Why God allowed Paul to suffer sometimes ?

[curiousmind]

So Paul as a missionary to the Gentiles, did the will of God, he did many wonders with God's power. Yet God allowed Paul to suffer sometimes. I mean, yes Paul survived it all but still , couldn't God at least provided some protection as a minimum requirement ? If it happened to Paul it can happen to us, so we might as well prepare mentally maybe ? Then again Paul was a missionary, we ain't missionaries, the missionaries should prepare mentally.


25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.c 27I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

 

[st_worm2]

Hello curiousmind, here is a passage that may help shed some light on this (this is the Apostle Paul speaking).

2 Corinthians 12​

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ​

8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. ​

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ​

10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. ​

Great suffering is something that the Lord Himself endured for our sakes while He lived among us as a man. Also, suffering is something that is typically part of every Christian's life, as the Bible warns us .. e.g. 2 Timothy 3:12 (incl, missionaries, the clergy, and the laity too).

Here are a couple more verses/passages about suffering, as well as some of the things that Christians have said about it too.

Acts 5​

40 They took Gamaliel's advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. ​

41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Sanhedrin, ~rejoicing~ that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. ​

42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.​

​

Hebrews 2​

18 Since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. ​

​

Hebrews 12​

7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ​

8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ​

9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? ​

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. ​

11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. ​

God bless you!!

--David

"Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering…. The love of God did not protect His own Son…. He will not necessarily protect us – not from anything it takes to make us like His Son." ~Missionary Elisabeth Elliot

"Instead of a river, God often gives us a brook, which may be running today and dried up tomorrow. Why? To teach us not to rest in our blessings, but in the Blesser Himself"
~Pastor/Theologian Arthur W. Pink

​

 

[Hidden In Him]

Hello @curiousmind, here is a passage that may help shed some light on this (this is the Apostle Paul speaking).

2 Corinthians 12 7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Very nice post, David.

This passage would be part of my response as well. I favor the interpretation that Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was literally an angel of Satan, and assigned to raise up persecution against him no matter where he went.

The reason was as Paul stated, that God's strength might be made manifest through Paul's weakness, or in other words, when he performed powerful miracles by the Spirit of God there would be no question is was coming from the Lord Jesus Christ within him and not from Paul himself, who was often beaten up and emaciated.

 

[Whatever]

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Hebrews 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

The word "fitting" means = to be suitable or proper.
It was suitable or proper for Jesus to have to go through all the suffering He did to be perfected or completed.

God puts us here as a kind of reform school to go through the school of hard knocks to cause us to grow in patience, self-control, perseverance, and godliness.

 

[for_his_glory]

Paul's thorn in the flesh was that of Satan's messenger trying to buffet him. Buffet here means to strike repeatedly as Satan used his demons to come against Paul and persecute him everywhere he went. Paul prayed three times for God to take these persecutions away and God said no as He said "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness".

God is not going to keep us from being persecuted as even His own Son Christ Jesus was persecuted to death on the cross and many martyrs after him in other ways. Even so still today as many are persecuted even to death for the witness of Christ. God gives us His power and authority through His grace to give us strength when we are persecuted like Paul said:

2Corinthians 12:9 Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Act 9:15; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; Galatians 5:11; 2 Timothy3:10, 11; 1 Corinthians 15:30-32; 2 Corinthians 4:7-18; 6:3-10; 11:23-28; 12:5-10; Galatians 4:13, 15

2Co 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
2Co 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
2Co 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
2Co 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
2Co 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
2Co 6:9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
2Co 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.




Matthew 24:13 says that those who endure until the end shall be saved. This means enduring all the trials and tribulations that this world will bring against us for the sake of our witness and testimony of Christ, Acts 14:22, Rev 2:10. The end means the end of our days here on this present earth when those in the grave and we who are still alive at His coming will then be caught up to Christ and are saved at that time as we have endured all things and never gave up our faith in Christ.

God's word never said we would not go through trials or tribulations, but through many trials and tribulations if we endure until the end then we will see the Kingdom of God, Acts 14:22, as we are all called into discipleship as we share our witness and testimony with those who have not yet repented and turned back to God. Below are twenty reasons why God allows us to go through trials and tribulations so that we will always remain in His will.


