This is Part 3 of the message series EXPLORE GOD. This series is designed to help answer the 7 biggest questions of life. The third question is this: "WHY DOES GOD ALLOW PAIN AND SUFFERING?" In this message, Pastor Chuck Bernal discusses the mystery of suffering and the four ways suffering is shown in the Bible through the lives of Jonah, Joseph, Job and Jesus. He then brings clarity and understanding by showing the way the Bible "frames" pain and suffering: Human Freedom, Divine Purpose, Glorious Future & Unconditional Love. This message was delivered on September 27, 2015 at LifePointe Church in Crowley, TX.

3. Why Does God
Allow Pain &
Suffering?

4. Suffering transcends all class,
race, ethnicity, culture,
privilege. The wealthiest, most
successful man on earth could
lose his only daughter in a car
wreck this afternoon.

5. There is no corner untouched
by grief, no demographic,
no alliance. If you haven’t
suffered, just live longer.
The point is, there is no
formula for suffering.

6. There is no one answer.
There is no pat explanation.
We don’t always get the
answer to WHY this
side of heaven.

7. ACKNOWLEDGING
THE MYSTERY OF
PAIN & SUFFERING

8. Now we see a blurred image in
a mirror. Then we will see very
clearly. Now my knowledge is
incomplete. Then I will have
complete knowledge as God
has complete knowledge of me.
(1 Corinthians 13:12 – God’s Word)

9. Jonah

10. Joseph

11. Job

12. Jesus

13. HOW GOD “FRAMES”
PAIN & SUFFERING

14. HUMAN FREEDOM
WHY DOES
GOD ALLOW
PAIN &
SUFFERING?

15. God spoke: “Let us make
human beings in our image,
reflecting our nature . . . GOD
commanded, “You can eat from
any tree in the garden, except
from the Tree-of-Knowledge-
of-Good-and-Evil.

16. Don’t eat from it. The moment
you eat from that tree,
you’re dead.” . . .

17. When the Woman saw that the
tree looked good and realized
what she would get out of it,
she took and ate the fruit and
then gave some to her husband,
and he ate.
(Genesis 1:26, 2:16-17, 3:6 – The Message)

18. Maybe you don’t want to serve
the LORD. You must choose for
yourselves today. Today you
must decide who you will
serve . . .

19. You must choose for yourselves.
But as for me and my family,
we will serve the LORD.”
(Joshua 24:15 – Easy To Read Version)

21. Love is the highest value in
the universe. And when God
decided to create human beings,
he wanted us to experience love.

22. But to give us the ability to love,
God had to give us free will to
decide whether to love or not to
love. Why? Because love always
involves a choice.

23. If we were programmed to say,
“I love you,” it wouldn’t really be
real love. So in order for us to
experience love, God bestowed
on us free will.

24. But unfortunately, we humans
have abused our free will by
rejecting God and walking away
from Him. And that has resulted
in the introduction of evil, pain
and suffering into the world.
(Lee Strobel)

25. HUMAN FREEDOM
DIVINEPURPOSE
WHY DOES
GOD ALLOW
PAIN &
SUFFERING?

26. And we know that in all things
God works for the good of
those who love him, who
have been called according
to his purpose . . .
(Romans 8:28 – New Living Translation)

27. Be glad about this, even though
it may now be necessary for you
to be sad for a while because
of the many kinds of trials you
suffer. Their purpose is to prove
that your faith is genuine.

28. Even gold, which can be
destroyed, is tested by fire;
and so your faith, which is much
more precious than gold, must
also be tested, so that it
may endure.

29. Then you will receive praise
and glory and honor on the Day
when Jesus Christ is revealed.
(1 Peter 1:6-7 – Good News Bible)

30. For I know what plans I have in
mind for you, says the Lord.
Plans for well-being, not for
bad things; so that you can
have hope and a future.
(Jeremiah 29:11 – Complete Jewish Bible)

31. HUMAN FREEDOM
DIVINEPURPOSE
GLORIOUS FUTURE
WHY DOES
GOD ALLOW
PAIN &
SUFFERING?

32. God isn’t late with his promise
as some measure lateness.
He is restraining himself on
account of you,

33. holding back the End because
he doesn’t want anyone lost.
He’s giving everyone space
and time to change.
(2 Peter 3:9 – The Message)

34. These little troubles are getting
us ready for an eternal glory
that will make all our troubles
seem like nothing.
(2 Corinthians 4:17 – Contemporary English Version)

35. I consider our present sufferings
insignificant compared to the
glory that will soon be
revealed to us.
(Romans 8:18 – God’s Word)

36. HUMAN FREEDOM
DIVINEPURPOSE
UNCONDITIONALLOVE
WHY DOES
GOD ALLOW
PAIN &
SUFFERING?
GLORIOUS FUTURE

37. Can anything ever separate us
from Christ’s love? Does it mean
he no longer loves us if we have
trouble or calamity, or are
persecuted, or hungry, or
destitute, or in danger, or
threatened with death?

38. No, despite all these things,
overwhelming victory is ours
through Christ, who loved us.
I am convinced that nothing can
ever separate us from God’s
love. Neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,

39. neither our fears for today nor
our worries about tomorrow—
not even the powers of hell can
separate us from God’s love.
(Romans 8:35, 37-38 – New Living Translation)

41. God did not create evil and
suffering and death. God did
create the "potential" for evil to
come into the world but it was
the only way to create the
potential for genuine

42. goodness and genuine love.
Isn't there the potential that
your own children could cause
you disappointment, tragedy
and pain? But you still had
them! Why?

43. Because you knew there was
also potential for great joy
and love and meaning. As did
God! He knew we'd rebel,

44. but He knew there would be
those who freely chose to
follow Him, freely choose to
take up his offer of eternal
salvation. And it would be
worth it to God - -

45. even though he would have
to give up his own son in
great pain and suffering to
achieve the redemption.
(Lee Strobel)

46. Let’s Pray