What does suffering do to one's faith?

By Ken
@kanuck1 (4363)
June 25, 2022 7:38pm CST
What does suffering do to one's faith? Of course, one has to have faith to begin with. We know that there is much suffering in this world. I don't think that there are many people that want to suffer. From your experience, what happens to one's faith when they experience suffering in life?
13 people like this
12 responses
@RubyHawk (99437)
• Atlanta, Georgia
26 Jun 22
We know that life isn’t easy. We have good times and bad times. We have joy and heartache. The only thing we can do is take it in stride and move ahead.
6 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
3 Jul 22
So true! We can be happy that one day all suffering will end.
3 people like this
@RubyHawk (99437)
• Atlanta, Georgia
3 Jul 22
@kanuck1 We might not be happy but it won’t be forever.
2 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
4 Jul 22
@RubyHawk "We might not be happy but it won’t be forever." Could explain a bit more? When is it that "we might not be happy"? What is it that "won't be forever"?
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@dya80dya (33082)
7 Jul 22
If we suffer too much we can lose faith.
4 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
13 Jul 22
Yes, that has happened to probably many people and that is why I think that it is very important to try to understand why God allows suffering.
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@kanuck1 (4363)
20 Jul 22
@dya80dya Suffering will end one day but happiness will be eternal.
3 people like this
@dya80dya (33082)
13 Jul 22
@kanuck1 Why God allows so much suffering?
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (84402)
• Wheat Ridge, Colorado
26 Jun 22
Well honestly it has never dented my faith but I did go through a lot...some days it does get annoying to wonder why all happens though.
3 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
3 Jul 22
Good to hear that you are able to endure and keep going.
2 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
26 Apr
@AnneW21 It's a good question. What answer have you come up with?
@AnneW21 (2138)
• Wisbech, England
17 Apr
I wonder also why some of us have to suffer more than others
2 people like this
@jobelbojel (34731)
• Philippines
18 Aug 22
People are impatient. Christians can be too. If we suffer, we ask God why this is happening? That's the automatic response to situations. Jesus Christ did not promise good life but He promised that He will be with us until the very end of age. If people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, there is peace. John 10:10 says, ....He came for us to have abundant life. James 1:2-3 says Consider it pure joy. Testing cause our faith to become resilient. It cause us to persevere. (Not verbatim).
3 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
20 Aug 22
I totally agree! Thanks for sharing those passages!
2 people like this
@AnneW21 (2138)
• Wisbech, England
17 Apr
1 person likes this
@AnneW21 (2138)
• Wisbech, England
22 Apr
Love your fine words my friend, am going to follow you on here, you speak very good words
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@innertalks (20908)
• Australia
11 Sep 22
Another question arises here to me too. Why is nature so brutal? Brutality is a form of life, because it allows life to survive, and yet life never releases itself from brutality until it consciously decides to love, instead of just getting by, by living to survive. Love doesn't just survive, it thrives. And so, why do we go through suffering? Love never suffers, as love always remains love. You feel suffering in your mind, when you lose faith in love, either partially, or fully so. Perfect love never suffers, as there is no suffering within perfection.
@kanuck1 (4363)
14 Sep 22
I find that we are not in the world that you are describing at this time. I don't see perfect love being experienced by most people and most of us are suffering in one way or another most of the time.
2 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
16 Sep 22
@innertalks Of course! Do you think both worlds will continue forever?
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@innertalks (20908)
• Australia
14 Sep 22
@kanuck1 Yes, but the point is that we should be always striving to reach that level of perfect love, with our faith in God, that it is possible to reach here, and now, too, as the Bible tells us to do, and it also says that we are not of this world, and so we should not let worldly suffering slow us down.
2 people like this
@nela13 (55684)
• Portugal
27 Jul 22
When people suffer too much, they often questioned their faith.
3 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
30 Jul 22
Yes, our faith is tested! Will we pass the test? It's up to us.
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@kanuck1 (4363)
10 Aug 22
@nela13 For sure!
