We save them for choice work. They
are too good to make into plain lumber. This story is a
great example of how suffering produces strength.
First Peter 4:1213 reads, Dear friends, do not be
surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though
something strange were happening to you. But rejoice
that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that
you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. When
will Jesus glory be revealed? Certainly it will happen
with the splendor of His second coming, but
His glory is also revealed when He sends deliverance
our way. Moreover, Jesus glory is revealed as we reflect
His character, as we are molded into the people God
wants us to be.
Correction through Suffering
Second, suffering helps to correct faults. We all have
defects and blemishes in our livessome small and
some rather large ones. Often we are blind to our own
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imperfections or willing to tolerate them. Jesus told us,
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect
(Matthew 5:48). The Greek word for perfect is teleios,
which can be translated as complete. God desires to see
us complete, not lacking in any moral and spiritual virtue.
Suffering has a way of steadily working out our
imperfections. Just as a potter callously kneads clay
to remove the air bubbles that damage the pot in the
furnace, so the Holy Spirit works on us. It may be painful,
but it is worth it in the end. Our lack of patience is sorely
tested through suffering when things are simply out
of our control. Our tendency towards materialism and
riches is often touched through suffering as well. God
works on us just as he worked on all of our heroes in the
Bible. He tests every area of our lives through suffering,
and this suffering builds great strength.
Stability through Suffering
Third, suffering steadies our fluctuations. Most of us
struggle with vacillation. We are hot then cold, up then
down, in then out. When we become believers, we might
think that our lives will be steady and solid. But soon we
fall off track. Great leaders and persons in the Bible also
struggled with consistency. For instance, when Timothy
needed encouragement, Paul reminded him to fan into
flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on
of my hands (2 Timothy 1:6). On the other hand, an entire
church at Corinth was given to extremes of spiritual highs
until they were abusing spiritual gifts. In 1 Corinthians 12,
Paul reprimanded them for their over zealousness. Suffering
has a wonderful way of protecting us from the extremes.
All of us are subject to spiritual weakness, but we can
be assured that God will strengthen us. If we continually
measure our human strength against the job we have
been called to do, we will become discouraged. However,
God sends trials at just the right time and in just the right
measure to exercise our faith and increase our strength.
He never sends a trial to destroy, only to build our
character. We tend to look forward to relief from suffering,
but learning what our Father wants us to gain is much
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more important. In Luke 22:3132, Jesus says to Peter,
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not
fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your
brothers. Our suffering equips us to help others.
Suffering at the Hands of Satan
Objective 3:
Identify tactics Satan uses against Gods people.
A Real Enemy
First Peter 5:89 reads, Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing
firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers
throughout the world are undergoing the same kind
of sufferings. So how does one suffer at the hands of
Satan? Three common tactics of the enemy that cause us
harm are discouragement, deception, and distraction.
Discouragement
Can you identify with the following situation? Say
you are having a rough time. Things are not going well
at work. You have been battling sickness. Someone you
love is struggling. After many weeks of hardship, you feel
weak and vulnerable. Invariably some callous, unthinking
individual says something negative, unfair, or hurtful to you.
Satan knows that if he can get us discouraged, he can
render us ineffective. Elijah the prophet was discouraged
and spoke of quitting his ministry after the attack of
Jezebel. Jonah the prophet was also discouraged and
resentful; he spoke of dying after his ministry at Nineveh.
These are only two of the many leaders in the Bible who
faced discouragement.
As a Christian, you must also recognize
discouragement as one of Satans fiery darts. Do not let
it live in your spirit and develop into anger or bitterness.
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Pray about it. Talk to a trusted Christian friend or pastor.
And stand firmly against the enemy.
Deception
Satan is the master deceiver. He has brought more
suffering into the church through deception than through
any other means. The primary way Satan deceives is
through distorting the truth, and especially the truth
of Scripture. The apostle Peter warned us against
this trickery. In 2 Peter 3:16, he writes, Ignorant and
unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures,
to their own destruction.
