Why does my suffering keep coming back?

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WatchfulPilgrim,

I was quite foolish and sinful as a younger man.
I am quite sure my suffering has to do with punishment for that and I see more clearly now that it is. In other words how my specific causes to my suffering and ailments are related to the thoughts and deeds I did when I was younger. I knew best as far as I was concerned when I was younger. I regret that so much and tell the Lord how much I regret being so foolish.

I don’t know if I got the verse correct. I hope I did.

I think my suffering can still be related to current things I’m doing and not just the past. A few current things or one thing. Like one main thing is what I can think of but I can’t figure out how to get it to change. I think it must take time.

Sometimes I think there is a certain amount of time that God has planned for me to suffer punishment and once the time comes I’ll be all better. But I also think the suffering is for me to suffer with Jesus Christ and offer my sufferings to the Heavenly Father. It has other purposes perhaps.

I also tend to judge people too much when I should listen to Christ and not judge my fellow man.

Take care,
Adam
 
Samson01,

Could you explain further on what you said here:
Isn’t suffering only redemptive when in a state of grace? Otherwise, isn’t suffering an “actual grace”?
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TreeOfLife123 said:
Samson01,

Could you explain further on what you said here:
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Basicaly, unless you are in a state of grace, suffering is not united to that of Christ and is to turn you around, nothing more. An actual grace is a gift to do so.
 
Lets get one thing straight…I do not believe for one minute that God wills our suffering, nor do I believe that suffering is an essential part of catholicism!!!

God loves us unconditionally. Suffering is part of life and what is important is how we respond to it: we can seek out the resources God has given for our healing and support and we can trust in Gods Love and his redemption. Faith is not an escape route from suffering but God in christ can use even our suffering as a route to greater healing and knowledge of his love.
 
I have now understood the answer to my original question of why the suffering keeps coming back: The purpose is cleansing and purification and it is a daily process and can take a long time. The return of the suffering is part of the continued cleansing process. It’s not all at once and can take many years and even longer.

My previous sin made me impure. From what I’ve read in Catholicism cleansing is a daily process and takes a lot of time. Confession is very much a part of the cleansing process. Actually if I recall correctly cleansing is a lifelong process in Catholicism.

The Heavenly Father showed me and had me understand. There are so many ways He can have us understand.

Adam
 
TreeOfLife123 said:
I have now understood the answer to my original question of why the suffering keeps coming back: The purpose is cleansing and purification and it is a daily process and can take a long time. The return of the suffering is part of the continued cleansing process. It’s not all at once and can take many years and even longer.

My previous sin made me impure. From what I’ve read in Catholicism cleansing is a daily process and takes a lot of time. Confession is very much a part of the cleansing process. Actually if I recall correctly cleansing is a lifelong process in Catholicism.

The Heavenly Father showed me and had me understand. There are so many ways He can have us understand.

Adam
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I would only say that you should share your understanding with a priest. It’s not for us to decide. I told people something similar about my own illness and subsequent healing and got a mixed reaction from different people - but ultimately my priest agreed that it was from God most likely. And ultimately, even a priest can’t know for certain unless there is some obvious sign that it is contrary to the faith.

In either case, God Bless You, and you can always trust that He will not take you into anything that He will not provide you with the grace for.
 
If people had commited a certain sin a lot in their past before confessing and repenting, and they find themselves suffering a lot similar to that sin for years before eventually going away totally, could it be said that it may have been to teach them a lesson and purify them?
 
JoyfulLife said:
If people had commited a certain sin a lot in their past before confessing and repenting, and they find themselves suffering a lot similar to that sin for years before eventually going away totally, could it be said that it may have been to teach them a lesson and purify them?
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My confessor years ago said this can be so, if I understand you correctly. For instance - one could be plagued with memories of a certain sin and the memories could be a temptation. The struggle with the memories could serve as a means of purification so long as we do not submit to them. This is not God leading us into temptation, but the result of having subjected ourselves to the same sin over and over. Iow, we do it to ourselves. But the end result is the struggle to overcome the temptation, and by the grace of God, the ability to overcome it completely. We should offer up our struggles and ask God for the grace to overcome the sin.
 
I have severe depression, which can seem very ‘unfair’ at times. Like you, I pray for the pain to go away, but it always comes back. I think that suffering of any kind is part of our human experience, and it helps to try and see all suffering as a chance to realise our better nature.

Looking at suffering as ‘punishment’ is not helpful. God doesn’t want us to suffer, and we can alleviate our pain through daily struggle.

Keep strong and keep the faith!
 
Hi,

Noone should seek suffering, or give suffering to another.

When someone has a flat tire, noone wants it.
But we should see beyond that and realize that we
experience unpleasantness to show to Jesus that
whatever comes our way will not interrupt our love
for him. Thank him.

Something burning on the stove, thank him, it may have
been your house.

Jesus said that if someone suffers because he justly
deserves it for his wrongdoing, then there is no
reward. But if someone suffers who is innocent then
he will be rewarded. Always thank him and say that
you trust him to know best. In everything.

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God
and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his
sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
Ro 8;17
 
TreeOfLife123 said:
Razredge and others,

Please read this section from scripturecatholic.com/suffering.html:

Heb. 12:5-7 - “do not lose courage when you are punished, for the Lord disciplines whom He loves. The Lord loves each one of us more than we love ourselves, and will only permit suffering if it brings about our salvation.” A good verse and the quotation is the writing of John Salza. I personally love his website and feel it is very helpful.

I do think that the Heavenly Father punishes me as a good father would punish their son. For correction and discipline. He effects the mind too. He can effect our whole being in so many ways. I love Him! This is also stated in the old testament that God punishes those whom he loves for the purpose of correction.
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While you can view suffering in a lot of different ways, like in that verse - it doesn’t mean that it is necessarily true. Or that it is borne out by the evidence, which is the problem with such explanations.

I personally find it far easier (and more plausible) to believe that God just lets things run their course rather than wracking your brain wondering what you great wrong you did to incur the wrath of God.
 
I would like to make a general point if you don’t mind. Suffering never really goes away. You might be completely healed of what you are suffering from now but suffer from a completely different thing in the future. It might not be as bad, or as long, but it will happen in some way. It all stops when we get to Heaven. So many holy people suffered greatly throughout their lives. By being Catholic and faithful to God we do not get a guarantee that God will shield us from suffering.

I think it would be helpful if you could accept this so you don’t fall into heresy this early on in your spiritual journey. There are Christian denominations that believe that if you are faithful to God you will not suffer, or that suffering is a sign that God is punishing you. This is a very dangerous way of thinking and it is not what the church teaches. I’m not saying that you are on this path but it is good to clarify this because you are in the early stages of conversion.

May I suggest another thing: when you pray for healing ask God to help you deal with your pain. Ask for His will to be done. Ask Him to help you deal with this even if it is not His will that you are completely healed right now. The Our Father is a wonderful prayer and it addresses everything we need.
 
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