25 Reasons Why Christians Suffer

The Bible, God’s revealed Word, doesn’t give just one answer for the question of why there is suffering (pain). It gives many  answers. The list of 25 Reasons for Suffering (below) infers that one, none, or a combination of reasons could explain the “why” question. But there is no specific way to determine which answer (if any) belongs to which questioner.

Go here  for the rest of the article on How Theology Impacts a  Woman in Pain.

I find this list to be encouraging as it shows me that pain (suffering) does have a purpose.  Today I’m drawn to #4, #5, #10, #18 and #25. Going through these reasons with their corresponding Scripture would make a good Bible study.

Which of these reasons are especially helpful or encouraging  to you today?

25 Reasons Why Christians Suffer by H.L. Willmington. Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists, (1987).

	Reason	Scripture reference
1	To produce the fruit of patience	Rom. 5:3; James 1:3–4;Heb. 10:36
2	To produce the fruit of joy	Ps. 30:5; 126:5–6
3	To produce the fruit of maturity	Eccles. 7:3; 1 Pet. 5:10
4	To produce the fruit of   righteousness	Heb. 12:11
5	To silence the devil	Job 1:9, 10, 20–22
6	To teach us	Ps. 119:67, 71
7	To purify our lives	Job 23:10; Ps. 66:10–12; Isa.1:25; 48:10; Prov. 17:3; 1 Pet. 1:7
8	To make us like Christ	Heb. 12:9, 10; 1 Pet. 4:12–13; Phil. 3:10; 2 Cor. 4:7–10
9	To glorify God	Ps. 50:15; John 9:1–3; 11:1–4;21:18–19; Phil. 1:19–20
10	To prevent us from sinning	2 Cor. 12:7, 9–10
11	To make us confess when we do sin	Judg. 10:6–7, 15–16; Ps. 32:3–5; Hos. 5:15; 6:1; 2 Chron. 15:3–4
12	To chasten us for our sin	1 Pet. 4:17
13	To prove our sonship	Heb. 12:5–6
14	To reveal ourselves to ourselves	Job 42:6; Luke 15:18
15	To help our prayer life	Isa. 26:16
16	To become an example to others	2 Cor. 6:4–5; 1 Thess. 1:6–7
17	To qualify us as counselors	Rom. 12:15; Gal. 6:2;2 Cor. 1:3–5
18	To further the gospel witness	Acts 8:1–5; 16:25–34;Phil. 1:12–13; 2 Tim. 4:6–8, 16–17
19	To make us more than conquerors	2 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 8:35, 37
20	To give us insight into God’s nature	Job 42:5; Rom. 8:14–15, 18
21	To drive us closer to God	1 Pet. 4:14; 2 Cor. 12:10
22	To prepare us for a greater ministry	1 Kings 17–18; John 12:24
23	To provide for us a reward	Matt. 5:10–12; 19:27–29;Rom. 8:16–17; 2 Cor. 4:17
24	To prepare us for the kingdom	2 Thess. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:12
25	To show God’s sovereignty	Rom. 8:28; 1 Cor. 10:13;Ps. 66:10–12; Gen. 45:5–8; 50:20