Satan speaks the Word of God in half-truths. In
Matthew 4, Satan himself came to Jesus and told Him
half-truths on divine provision, divine protection, and
divine position. But Jesus resisted him with the truth
of Gods Word. Today, false prophets still believe half-
truths. They are trying to turn stones into bread, advocate
levitation, and even gain power and authority through
these counterfeit measures. But the only way to know the
difference between Gods whole truth and Satans half-
truths is by being a student of the Word of God.
Distraction
If Satan cannot bring suffering into your life through
discouragement or deception, then he will try to attack the
strategic center of your lifeyour mind. The mind is where
the decisions of life and eternity are made. The mind is an
armory where we forge the weapons for our victory or our
destruction. Satan does not have to fill your mind with evil
thoughts all day to win; all he needs to do is distract you.
He seeks to cause confusion, weariness, fear,
busyness, or anything that will shut out the voice of God.
Nevertheless, our greatest stance of spiritual power
is to be led by the Holy Spirit and not by the flesh. We
must have the mind of Christ in all we do. Paul advised
the Christians in Rome, Do not conform any longer to
the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test
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and approve what Gods will ishis good, pleasing and
perfect will (Romans 12:2).
We do not have to suffer at the hands of Satan for
long. Yes, he will continue to attack, but the sooner
we recognize his efforts, the sooner we can engage in
countermeasures. So, be sober and vigilant and stand
against the tricks of the devil.
Suffering Rebukes Our Sin
Objective 4:
Explain why God uses suffering
to discipline disobedient Christians.
Sin Gets Gods Attention
There is no quicker route to suffering than to habitually
engage in sinful behavior. Sin itself carries its own set
of natural and unavoidable consequences. If you lie,
you may be exposed as dishonest and untrustworthy. If
you steal, you may go to jail. If you gossip, you may find
yourself with few genuine friends. Moreover, in the life of a
believer, sin will always elicit a response from God.
God loves us too much to ignore the sin in our lives.
Count on itif you practice sin, God will attempt to
correct you just as a good parent corrects his or her
disobedient child. Gods correction or discipline entails
varying degrees of suffering.
The Price of Salvation
When Christians rebel and sin, they sometimes think
that those who warn them are overreacting. They make
excuses for their behavior and pretend that their sin is
minor or inconsequential. They even assume God will
just wink at their shortcomings. But God will not excuse
sin! Christ paid an incredible price for our salvation. God
has a huge investment in our lives. He will do whatever
it takes to get our attention and turn us back to Him. He
will even allow pain into our lives now so that we will
not miss the future blessings.
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The writer of Hebrews says, In your struggle against
sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding
your blood (Hebrews 12:4). Our struggle against
personal sin is minimal compared to the price Christ paid
to save us. At first, we may think that Gods discipline
in our lives is an overreaction, yet Psalm 103:10 tells us,
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us
according to our iniquities. God is never as severe with
us as we actually deserve. He is a gracious God, who
only desires the best for us.
The Father Acts in Our Best Interest
It is important to understand what family we belong
to. When we were without Christ in our lives, our father
was the devil. Now, since we are Christians, God is our
heavenly Father. The apostle John writes, How great is
the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should
be called children of God! And that is what we are!
(1 John 3:1). Everyone knows that a parent has the right
to speak to and discipline his or her child. Parents can tell
you that when it comes to children and discipline, there
are two common temperaments: strong-willed children
and compliant children. Strong-willed children tend to
resist discipline, so parents work extra hard to train them.
Compliant children need little discipline. In fact, a little
discipline goes a long way for them.
We see these basic reactions among believers under
Gods discipline. While both temperaments of people
require the Lords correction from time to time, some fight
it while others embrace it. Hebrews 12:56 says, Do not
make light of the Lords 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.
God disciplines us because He loves us.