Why God allows us to go through trials and tribulations:
1. Training as God prepares us for the future
2. Patience as we rely and trust in God's timing
3. Perseverance through trials that we remain in Gods will
4. Trust as God's ways are not our ways and He has a better plan for us
5. To learn from our mistakes
6. To humble ourselves before Him
7. To discipline us
8. Teach us to be dependent on Him alone
9. To spend quiet time with God so He can speak to us
10. To teach us of His protection
11. That we also share in the sufferings of Christ that we be not ashamed
12. Strengthen us to become more like Christ
13. To develop character
14. Build up our faith in the Lord
15. For a testimony and witness to help others
16. To show us sin in our lives that we need to own up to having
17. To remind us that God is in control
18. Helps us gain knowledge and understanding God's word
19. Teaches us to be thankful
20. To take our mind off the things of the world and put them back on God

Satan's attacks are very real that can cause us to be sick, depressed and our anxiety levels can go through the roof. Satan will also put thoughts of suicide in our heads as he has done to me in the past. But, if we are seeking and growing our relationship with Christ we then learn to put on the whole armour of God as we stand against his devises, Ephesians 6:10-20.

 

[Free]

So Paul as a missionary to the Gentiles, did the will of God, he did many wonders with God's power. Yet God allowed Paul to suffer sometimes. I mean, yes Paul survived it all but still , couldn't God at least provided some protection as a minimum requirement ? If it happened to Paul it can happen to us, so we might as well prepare mentally maybe ? Then again Paul was a missionary, we ain't missionaries, the missionaries should prepare mentally.


25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.c 27I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

First, Jesus told his disciples they would have tribulation.

Mat 10:16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Mat 10:17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
Mat 10:18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
Mat 10:20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Mat 10:21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
Mat 10:22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Mat 10:23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Mat 10:24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. (ESV)

Mat 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. (ESV)

Joh 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. (ESV)

Joh 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (ESV)

Act 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
Act 9:16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (ESV)


And this is why the same is taught throughout the NT:

Act 14:21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
Act 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (ESV)

Php 1:29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
Php 1:30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. (ESV)


And this is why--sanctification:

Php 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Php 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Php 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (ESV)

Jas 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
Jas 1:3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Jas 1:4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (ESV)

If we are truly following Christ, we should be facing persecution and trials as well. But, we will face trials of all sorts anyway, as nothing works better for our sanctification like trials.

 

[curiousmind]

Paul's thorn in the flesh was that of Satan's messenger trying to buffet him. Buffet here means to strike repeatedly as Satan used his demons to come against Paul and persecute him everywhere he went. Paul prayed three times for God to take these persecutions away and God said no as He said "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness".

God is not going to keep us from being persecuted as even His own Son Christ Jesus was persecuted to death on the cross and many martyrs after him in other ways. Even so still today as many are persecuted even to death for the witness of Christ. God gives us His power and authority through His grace to give us strength when we are persecuted like Paul said:

2Corinthians 12:9 Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Act 9:15; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; Galatians 5:11; 2 Timothy3:10, 11; 1 Corinthians 15:30-32; 2 Corinthians 4:7-18; 6:3-10; 11:23-28; 12:5-10; Galatians 4:13, 15

2Co 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
2Co 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
2Co 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
2Co 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
2Co 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
2Co 6:9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
2Co 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.




Matthew 24:13 says that those who endure until the end shall be saved. This means enduring all the trials and tribulations that this world will bring against us for the sake of our witness and testimony of Christ, Acts 14:22, Rev 2:10. The end means the end of our days here on this present earth when those in the grave and we who are still alive at His coming will then be caught up to Christ and are saved at that time as we have endured all things and never gave up our faith in Christ.

God's word never said we would not go through trials or tribulations, but through many trials and tribulations if we endure until the end then we will see the Kingdom of God, Acts 14:22, as we are all called into discipleship as we share our witness and testimony with those who have not yet repented and turned back to God. Below are twenty reasons why God allows us to go through trials and tribulations so that we will always remain in His will.


Why God allows us to go through trials and tribulations:
1. Training as God prepares us for the future
2. Patience as we rely and trust in God's timing
3. Perseverance through trials that we remain in Gods will
4. Trust as God's ways are not our ways and He has a better plan for us
5. To learn from our mistakes
6. To humble ourselves before Him
7. To discipline us
8. Teach us to be dependent on Him alone
9. To spend quiet time with God so He can speak to us
10. To teach us of His protection
11. That we also share in the sufferings of Christ that we be not ashamed
12. Strengthen us to become more like Christ
13. To develop character
14. Build up our faith in the Lord
15. For a testimony and witness to help others
16. To show us sin in our lives that we need to own up to having
17. To remind us that God is in control
18. Helps us gain knowledge and understanding God's word
19. Teaches us to be thankful
20. To take our mind off the things of the world and put them back on God

Satan's attacks are very real that can cause us to be sick, depressed and our anxiety levels can go through the roof. Satan will also put thoughts of suicide in our heads as he has done to me in the past. But, if we are seeking and growing our relationship with Christ we then learn to put on the whole armour of God as we stand against his devises, Ephesians 6:10-20.

