God Has Designed That Suffering be a Natural Part of Our Lives Romans 5:3,4 “glory in tribulations” Philippians 1:29 “suffer for His sake” God Uses Suffering as a Test & Not as a Temptation Suffering Does Not Always Have Easy Answers Matthew 10:28-31 “more value that many sparrows” “Why God?” Need to ask these questions now and deeply think of Gods will for temporary life.

God Given Free Moral Agency Man has the power of choice – Ecclesiastes 7:29; Joshua 24:15 God has not foreordained all things- Jeremiah 32:35 God does not bring about sin – James 1:12,13 God does use sinful men to accomplish His will- 1 Corinthians 2:6-8; 3:19,20; Romans 9:17,18

Satan & The Sin he Introduced is The Source of All Suffering God made this world free of sin & good- Genesis 1:31 After the introduction of sin, both man & creation were changed – Genesis 3:16-19 Satan makes full use of man’s vulnerability to capture them to his cause- Hebrews 2:14,15

Those In Fellowship With God Have God’s Protection from Satan 1 Corinthians 10:13 “…God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Job 1:8-12 “…"Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 "Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.”

There Are Severable Reasons for Suffering When Physical Law is Violated When Spiritual Law is Violated – Galatians 6:7,8; 1 Peter 4:15 When Others Make Wrong Choices – Joshua 7:24,25; Romans 5:12; Ezekiel 18:2,20 When Natural Disasters Occur - John 9:1-3

God Is In Control Some deny God’s existence because of suffering Psalm 73:11-17 “How does God know?.. Then I understood their end.” God uses suffering for His good – 1 Peter 4:13,14,16; Matthew 5:11,12; Genesis 50:19,20 Suffering allows us to be better acquainted with God – Psalm 90:12; Job 42:5,6

God Is In Control Suffering can cause us to develop greater spiritual qualities- James 1:2,3; Romans 8:18 Suffering can increase our influence for the Lord – 1 Peter 2:11,12; 4:12-16 Suffering can allow us to help others in their suffering- 2 Corinthians 1:3-5