Suffering More Than Enough-Why?

[Bix]

I realize this has been asked a thousand times before, but…

Why does God allow some people to suffer so much? I understand all people suffer in life, but what about those who endure more in a year or two than most people do in an entire life? Those who endure many lifetimes of suffering in five or ten tears… I’m not referring to people who have no morals, live life on the edge, etc, but those who try (even though they fail often) but those who strive to live a good life, keep close to God and try to help others, but end up in constant turmoil or chaos?

Are these people probably doing something sinfully wrong, yet somehow have no idea? Are they going through twenty years of hell on earth to have ten peaceful ones?

Any ideas or thoughts?

 

[chevalier]

During His time on earth, Our Lord met with a lot of suffering in people and he explained that suffering wasn’t always the punishment for a sin. As for the why… perhaps sanctification? Their own (uniting themselves with Christ and His own suffering) and of those people who might help them?

 

[Robertanthony]

I myself would like evil and suffering to be fairly and equally distributed among everyone, but spiritual socialism does not exist. In my personal life I’ve seen someone who ridiculed me and thought I was a joke back in the days prosper and achieve everything I would have liked in this life, but I don’t measure up. It’s tormenting to wonder why God gave him so much and I was left with the crumbs. You can’t control if you’re born in a tough neighbourhood where school and personal effort to achieve success are mocked, you can’t control if your parents don’t enjoy having kids etc. Let’s say a kid is bullied day in day out on his way to and from school, that’s not God’s choice for him to be intimidated and humiliated but that’s the result of other kids misusing their God-given free-will. Now perhaps God will use those years of ordeal in a positive way later on in bullied kid’s life, otherwise God is watching and not controlling everything and everyone like a puppeteer. Fairy tale aside (lived happily ever after), some who were tormented will take their own lives, be emotional wrecks, carry a lot of negative baggage etc. It’s comforting to think God is in control, meaning he controls everything like a puppeteer, however reality radically contradicts that view. I’d rather be born to parents who are emotionally stable MIT professors than to a single mother who is addicted to crack, life is very much like a lottery ticket.

 

[tonyrey]

I myself would like evil and suffering to be fairly and equally distributed among everyone, but spiritual socialism does not exist. In my personal life I’ve seen someone who ridiculed me and thought I was a joke back in the days prosper and achieve everything I would have liked in this life, but I don’t measure up. It’s tormenting to wonder why God gave him so much and I was left with the crumbs. You can’t control if you’re born in a tough neighbourhood where school and personal effort to achieve success are mocked, you can’t control if your parents don’t enjoy having kids etc. Let’s say a kid is bullied day in day out on his way to and from school, that’s not God’s choice for him to be intimidated and humiliated but that’s the result of other kids misusing their God-given free-will. Now perhaps God will use those years of ordeal in a positive way later on in bullied kid’s life, otherwise God is watching and not controlling everything and everyone like a puppeteer. Fairy tale aside (lived happily ever after), some who were tormented will take their own lives, be emotional wrecks, carry a lot of negative baggage etc. It’s comforting to think God is in control, meaning he controls everything like a puppeteer, however reality radically contradicts that view. I’d rather be born to parents who are emotionally stable MIT professors than to a single mother who is addicted to crack, life is very much like a lottery ticket.

How could evil and suffering possibly be fairly and equally distributed among everyone in such a complex world where we are at the mercy of not only choice but also chance? Human decisions and misfortunes play a large part in the outcome of events but we determine how we react to them…

 

[tonyrey]

During His time on earth, Our Lord met with a lot of suffering in people and he explained that suffering wasn’t always the punishment for a sin. As for the why… perhaps sanctification? Their own (uniting themselves with Christ and His own suffering) and of those people who might help them?

