 Suffering is pervasive. As history progresses, we experience different forms of suffering. For example, in Medieval days, half of all children died before age 10. Now, with advances in technology, education, and lifestyle, our suffering is more often mental rather than physical. To illustrate, our anxiety towards suffering may have intensified.
Sometimes, we bring suffering onto ourselves with careless decision-making, but often our suffering can seem senseless—the loss of a loved one, natural disasters. The 2004 tsunami, comparable to the power of 550M Hiroshima atomic bomb, killed nearly 250,000 people. Why do these things happen? If God is good and all-powerful, why doesn’t He prevent them? The Bible is filled with writers protesting to God on sufferings, particularly what they considered the sufferings unjustified. Yet the Bible doesn’t explain why there is suffering, other than the world is broken and cursed. How do we cope with it? First, know that our God understands suffering due to His personal experience. Christ went through the ultimate unjustified suffering: tortured, nailed on the cross, left totally alone, and even forsaken by His Father. The resurrected body still carried the scars of the nails, revealing a wounded God. Second, know that God suffers with us. Christ wept when His friends suffered (John 11:33-35). His love is always with us. Christians never suffer alone and are encouraged to seek comfort in friendship with one another. Third, know that there is hope. Christ shows the ultimate hope at His resurrection. One day, He will wipe all tears. Paul described his suffering on earth as light and momentary because eternal glory far outweighed his temporary pain (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). Finally, think beyond yourself. Help the least (Matthew 25:40-46) and suffer with those who suffer. Then we share Christ’s suffering and will share His glory (Romans 8:16-17). Though the Bible does not explain why there is suffering, we know our God understands suffering, and He suffers with us. One day, Christ will heal all wounds. We must learn to help others even in the midst of our own suffering. Summarized from a John Ortberg sermon: https://menlo.church/series/thats-a-great-question#/modal/message/4972/mlo 什么上帝允许这么多的苦难？ 从古至今痛苦无处不在。人类随着历史的进展经历了不同形式的苦难。例如在中世纪时期50％的儿童在10岁之前就死亡了。现在随着科技、教育和生活方式的进步，人们肉体的痛苦减少了，但精神上的痛苦却没有。举例来说，今天人们对苦难的忧虑可能增加了。 有些痛苦源于人为粗心的错误决定，但大多数的苦难似乎毫无意义，就如失去亲人，又如自然灾害带来的巨大损失。2004年的海啸相当于550M广岛原子弹的能量，造成近25万人丧生。为什么这样的事情会发生？如果上帝是慈爱而又大能的，为何不制止苦难的发生呢？ 圣经中充满了作者向上帝抗议苦难的记载，特别是那些他们认为没有道理的苦难。 但是圣经没有解释为什么有苦难，只是指出这是一个破碎和被诅咒的世界。那么当如何应对苦难呢？ 首先，要知道上帝了解苦难，因为祂自己亲身经历过痛苦。 基督经历了终极没有道理的痛苦。祂受的痛苦完全不是因为祂的错。 祂被人折磨，孤单地钉在十字架上，甚至被父神离弃。祂复活的身体仍然带有钉痕，显露出一位受伤的上帝。 其次，要知道上帝与我们一起受苦。当祂的朋友受苦时, 基督在哭泣。祂的慈爱与理解永远伴随着我们。基督徒永远不会独自一个人受苦。在苦难中，当彼此寻求友谊中的安慰。 第三，要知道有盼望。基督的复活显示出最终的盼望。有一天祂会擦干所有的眼泪。保罗将自己在世上的痛苦描述为至暂至轻，因为永恒的荣耀远远超过了他短暂的苦楚 （哥林多后书 4：16-17）。 最后，应该想广一点，不要只关注自己。帮助卑微的人（马太福音25：40-46），与受苦的人一起受苦。如此就分享基督的痛苦，分享祂的荣耀 （罗马书8：16-17）。 尽管圣经没有解释为什么有苦难，但我们知道上帝理解并且与我们一同受苦。基督有一天会治愈所有的创伤。即使在痛苦中，我们也要学会帮助他人。
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