A Lesson from the Prodigal
The devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but Christ
comes to give, restore, and build. Read the parable of
the prodigal son (see Luke 15:1132). This fathers heart
remained faithful to his wayward son. He welcomed him
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home, restored him to sonship, and celebrated his return.
The father in this story represents God.
Unlike the prodigals father, some self-righteous
Christians fail to appreciate the grace of God involved
in restoring a wayward follower of Christ. Rather than
celebrate the triumph of Gods love, these self-righteous
Christians secretly wish they could impose their own
brand of discipline on the believers who return to the
family of God. But Christ desires us to love unconditionally
and accept into His family the believers who have strayed.
Suffering Unites Believers with Christ
Objective 5:
Describe how suffering unites us with Christ.
Suffering Is Unavoidable
Some people assume that Christians should be exempt
from most suffering. Shouldnt being a follower of Christ
protect us from the worst difficulties and hardships?
What about the hedge of protection we often hear about?
Shouldnt that keep us from all pain and sorrow?
According to Peter, Christians are not exempt from
suffering. First Peter 4:1213 records, Dear friends, do not
be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though
something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that
you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may
be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. The apostle Paul
also wrote, I want to know Christ and the power of his
resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,
becoming like him in his death (Philippians 3:10).
Both of these great men of God expected suffering
in the Christian life. This does not mean that there are
never temporal blessings to enjoy or that no divine
protection is available. As Christians, we believe that
we are under the watchful eye of God. No blessing or
suffering comes into our lives without Gods permission.
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The Fellowship of Suffering
The apostle Peter says that we participate in
the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13). Paul speaks
of wanting to know the fellowship of sharing in his
[Jesus] sufferings (Philippians 3:10). To fellowship
means to share the same experience of another. Rather
than avoiding suffering on lifes journey, we should
expect it, and even welcome it. Why? When we endure
pain, assuming we are not suffering because of sin, we
experience a special unity with Christ. As hard as this
may seem, Paul understood that it would only benefit
him to suffer. Our suffering allows us to associate, in
some small degree, with Christs ultimate suffering.
Why Jesus Suffered
Throughout eternity past, it was Gods plan to allow His
Son to suffer for our sins and thereby purchase our salvation.
The prophet Isaiah wrote, Yet it was the Lords will to
crush him [Jesus] and cause him to suffer (Isaiah 53:10).
This is strange to our human minds; we cannot fathom why
any father would desire to have his son endure such pain.
Gods ways often seem foolish to the unbelieving
human mind. His ways are higher and wiser than ours.
Thus, it pleased God to wound His Son because of the
end result it would produce. Even earthly fathers will
permit their children to suffer some pain if it will bring
about a greater good. If a child falls and severely breaks
his arm, he probably will cry and fear anyone touching
his arm lest it hurt more. However, the father in love
will permit a doctor to reset the arm bones, although
the procedure may be excruciatingly painful. If surgery
is necessary to correct the damage, the father will also
permit that even though it requires more suffering. The
greater good justifies him in doing so.
When John the Baptist first acknowledged Jesus in
public, he announced, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). Jesus repeatedly
told the disciples that He came to earth to suffer and die.
In Luke 24, we find two of Jesus disciples on the road
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to Emmaus on that first Easter. Jesus had been crucified
days earlier, and these disciples were sorrowful and
confused by the news that Jesus had been seen alive.
Jesus rebuked them, Did not the Christ have to suffer
these things and then enter his glory? (Luke 24:26).
It was essential to the plan of God that Jesus suffer.
The writer of Hebrews tells us, In bringing many sons
to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through
whom everything exists, should make the author of their
salvation perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10).
Jesus was already in a state of sinless perfection. The
work of Calvary did not make Him perfect in regard
to sin. The Greek word translated perfect means to
finish or to fulfill. Calvarys cross was the culmination
of Jesus earthly mission. Without it He could not have
finished or fulfilled Gods will. Thus, Jesus cried out on
the Cross, It is finished (John 19:30).
