Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
Why did I have to suffer so much for so long?
Answer:
As I reflect on my life, I realize that I had a faulty theology of suffering. I thought that God only wanted to heal me, but now I understand that sometimes God's plan is not to take away our suffering, but to use it to bring us closer to Him. I have seen this in my own life, particularly when I've suffered from severe migraines. At first, I would cry out to God, "Why must this suffering go on so long?" But over time, I've come to realize that God was using my suffering to teach me patience and trust in Him. I also had a limited understanding of God's purposes and plans. I thought that if I was suffering, it was because God had forsaken me, but now I see that God is always working, even in the midst of our suffering. I've come to understand that God's ways are not my ways, and that His plans are often mysterious and hard to understand. This realization has helped me to trust God more and to see my suffering as an opportunity to grow in my faith. As a pastor, I've seen many people struggle with suffering, and I've come to realize that our suffering is often a result of our own spiritual longings. We were created to crave God, and anything less than God leaves us feeling empty and unfulfilled. When we suffer, it's often because we're not fully experiencing God's presence in our lives. This realization has helped me to see my suffering as a call to deeper intimacy with God, rather than as something to be avoided or escaped. I've learned to trust God's plan, even when it's hard to understand, and to see my suffering as a means of drawing closer to Him.
Sources:
depression
edward welch
raising passionate jesus followers
phil diane comer
why does god allow evil
clay jones
systematic theology
wayne grudem
gods crime scene
j warner wallace
sacred marriage
gary thomas
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