the most difficult issue for many is why there is suffering. This lesson looks at some reasons we suffer.

1. Why do bad things happen?

2. Common Question

“WHY?” is a question which comes from our
pain, grief and loss.

Many ask why a loving God would allow
suffering in the world?

There are 5 primary causes of suffering.

3. 1 – We are mortal and live in a
disease and death world

Nature does not discriminate between believer
and atheist. Cancer, heart attacks, natural
disasters happen to all men.

Matthew 5:45 – It rains on the just and the
unjust.

Floods, tornadoes, fire, hurricanes – affect all of
us.

4. 2 – We are foolish and make some
bad decisions

Much of our suffering is self-inflicted

God gave us a free will

Sometimes we make the wrong choice.

Joshua 24:15 – Choose this day

Some spend, others save.

Some do right, others do wrong.

Some are good and kind, others are mean and
evil.

5. 3 – We are connected and injured
by other's decisions

Jonah's rebellion put a ship and the crew in
danger

A drunk driver puts others in danger of suffering
or death

A violent temper leads to fights, injury, property
damage

A gossip harms reputations and destroys
friendships

6. 4 – We are vulnerable and suffer
from man's inhumanity to man

Murder, rape, robbery, identity thieves

3 teens that killed a collage student because
they were bored

Terrorists, dictators (Hitler, Stalin)

There are wicked, mean, cruel people in our
world.

7. 5 – We are righteous, and darkness
hates the light

2 Timothy 3:12 Godly will suffer persecution

Job 14:1 Man is a few days and full of trouble

The world hated Jesus. It would hate the
apostles and early Christians.

Stand for truth and right and the world will hate
us

Collagedale church (Chattanooga, TN) stood
against same-sex relationships.

8. 5 – We are righteous, and darkness
hates the light

John 15:18-19 18 "If the world hates
you, you know that it hated Me before
it hated you. 19 If you were of the
world, the world would love its own.
Yet because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world,
therefore the world hates you.

9. Conclusion

Bad things do happen.

God did not promise us a life without pain.

We are promised that we can overcome

We can live with God for eternity without the
pain, tears, sorrow and grief of this world.

10. Conclusion

Bad things do happen.

God did not promise us a life without pain.

We are promised that we can overcome

We can live with God for eternity without the
pain, tears, sorrow and grief of this world.