God can use suffering to humble us, to remind us that we are only human, some things we cannot control, all that we have, all the success we have, is because God allowed it. Think about the story of king Nebukadnezar and King Assyria, they said to themselves, something like this: "By my own strength and wisdom I conquered the nations.". Fact is God allowed them to conquer the nations. King Nebudkadnezar got humbled to be an animal, king Assyria got wiped out by disease or something.

 

[for_his_glory]

God can use suffering to humble us, to remind us that we are only human, some things we cannot control, all that we have, all the success we have, is because God allowed it. Think about the story of king Nebukadnezar and King Assyria, they said to themselves, something like this: "By my own strength and wisdom I conquered the nations.". Fact is God allowed them to conquer the nations. King Nebudkadnezar got humbled to be an animal, king Assyria got wiped out by disease or something.

God never said we would not have trials and tribulations, but He did teach us how to handle them.

 

[D2255]

Matthew chapter 5. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you Falsey for my names sake. Christian people will suffer some persecution and pain. Christian people will suffer hardship to enter kingdom of God. Doko in Greek means - persecution. Jesus experienced opposition and persecution from the religious community. They were envious of him. And Jesus spoke against there traditions. They had fervent hatred for Jesus. 2 Corinthians chapter 12:9. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecution, and calamities. For when I am weak, I am strong. Christian will endure tribulations and some persecution in life. Stay Steadfast and keep the faith.

 

[Tenchi]

So Paul as a missionary to the Gentiles, did the will of God, he did many wonders with God's power. Yet God allowed Paul to suffer sometimes. I mean, yes Paul survived it all but still , couldn't God at least provided some protection as a minimum requirement ? If it happened to Paul it can happen to us, so we might as well prepare mentally maybe ? Then again Paul was a missionary, we ain't missionaries, the missionaries should prepare mentally.

Well, you pointed out that Paul survived all the things he listed in his letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 11:23-28), so God did provide "some protection" to Paul, didn't He? Do you remember the instance when Paul was warned that a bunch of Jews in Damascus were plotting to murder him? He escaped town by being let down outside the wall of the city in a basket (Acts 9:23-25; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33). Not a scratch on Paul from his would-be murderers. Doesn't this seem like God gave "some protection" to Paul? It might even be that Paul was killed - stoned to death, in fact - but was revived by God to continue his work as missionary of the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 14:19-20). It doesn't seem to me, then, that Paul's suffering was, physically speaking, completely unmitigated by God.

You're quite right that those who live for Christ as they are called to do by God will suffer persecution - within the Church, perhaps, far more than in the World. In my experience, some of the fiercest opponents of the holy, Christ-loving Christian, some of the most insidious of these opponents, are those claiming to be fellow born-again believers.

So, yes, the believer who lives as Paul did, an "earthen vessel" shining the light of Christ brightly, will come under strong resistance from the Darkness and those living in it. But to whom much is given much is required (Luke 12:48). Paul was given much from God to strengthen him in the work God had given him to do (and in the resulting persecution). Paul had the Damascus Road experience and the supernatural events that immediately followed (Acts 9). Paul was supernaturally enabled to perform miracles (Acts 13:8-12; 14:8-10, etc.). He'd been taught by Christ directly (Galatians 1:12). He'd had a "heavenly vision," too (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). All of these things were given to Paul at least in part because he was going to have a very hard "row to hoe." Much was demanded of Paul by God and so much was supplied to him. See Philippians 2:12-13. I don't see unkindness on God's part in this. Do you?

 

[D-D-W]

So Paul as a missionary to the Gentiles, did the will of God, he did many wonders with God's power. Yet God allowed Paul to suffer sometimes. I mean, yes Paul survived it all but still , couldn't God at least provided some protection as a minimum requirement ? If it happened to Paul it can happen to us, so we might as well prepare mentally maybe ?

I remember hearing in a Word of Faith congregation someone talking about this, saying "If Paul knew then what we know now, he never would have went to prison."

What arrogance.

God will sometimes lead us into seasons of suffering so we will pull into Him more closely. He will give seasons of plowing and pruning so we will grow and bear much fruit.

 

[miamited]

Hi curiousmind

I notice that most of the responses to your post deal with the suffering of Paul. However, I'm thinking that what you're really getting at is why God doesn't give some kind of 'miraculous protection' to those who give their lives to work for Him.

Here's what you should file in your thinking cap on the matter.

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

So, I just think this idea that you seem to be espousing that those who work for God and honor Jesus with their lives should be specially protected by God, isn't in line with what God's word says on the matter. They are, but the protection isn't that they won't be persecuted or suffer great loss. They are protected by and in the knowledge that all man can do is cast one into prison or take their life, but God alone has the power to cast anyone into the pit. Paul was protected by God in that he will never be found in the place of torment that will befall all those who refused to listen to his message.

All of the suffering and persecution in Paul's life was because he lived a life honoring God and His Son. For that Paul well knew that He was always protected by God.