Jesus also learned obedience through suffering. As a
man, He had to learn to obey God; He had to make choices.
We even see Him struggling in the Garden of Gethsemane
just before His arrest and trial. He fell with his face to the
ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this
cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will
(Matthew 26:39). God the Father could have delivered Jesus
from death (Hebrews 5:7), but even our wonderful Savior,
fully divine and fully human, had to endure suffering.
God has a plan for your life, too. He wants us to be
conformed to the image of his Son. For that to happen,
we must participate in the sufferings of Christ.
Proper Attitude Is Important
Suffering is not easy. Consider the children of Israel who
spent forty years in the wilderness prior to entering the
Promised Land. Moses reminded them, Remember how
the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these
forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know
what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his
commands (Deuteronomy 8:2). We can trust that the same
God to test us. He will also bring us through our suffering.
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Suffering Teaches Dependence on God
Objective 6:
Explain how suffering increases our dependence on Christ.
The Problem of Self-Reliance
The apostle Paul learned a valuable lesson through his
intense suffering. He states in 2 Corinthians 1:9, In our
hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened
that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who
raises the dead. The natural tendency for all of us is
to become self-reliant. We forget God. But God knows
exactly what we need. He knows what it will take to
keep us solely dependent on Him, and that may include
periods of suffering.
There will be times when it feels that God is far away
from you. You may wonder if He has forgotten about you.
King David experienced this and wrote about it in Psalm
22. Jesus also experienced this sense of abandonment.
While hanging on the Cross, Jesus cried out, My God,
my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46).
We serve the God who promised never to leave us
(Hebrews 13:5). A.W. Tozer said, For each of us the time
is coming when we shall have nothing but God. Health
and wealth and friends and hiding places will be swept
away, and we shall have only God. To the man of pseudo
faith that is a terrifying thought, but to real faith it is one
of the most comforting thoughts the heart can entertain.
What do you do when it seems that God is missing
from your life? You keep praying and worshipping. You
continue to study His Word. You quote Scripture. You
persist in living for Him. You call to remembrance the
stories of deliverance you read in the Bible and have
heard from the lips of your fellow Christians. You recall
the good things God has done in your life. You never
stop confessing your confidence and faith in the Lord.
Eventually, the fog will lift.
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We Are Witnesses
Through our adversity the world finds out what we
are made of. Unbelievers observing us will ask if we
really depend upon God or if Christianity is just another
empty religion. They will wonder if our faith is strong
enough to get us through. Suffering, in this sense,
requires or forces us to depend upon God like never
before. While in suffering, we must hold to the truth that
God is still with us. A great verse to memorize is Isaiah
46:4: Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am
he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry
you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Holding
to such promises will give you the strength to be an
effective witness even while you are suffering.
Suffering Equips Us for Ministry
Objective 7:
Point out how suffering equips Christians for ministry.
Good and Bad Experiences
God knows how all experiences interrelate, and He is
able to move all things toward His final end. Therefore,
we can look at every situation as ultimately part of a
greater good. Romans 8:28 notes, And we know that
in all things God works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according to his purpose. No
experience is a wasted experience in the grand scheme
of God. He uses everything, whether good or bad, for our
benefit and for the benefit of others.
Moses Example
Look at the life of Moses. He started out as the son of
Hebrew slaves and was nearly killed. But later, thanks to
divine providence, Moses was adopted by the daughter
of Pharaoh. For forty years he lived in luxury, enjoying the
best of Egypt. He became acquainted with the language
and customs of the Egyptians.
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Then, one day everything changed. While trying
to aid a Hebrew being abused, Moses took the life of
an Egyptian. This brought the wrath of Pharaoh upon
him. Moses was forced to flee from Egypt and dwell in
the Midian desert for forty years. There, he married the
daughter of a nomad and ended up tending his sheep.
No doubt, this was a humbling and painful experience.
