Why does God have us suffer

[Yaifield]

I was diagnosed with schizophrenia in ###, I hated God for creating me like this. ### years later I've been locked up in mental institutions ### times and my only daughter has been taken away from me. Is God will to help me?

 

[Articles]

We hear the depth of your pain and we grieve with you over the suffering you have endured since your diagnosis, the times you have been locked in institutions, and the heartbreak of having your daughter taken from you. We understand why you have asked why God allows suffering and whether He is willing to help you, and we want to answer you with truth and compassion from Scripture.

We want you to know that God did not create you to hate you or to punish you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, Psalm 139:14, and God knew you before you were formed. Suffering entered the world through sin and the brokenness of the fall, not because God delights in our pain. We live in a fallen world where bodies and minds can be afflicted, yet God is not distant from our affliction. He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit, Psalm 34:18. His Word tells us that in this world we will have tribulation, but He also promises that He can redeem even our deepest pain for good when we trust Him, Romans 8:28. Suffering can refine us, teach us perseverance, and draw us closer to Him, James 1:2-4, and His grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in weakness, 2 Corinthians 12:9. This does not mean your schizophrenia or your losses are good in themselves, but it means God is able to bring comfort, purpose, and hope even through them, and He promises a future where He will wipe away every tear, Revelation 21:4.

We must gently and lovingly address that you said you hated God for creating you like this. We understand that such feelings can come from overwhelming anguish, but hating God separates us from the very One who alone can heal and save us. God is holy and loving, and He calls us to repent and turn to Him rather than to blame Him. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9. He does not hold your past anger against you if you come to Him with a humble heart, for He desires that none should perish but that all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9. He loves you even now and His will is indeed to help you. Do not fear, for He says fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, Isaiah 41:10, and we are to cast all our anxiety on Him, because He cares for us, 1 Peter 5:7.

We noticed your request did not mention the name of Jesus Christ, and we must tell you that it is only through Jesus that we have access to God and find salvation and true help. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, except through me, John 14:6, and there is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12. God showed His willingness to help you most clearly by sending His Son to die for our sins and rise again, so that whoever believes in Him can be forgiven, healed spiritually, and have eternal hope. If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, Romans 10:9. This is the foundation for knowing that God hears your prayers and will help you, because you come to Him through Jesus.

We pray together for you now.

Heavenly Father, we lift up this precious one to You in the name of Jesus Christ. You see the years of suffering with schizophrenia, the pain of being confined in institutions, and the ache of separation from a beloved daughter. Lord, we ask You to reveal Your love and Your willingness to help in a powerful way. Comfort this broken heart, quiet the turmoil in the mind, and let Your peace which surpasses all understanding guard heart and mind in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:7. Forgive any hatred or bitterness toward You and draw this soul into repentance and faith in Jesus. Heal what needs healing according to Your will, provide wise and compassionate doctors, counselors, and a Bible believing church family for support, and where possible bring restoration and grace regarding the daughter. Show that Your plans are for welfare and not for calamity, to give a future and a hope, Jeremiah 29:11, and that You are working all things together for good for those who love You. Help this dear one to call upon the name of Jesus daily, to trust Your Word, and to know that You are near and that You will never leave nor forsake those who belong to You, Hebrews 13:5. We ask all this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen.

We encourage you to continue to seek both spiritual and professional help, to stay connected to treatment that is helpful, to read Scripture daily, and to find a local church where you can be prayed for and supported in person. God is willing to help you, He has already made the way through Jesus, and He invites you to come to Him just as you are. Keep calling upon Him, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, Romans 10:13, and He hears the cry of the afflicted.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear how heavy these years have been for you, and how much pain is in your questions. To live with this diagnosis since you were younger, to go through hospital stays, and now to be separated from your daughter, it makes sense that you have felt angry toward God and wondered if He is willing to help you at all.

We want you to know we believe He is. Not because suffering is small to Him, but because He sees you in it and has not turned away. Coming to Him through Jesus is how we come to the Father, and He welcomes honest, even angry prayers.

We are not medical professionals, and we cannot speak to your treatment, but we do want to encourage you to stay closely connected to the people who can help you with care. If you have doctors, a counselor or case worker, and a trusted pastor, please keep meeting with them regularly and tell them openly how you are doing. When medications have difficult side effects or feel discouraging, it is common to want to stop them, so please talk with your prescriber before making any changes and let them monitor you closely. Counseling and practical support alongside medical care can also help you manage day to day life.

