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Ten Reasons to Believe in a God Who Allows Suffering

  1. Lesson One
    Suffering Comes With The Freedom To Choose
    5 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    Suffering Reveals What Is In Our Hearts
    5 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  3. Lesson Three
    Suffering Takes Us To The Edge Of Eternity
    5 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    God Can Turn Suffering Around For Our Good
    5 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    Pain Can Warn Us Of Danger
    5 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  6. Lesson Six
    In Times Of Crisis We Find One Another
    5 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  7. Lesson Seven
    Suffering Gives Opportunity To Trust God
    5 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  8. Lesson Eight
    Pain Loosens Our Grip On This Life
    5 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  9. Lesson Nine
    God Suffers With Us In Our Suffering
    5 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  10. Lesson Ten
    God's Comfort Is Greater Than Our Suffering
    5 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  11. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Lesson Overview

Suffering often occurs at the hand of others. But it has a way of revealing what is in our hearts. Capacities for love, mercy, anger, envy, and pride can lie dormant until awakened by circumstances. Strength or weakness of heart is found not when everything is going our way but when flames of suffering and temptation test the mettle of our character. As gold and silver are refined by fire, and as coal needs some time and pressure to become a diamond, the human heart is revealed and developed by enduring the pressure and heat of time and circumstances. Strength of character is shown not when all is well with our world but in the presence of human pain and suffering.

Lesson Objectives

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to:

  • Explain why strength of character is shown in the presence of human pain and suffering.
  • Explain how God uses suffering to unmask our hearts.
  • Explain how faith enters into and affects the experience of suffering.

Personal Reflection

As you proceed through this lesson have the following question in mind.
In response to the illustration of the cup of hot chocolate being bumped, spilling its true contents, how much bumping is required to reveal your true heart?