It was also necessary if Moses was going to become the
great leader God wanted him to be. Thus, some lessons
can be learned only through suffering. Samuel Rutherford
said, When I am in the cellar of affliction, I look for the
Lords choicest wines.
Compassion Ministry
Suffering gives us a unique compassion for others.
Some churches offer recovery groups such as sexual
abuse recovery, divorce recovery, grief recovery, and
chemical abuse recovery.
Many of the workers in these groups are people who
themselves have struggled with these difficulties. These
ministries are borne out of a heart of compassion.
The Ability to Encourage
Suffering not only teaches compassion but also
gives us valuable insight to encourage others who are
suffering. Having suffered, we can tell people how God
brought us through; we can testify to Gods unfailing
love and care. We can let others know they are not alone
in their suffering and that they can bear up under a lot
more pressure than they realize.
Conclusion
Whether or not you are bearing up under suffering at
the present time, these simple biblical truths are able
to transform your attitude and outlook on life. You do
not have to be ashamed of or even fear suffering. Do not
let anyone despise you or question your commitment
to Christ if you find yourself bearing up under painful
circumstances. God is at work in your life. His grace is
always sufficient for you no matter what you are facing.
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Scripture Verses to Memorize
Romans 8:28
Romans 12:2
Hebrews 13:5
1 Peter 4:1213
1 John 3:1
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SELF-TEST SELF-TEST
After studying the lesson, please read each study
question carefully and circle the correct response. There
is only one correct response for each question.
1. J obs reaction to suffering is a good model for us
because
a) he never showed his sorrow and always
presented a happy face to others.
b) despite his suffering, he chose to worship God.
c) he listened to his friends who gave him great
advice.
2. God permits us to suffer at times to produce
good fruit in the long run, but sometimes we react
incorrectly and allow bad fruit to develop.
a) True
b) False
3. God allows us to go through trials in order to
a) build our character.
b) destroy us.
c) prove that He is divine.
4. Why is it good to understand the ways Satan causes
us to suffer?
a) We can run away from all situations where it
appears that Satan is at work.
b) It is not good to know the ways of Satan, for it
might cause us to stumble.
c) When we are aware of the tactics of the enemy,
we can stand strong against him.
5. When we practice sin, we bring suffering upon
ourselves. This suffering serves as a warning so will not
continue to make the same mistakes.
a) True
b) False
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6. Why should we want to know the fellowship of
sharing in Christs sufferings?
a) It automatically makes us holier than others.
b) It creates a special unity with the Lord achievable
in no other way.
c) It will cause people to look up to us with more
respect.
7. It is a cruel God who would willfully allow His children
to suffer.
a) True
b) False
8. When God seems distant during our times of
suffering,
a) we must remember that God is still nearby; He will
never forsake us.
b) it is an indication of our sin.
c) this means that we are not as special to Christ as
we originally thought.
9. One of the greatest things we gain from suffering is
a) compassion for others who suffer.
b) insight leading to an ability to encourage others
who suffer.
c) both a) and b).
10. Which of the following statements is true?
a) Suffering comes only as a result of ones own sin.
b) Gods correction entails various degrees of
suffering.
c) Gods grace is not sufcient to carry us through all
suffering.
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ANSWERS TO STUDY QUESTIONS
Note: You can check your answers by using the
answer guide. The numbers in the parentheses indicate
which objective in the lesson to check.
1. b (9.1)
2. a (9.1)
3. a (9.2)
4. c (9.3)
5. a (9.4)
6. b (9.5)
7. b (9.5)
8. a (9.6)
9. c (9.7)
10. b (9.4)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THIS LESSON
Ron Bontrager and his wife were youth pastors for
eight years. Ron served as Senior Pastor in DeKalb,
Illinois, from 19851990, and in Madison, Indiana
from 19901994. He now leads Lakeview Church in
Indianapolis, Indiana, as Senior Pastor.
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