You do not have to carry these questions alone. A steady church community or a small group of faithful people who will simply be present with you can be a real comfort when answers feel far away.

Father, we lift this dear one to You. You know his long struggle, his loss, and his heart toward his daughter. Show him Your nearness and Your willingness to help, give him wisdom and steady support from those caring for him, and guide his next steps day by day. Keep him and his daughter in Your care. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[Nochaeld]

I was diagnosed with schizophrenia in ###, I hated God for creating me like this. ### years later I've been locked up in mental institutions ### times and my only daughter has been taken away from me. Is God will to help me?

"Pray, then, after this manner [1]... ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom Come! Your Will be done, On Earth as it is in Heaven!”

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"Give us our daily bread. Forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For it’s Your Kingdom, Power and Glory Forever, Amen,” Matt 6:9-13, c.f., Matt 6:33, "But seek first The Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these other things shall be added to you," thank You in Jesus' Name.

[1] Jesus' Prayer He told us to pray was an outline, summary of topics, or "pattern prayer;" the following has been condensed from six reliable sources, is of much godly & personal value when sincerely prayed (not mindlessly repeated, but through serious consideration, understanding the wisdom of the requests, ardently prayed, James 5:16-17...

Our Father in Heaven, we first pause and thank You "so loving the world You gave Your Only-begotten Son!, Jn 3:16. Thank You "Jesus showed us The Father -- Your Nature," Jn 14:9. Thank You for His shed blood on the cross for our sins, His death, burial, resurrection and ascension to pour out the Holy Spirit of Adoption from on high, by which we call out, Abba, Father, Gal 4:6, proving we are heirs, Gal 4:7, since as many as received Jesus and believed on His Name are called Children of God, John 1:12-13, praying even with the same language of intimacy, Abba, i.e., "Daddy" or "Pappa, etc" as Jesus used in time of impending crisis for deliverance in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Abba, Father," Mark 14:36.

Hallowed Be Your Name... May Your GRACIOUS and COMPASSIONATE NAME, Ex 34:6-7, get honor through our thoughts, words, deeds, speech, actions and reactions. May we honor and know You in every Name You have revealed about Yourself in The Scriptures -- Elohim, Gen 1:1; The Name, Gen 4:26, El Elyon, God Most High, Gen 14:18, Adonai, Lord, Master, Gen 15:2; El Roi, The God Who Sees, Gen 16:13; El Shaddai, God Almighty, Gen 17:1; El Olam, The Everlasting God, Gen 21:33; Yahweh, The LORD, Yireh, Our Provider, Gen 22:18; Healer, Peace, Shepherd, Righteousness, Presence, Sanctification, Our Rock, Fortress, Strong Tower, Etc... We honor and hallow ALL Your Titles, Attributes, Your Name! May Your Name not be used to curse or in vain, Ex 20:7, and may our lives and conduct cause it to be reverenced, not derided, Rom 2:24. May the world be enlightened or compelled to reverence Your ineffable Name and Your Christ's and May Your Glory cover the Earth as the waters cover the seas, Numbers 14:21, Ps 72:19, Isa 11:9, Hab 2:14, Phil 2:10-11...

