Hello friend, and welcome to Hope for Today. We are so glad you joined us. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 23 other languages. And why do we teach from the Bible? Because the Bible has the answers. It is the amazing Word of God.
Thank you for joining us today. The topic of today’s teaching is a question most of us have wrestled with. It’s a hard question but an important one. The question is, why do I suffer. Before we hear the teaching from Pastor J Mark, let’s think about this question.
This question is common because if you are human, you have most likely suffered. We ask, Why me? What have I done to deserve this? If God is so strong and so good, why doesn’t He do something? These questions are huge and very important. Personally, I believe the answers found in Christianity are the best answers to these hard questions.
However, I don’t plan to answer these questions, but I want to point out a deeper question buried in each question. Smuggled in with every question about suffering, there is the bigger question of purpose. Why am I here? Is this what I am supposed to experience? You see God created us, and He made us for much more than life on a sin-cursed earth. When sufferings hit us, something deep within us stirs. We know there must be more; surely, this is not all that we were made for.
Romans 8 says, “the whole creation has been groaning,” and you and I also groan, waiting, longing for the redemption Christ will bring. Till he comes, we will have to deal with disease, death, and suffering; however, we know this is not what we were made for. We long for the day when Jesus will make all things new, the curse will be reversed. Even death will be defeated. Imagine, nothing will die or be dead, Death will be no more.
What an exciting time that will be. So, when the suffering comes, when it feels like life is too much. When big questions are going through your mind day and night, remember God is still on the throne; His plan and purposes WILL happen. Sin and its consequences affect us now, but a time is coming when there will be no effects of sin. This truth helps us through our suffering and keeps us going when life is hard.
Thank you once again for joining us. Before we hear more from our Bible teacher, let’s ask God to guide our moments together. Lord, thanks so much for the truth in your word. Thank you for the guidance of your Holy Spirit, and we look to you for wisdom as we discuss the topic of your children suffering; speak to us by your Holy Spirit and guide us. Thank you so much for the hope we have in Jesus Christ, hope for our current situation, and hope after this life. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Now let’s give our attention to Pastor J Mark Horst as he teaches us more about the question of why Christians suffer.
Do you have any hardships that really bother you? Are they puzzling to you? Are there days when you don’t know why things happen as they do? Let me help you. I bring you hope based on God’s word, the Bible. I believe the Bible is the only real foundation for hope. In it we can find the answers to our most puzzling questions. One of those questions is, why do good people suffer? Or WHY CHRISTIANS SUFFER?
The problem of suffering is common to mankind. Even people who do not believe in God have sufferings. We all face hardships, difficulties in life. I’m sure it has affected you. Sometimes Chris...