As I pointed out in the previous post human decisions and misfortunes play a large part in the outcome of events but we determine how we react to them…

 

[tonyrey]

1. Theists tend to believe everything is the result of Design
2. Atheists believe everything is ultimately due to Chance
3. The truth is between the two extremes:
4. There is an element of Chance within the framework of Design

 

[Robertanthony]

**How could evil and suffering possibly be fairly and equally distributed among everyone in such a complex world **where we are at the mercy of not only choice but also chance? Human decisions and misfortunes play a large part in the outcome of events but we determine how we react to them…

I know it’s wishful thinking on my part, but if you were to probe people’s hearts, most people believe in an immanent justice where the “vilain” is punished later on in life, but this is a brutal world in many respects and things don’t quite work out the way they do in romantic comedies. God if he wanted to could ensure that everyone gets a fair share of suffering and hardship and he’s got a whole arsenal of ways to make us suffer up his sleeve without infringing on our free-will but obviously that’s not the way he’s decided to manage things, regrettably I might add. But your initial post really was about the fact that some suffer way more than others, not how we react to the hand we’re dealt.

 

[JohnJFarren]

IF ANYONE WILL BE MY DISCIPLE [a Christian],
LET HIM GIVE UP ALL [be detached from all creatures],
AND DENY HIMSELF … AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS … DAILY …
AND COME FOLLOW ME”
**I know it’s a rough, tough, saying. And I don’t like it either! ** But I didn’t make it up. Jesus said it. And He’s God.

It is true that we humans suffer unequally and very much so. Why? Let’s not pull a copout and say, “Well, we just can’t understand. And so we must blindly accept.” No. Wrong. We have been given the Holy Spirit and the Church. We do not have all the answers … but by God’s grace we DO have some I will share with you what I have.

To some extend we have all actually sinned … and some of us very badly. There are consequences to our sins, bad consequences … and we suffer them. Jesus didn’t have personal sin but he, God, took our sins upon him and identified with them.

We certainly do suffer because of the unjust actions of other people. And certainly so did Jesus.

So far this is pretty negative. But now let’s get positive and uplifting.

Just as babies in the womb need to be born and grow and mature and learn and grow in knowledge and wisdom … so do we. And it takes a lifetime to grow up. And none of us cut teeth or are made to do what we don’t like or learn obedience … without tears and groans and pains of loss and separation. Perhaps I slightly exaggerate when I say the following – but maybe not – “Folks, it ain’t easy becoming God!” For most of us it takes a lifetime to mature into grown sons and daughters of God – and maybe longer.

And another and important reason why we suffer so unequally. As we grow mature spiritually we learn that we are to take a personal part with Jesus in what he did on Calvary. God is the Infinite Sharer and he will have us share with him in the salvation of his creation. Jesus Christ, First Cause. We creatures, the second born, are meant to have a real share as secondary and dependent causes in the Salvation of others, in the Salvation of creation. And this is a very great honor and privilege. “The things I do you also shall do … and greater than these shall you do.”

We must remember that Jesus foretold suffering and its necessity. He forewarned us. And he slowed us the Way … the One Way … the Only Way.

Let us all pray for one another … I for you … and you for me. Please.
John (JohnJFarren)

 

[Bix]

During His time on earth, Our Lord met with a lot of suffering in people and he explained that suffering wasn’t always the punishment for a sin. As for the why… perhaps sanctification? Their own (uniting themselves with Christ and His own suffering) and of those people who might help them?

Can you or anyone else elaborate on this?

Your point on sanctification - did all saints suffer?

I understand and am familiar with offering up sufferings, but honestly…I don’t truly understand how that helps others…

Would that be similar to when I pray and bless my food before eating and asking the Lord to let my food nourish and fill those who are hungry and without food?

