The Works of God

What do the following verses have to say about God & human suffering?

Genesis 45:7-8~

Exodus 4:11~

1 Samuel 2:6-7~

Deuteronomy 32:39~

Job 5:17-18~

Psalm 107:17~

Psalm 119:66-67, 71~

Proverbs 16:4~

Isaiah 45:7~

Lamentations 3:37-38~

Amos 3:6~

John 9:1-3~

Acts 4:27-28~

Romans 5:3-5~

Romans 8:28-30~

2 Corinthians 4:7-11~

2 Corinthians 12:9~

Ephesians 1:9-12~

Philippians 3:7-11~

1 Thessalonians 3:1-4~

2 Thessalonians 1:3-5~

2 Timothy 1:7-11~

Hebrews 12:10-13~

James 1:2-13~

1 Peter 1:3-13~

Does the presence of suffering in the world necessarily mean that there is no God or,

if there is One, that He doesn’t care?

To believe in a loving & all-powerful God, must we gloss over the reality of evil, pain,

& suffering around us? Why or why not?

Rabbi Harold Kushner writes in his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People,

that God isn’t all-powerful. He says that God would like to help, but He isn’t

capable of solving all the problems in the world. He said, Even God has a hard time

keeping chaos in check. How do you respond to his statements?

Augustine writes, Since God is the highest good, He would not allow any evil to exist in

His works unless His omnipotence & goodness were such as to bring good even out

of evil. What is your response to this?

What disability does every human have (Romans 3:23)?

What are all humans naturally incapable of (Romans 3:10-12)?

What is the remedy to this? What Scriptures back up your answer?

Mother Teresa said, In light of heaven, the worst suffering on earth, a life full of the most

atrocious tortures on earth, will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an

inconvenient hotel. What’s your response to this?

How have difficulties, challenges, disabilities, & suffering shaped your character &

values? How have they been used in your relationship with God?

Can you thank God for how suffering has molded you into the person He wants you to

be? Why or why not?