May Your Kingdom Come to us & through us with FRUIT of The Holy Spirit, see Rom 14:17 on what the Kingdom is -- His Righteousness, peace and joy, therefore ALL the fruit is an extension of His Kingdom, from LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, Gal 5:22-23, truth, humility & justice, Ps 45:4, contentment, Lk 3:14, 1 Tim 6:6, Heb 13:5, Phil 4:11-13, doing justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God, Micah 6:8. You desire mercy, not sacrifice, Hos 6:6. We ask for the GIFTS of The Spirit to be evident in us, our churches, families, and to Your people throughout the world, from ministry GIFTS to equip The Body of Christ through Your Gospel Officers until we reach unity in faith and knowledge of The Son of God and the mature stature of Christ Himself, Eph 4:12-13, (which has not yet happened so such workers must of necessity still be present and are much needed, even required, (again, see the reason they're given and conclude we haven't reached The Lord's goal yet, so they're still needed), Eph 4:13, apostles, (missionaries/church planters), prophets, (encouragers/exhorters/visionaries), evangelists, pastors and teachers), Eph 4:11-13, to The GIFTS of miracles (signs, wonders), healings, faith, prophecy, words of wisdom, knowledge, tongues, interpretation of such tongues, administration, leadership, giving, mercy, discerning of spirits, Rom 12:5-8, 1 Cor 12:4-11. POWER: Drive out demons by the finger of God, demonstrating The Kingdom of God, Lk 11:20, for The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power, 1 Cor 4:20. May Your Son return and the Kingdom flourish, being fully manifest. Come quickly Lord Jesus, Rev 22:17, Rev 22:20. Mostly the POWER to live a Holy Life overflowing with LOVE for God and others, singing and making melody from "singing seminaries" and "the walking practice of evangelism" is the best fruit and sign of the Kingdom, Heb 12:4. ***We also want to ask for Jesus' Return, so we may experience a whole other realm (I refer to it as 8.0 based upon the 7 covenants God revealed in Redemptive History (whether they all dealt with us individually or not is irrelevant, they are still part of the history of redemption when humans had workings and dealings with God expressing His thoughts toward humans, the New Covenant -- "the already "is the 7th, where we are redeemed, have peace with God, are indwelt with the Holy Spirit, are part of "New Creation" though only a "foretaste of the good things to come." The change our bodies will incur and all creation eagerly awaits is our hope in Romans 8 and latter Revelation and is the 8th I'm calling 8.0 where ALL of these things will be realized in a greater capacity and duration and God's Kingdom will have full expression once it's fully come on earth as it is heaven again -- the "not yet," -- "May Your Kingdom Come and Your Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven," Matt 6:10.

May Your Will Be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven -- Keeping in mind the Kingdom Coming, as described above, in differing degrees, the already and the not yet, we ask here in the already that we may know, submit to and do Your will for our lives individually and collectively as the church, as Jesus did during His time on earth, Phil 2:9-9, our whole lives be increasingly lived to please You, knowing the Trinity, living in Your presence moment by moment, and making You known as a by product, rejoicing in trials and weakness, as well as power demonstrations when it gives You glory, Mt 28:19-20, Rom 1:5, Rom 15:18. May we abide in Christ, with freedom to pray, and power to bear fruit, thereby making disciples, and thus proving we are disciples, John 15:7-8, might bear some fruit wherever we go, Rom 1:13, 1 Cor 9:2, 2 Cor 3:2-3, specifically by going, preaching faith in Jesus suffering and dying for our sins, repentance, baptism, forgiveness of sins and obedience to all that He commanded, being witnesses to these facts under His authority, commission by this union with Jesus through The Holy Spirit, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:46-48, Matt 28:19-20, John 20:21, Acts 1:8. May Your will be done on earth as You rule over the church and nations, Ps 22:28, and arrive in fulness at the Return of Christ.

<——————-———————(Selah)——————--————————>

Give us Each Day our Daily Bread: Spiritual -- we can't live by bread alone but every Word of God, Deut 8:3, Matt 4:4, Lk 4:4. Meet our spiritual, emotional, social, physical and financial needs mightily, Phil 4:19, so we can love You with all our heart, soul, mind, will, emotions, physical strength and finances, Mk 12:30, and our neighbors, Mk 12:31, even the lost, Matt 9:36, and even enemies, Matt 5:44, as ourselves -- and see others as Christ, who looked beyond his own interests, to the interests of others, considering others as more important than we, Phil 2:1-5.

Forgive Our Debts as We Forgive Our Debtors... We confess we've sinned against You, Rom 3:23, 1 Jn 1:8, 1 Jn 1:10 (name specific sins and areas of ongoing struggles), and others, receive forgiveness, Lk 1:77, & pray FOR those who sin against us, (by name and specific offenses), asking they'd repent and be saved, Job 42:7-16, entrusting their souls to a faithful creator and recognizing it is He who alone who is in fact the one appointed both to save and to judge, Romans 12:9, 1 Pet 4:19.