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@nela13 (55684)
• Portugal
31 Jul 22
@kanuck1 that is true, but when we trust in God usually our faith will be stronger.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (133754)
• Roseburg, Oregon
26 Jun 22
Just take everything one day at a time.
2 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
3 Jul 22
Yes, we can rejoice on the good days and endure on the difficult ones. Suffering will end one day and we can look forward to that.
1 person likes this
@kanuck1 (4363)
22 Apr
@AnneW21 (2138)
• Wisbech, England
17 Apr
Yes Judy, one day at a time. There was a song ang by Lena???? in England called that, it was a very good song
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30457)
• Melbourne, Florida
30 Jul 22
I would think that everyone suffers some kind of things in life. I think it is impossible not to have anything that bothers them. I think we would all like to be like that but I never heard of anyone being completely without it, even if just a little.
2 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
22 Apr
@AnneW21 It will be so nice!
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@AnneW21 (2138)
• Wisbech, England
17 Apr
would be nice for no suffering in the world
2 people like this
@just4him (303392)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 Aug 22
It makes one stronger.
2 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
20 Aug 22
So true! If we look at things the right way then our faith is made stronger and we get closer to God.
2 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
22 Apr
@AnneW21 We have to look at suffering from God's point of view. If he allows the suffering then we can endure through it.
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@AnneW21 (2138)
• Wisbech, England
17 Apr
Hear hear, you are so right
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26163)
• Singapore
10 Sep 22
I have seen a few suffering almost every day due to ill health, family issues, finances, etc, but they are easily satisfied when they get breaks however fleeting they are. Some hold more tightly to their faith the deeper the suffering happens to be while a few lose hope.
2 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
10 Sep 22
Very few of us live a life free of suffering. In this world, suffering seems to be a part and parcel of the package of life.
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@kanuck1 (4363)
14 Sep 22
@Shiva49 So true!
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@Shiva49 (26163)
• Singapore
10 Sep 22
@kanuck1 We suffer as others can hurt us too. And the uncertainty of life hangs over us like a Damocles Sword.
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@dgobucks226 (34196)
3 Jul 22
I think in some of us we begin to doubt God. People will often ask why God would cause such suffering? In these times we might forget how God sent his son Jesus to take away the world's sins and, in the end, he suffered greatly. When we go through suffering it is like a test. How strong is our faith? Is it hope or reality for us? God listens and is always watching but does not interfere in our day-to-day living. We must believe in his purpose. Suffering makes us more resilient when future adversity may strike. Prayer is a key when facing a crisis. It helps ease anxiety, it is all powerful, and allows you to share your burden regardless of the outcome.
2 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
4 Jul 22
Well said! "People will often ask why God would cause such suffering?" Many people think that God is the cause of suffering. Do you think that is true?
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@kanuck1 (4363)
9 Jul 22
@dgobucks226 I agree! May God's kingdom come. Yes, let it come!
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@dgobucks226 (34196)
4 Jul 22
@kanuck1 No I don't. Of course, it can be heartbreaking when the outcome is bad despite all your praying. But this is the world we live in it's not perfect, and many things don't always have a rational or tidy answer. So, we need to accept the outcomes good and bad. God is not controlling our life here on earth, his kingdom is a better place, one filled with total good and no evil as we have here. Those who believe and trust in God will find a place in that kingdom.
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@Nakitakona (56322)
• Philippines
5 Jul 22
Suffering is people's way of life. It may be not much, fair or beyond one's capacity to bear. But one's unwavering faith in the Great Provider may ward it off.
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@kanuck1 (4363)
6 Jul 22
I have reached the same conclusion. If we love God and he allows suffering it would mean that we could endure it and get closer to him when suffering comes our way. I came across this passage. What do you make of this? James 1:2-4 (Easy-to-Read Version) 2 My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. 3 You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. 4 If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.
2 people like this
@kanuck1 (4363)
16 Jul 22
@Nakitakona You're right! It isn't easy. With the right attitude and God's help we'll get through it. All the best!
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@Nakitakona (56322)
• Philippines
17 Jul 22
@kanuck1 Amen and amen
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