 

[Jeanne_S]

How could evil and suffering possibly be fairly and equally distributed among everyone in such a complex world where we are at the mercy of not only choice but also chance? Human decisions and misfortunes play a large part in the outcome of events but we determine how we react to them…

I agree! My daughter and son in law are a perfect example of this. My daughter,was sexually abused(satanic ritual abuse) by a playmate’s parents when she was between the ages of 2/12 and 4. My son in law was abused by his brother and step brother for five years,in addition to being from a broken home.Eight yearsvago,my son in law became a quadriplegic via a virus of some sort.He is so consumed with self pity and anger,resentment.He can 't seem to get past all of this and move forward.My daughter,on the other hand,though she suffers with PTSD manages to go to work,in addition is working on her graduate degree,takes care of husband and kids! I firmly believe that she is able to respond differently to her trials is her belief in and love for Jesus.She knows He has given her the grace to persevere. My son in law doesn 't have any faith. I thank God every day,that in spite of all her burdens,she loves Nd trusts in Him

 

[chazcheh]

I realize this has been asked a thousand times before, but…

Why does God allow some people to suffer so much? I understand all people suffer in life, but what about those who endure more in a year or two than most people do in an entire life? Those who endure many lifetimes of suffering in five or ten tears… I’m not referring to people who have no morals, live life on the edge, etc, but those who try (even though they fail often) but those who strive to live a good life, keep close to God and try to help others, but end up in constant turmoil or chaos?

Are these people probably doing something sinfully wrong, yet somehow have no idea? Are they going through twenty years of hell on earth to have ten peaceful ones?

Any ideas or thoughts?

I believe God is teaching us in every experience we have in our lives. We pray and ask for the best lives we can and we automatically assume that the best lives are the ones we want and not necessarily the ones we require in order to get us to our ultimate salvation.
I also believe that if you endure with faith, regardless of your suffering, God will reward you with the highest graces in heaven. He may have allowed a person/ family/ community suffer, but maybe it was required to open the eyes of others to maybe bring them closer to our Lord.

 

[tonyrey]

I agree! My daughter and son in law are a perfect example of this. My daughter,was sexually abused(satanic ritual abuse) by a playmate’s parents when she was between the ages of 2/12 and 4. My son in law was abused by his brother and step brother for five years,in addition to being from a broken home.Eight yearsvago,my son in law became a quadriplegic via a virus of some sort.He is so consumed with self pity and anger,resentment.He can 't seem to get past all of this and move forward.My daughter,on the other hand,though she suffers with PTSD manages to go to work,in addition is working on her graduate degree,takes care of husband and kids! I firmly believe that she is able to respond differently to her trials is her belief in and love for Jesus.She knows He has given her the grace to persevere. My son in law doesn 't have any faith. I thank God every day,that in spite of all her burdens,she loves Nd trusts in Him

Thank you, Jeanne, for that moving account of how individuals react differently to their suffering. We can’t know to what extent anyone is responsible for their feelings in such circumstances. I had a friend who committed suicide but I believe she was so depressed she found life unbearable…

 

[tonyrey]

***How could evil and suffering possibly be fairly and equally distributed among everyone in such a complex world ***

Robert, I believe God does ensure that everyone gets a fair share of suffering and hardship in the long run but certainly not in this life because He is not in direct control of events in this world. Otherwise it would be obvious that He exists and we would no longer be free to choose what to believe and how to live.

 

[jmcrae]

I realize this has been asked a thousand times before, but…

Why does God allow some people to suffer so much? I understand all people suffer in life, but what about those who endure more in a year or two than most people do in an entire life? Those who endure many lifetimes of suffering in five or ten tears… I’m not referring to people who have no morals, live life on the edge, etc, but those who try (even though they fail often) but those who strive to live a good life, keep close to God and try to help others, but end up in constant turmoil or chaos?

Are these people probably doing something sinfully wrong, yet somehow have no idea? Are they going through twenty years of hell on earth to have ten peaceful ones?

Any ideas or thoughts?

The only things we can control, with regard to suffering, are two things:

1. Our own reactions. No one and nothing can steal your joy in the Lord unless you allow them to. Be joyful in the Lord, no matter what your circumstances are.
2. Strive in every way you know how, not to be a source of suffering for others. This means following Catholic principles of social justice. (Don’t worry - following a sound system of ethics won’t make you a liberal.)