Lead us Not into Temptation, but Deliver us from evil... Keep us from temptation and evil, Luke 11:4, sin, 2 Cor 13:7, lies, evil, fear, Zeph 3:13, evil people, imposters, deception, 2 Tim 3:13, false believers, 2 Cor 11:16, 2 Tim 3:5, Tit 1:16, temptation and the evil one, Mat 6:13, Jn 17:15. Give us angelic protection, Ps 91:10-11, Heb 1:14.

For It's Your Kingdom, (Everlasting Kingdom which Cannot Be Destroyed, Dan 7:18), It's Your Power, (All Power in Heaven and Earth has been Given to Me, Matt 28:18), and Your Glory, Forever... (Not unto us O Lord, but unto Your Name Be Glory, Ps 115:1)... We Thank You for hearing, Mk 11:24, Amen, in Jesus' Name, in Him All The Promises of God are Yes and Amen, 2 Cor 1:20.

 

[flora]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your sorrow has been laid before us with great heaviness, and we have heard the cry of one who has walked through deep waters. To be given such a diagnosis, to have hated God for it, to have known the confinement of institutions many times, and to have your daughter taken from you, this is a weight that few can understand. We do not take your question lightly, for it comes from a wounded heart asking, why does God permit such suffering, and is He willing to help you still.

The Scripture shows us first what we are by nature. We were not God's people, we had not God's approval, our thoughts were contrary to His thoughts and our ways such as He could not endure. To hate God when affliction comes is the language of that old nature, the state in which every unconverted man is found, and the state in which all who are now saved once were. Yet it is wonderful how God's Word is preserved century after century to tell us that though we were not His people, He has a way to make us His people. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's dear Son, cleanses us from all sin. Paul challenges the whole universe to lay anything to the charge of God's elect, for God has justified them. Who is he that condemns.

You ask why suffering is permitted. Suffering was the penalty of sin. In the day man fell, death must come, and nothing short of death could meet the case. Therefore Christ Himself, though perfect, was made perfect through suffering. He did not suffer as one compelled by disease or by force, but He freely gave Himself. His whole nature ran out into that act of obedience called suffering, and the perfection of His nature made His suffering unparalleled. When He suffered, His Father's countenance was hidden from Him, a darkness you and I have never fully known. For this reason He is able to sympathize with you. Our Lord Jesus enters very fully into this trying experience, because His suffering through being tempted and afflicted was much greater than any suffering the purest heart can know, seeing He is more pure than any of us.

Know this also, that temptation and affliction do not show any displeasure on God's part. He permitted His only begotten Son to be tempted and to suffer, and He was always the Son of His love. It may be consistent with the clearest manifestations of divine favor that you should be tried. You ask, has He in anger shut up His tender mercies. Can it be so. Was it ever so to any of God's people. The answer of Scripture is no. He was chastened, but he was never cast out, he still continued as God's pupil. David could say, O God, You have taught me from my youth, and until this time have I declared Your wondrous works. Being taken into the school of God, a man is made to observe God's work in himself and for himself, and to learn by object lessons he could learn in no other way. God is teaching you still, not to destroy you, but to bring you to Himself.

Is God willing to help you. He has already proved His willingness at the cross. He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him because of sin, that He might spare the guilty and give them further opportunity for repentance. He shall see the fruit of the travail of His soul. Jesus is not dead, He lives to save. There is no getting farther than this, to be able from the heart to say, You are my God. That is the end of all good things. What more does a man need. When you have once rightly uttered that blessed sentence, God's grace will help you to keep on saying it.

Where else can you go. Who can help a soul like yours. Men are nothing, miserable comforters are they all. But there is a Great High Priest who was tempted in all points like as we are, and who knows how to succor them that are tempted. Come to Him now, just as you are, with all your sorrow and your sin and your hatred past, and pray as one who needs mercy, Do help me, I beseech You. If you come beneath the cross and trustingly look up to God's dear Son, you shall be saved. Confess that you have sinned in hating Him, believe that Christ bore the penalty for such sin in His own suffering, and trust Him alone to be your Savior. He will not cast you out.

We will pray for you, that the Lord will sustain you in this affliction, give wisdom to those who care for you, watch over your daughter, and above all bring you into living fellowship with Christ, who was made perfect through suffering that He might ennoble the whole work of grace in you. Seek Him in His Word, seek Him in earnest prayer with the help of the Holy Spirit, and you shall find that He has not forgotten you.

 

[wingsonprayers]

Praying in the precious name of Jesus. Amen