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Article by Jack Wellman
Jack Wellman is a father and grandfather and a Christian author and pastor of Heritage Evangelical Free Church in Udall, KS & also a Prison Minister. He did his graduate work at Moody Theological Seminary. His books are include: “Teaching Children The Gospel/How to Raise Godly Children,“ “Do Babies Go To Heaven?/Why Does God Allow Suffering?,“ "The Great Omission; Reaching the Lost for Christ," and “Blind Chance or Intelligent Design?, Empirical Methodologies & the Bible."
Jack has written 1124 articles on What Christians Want To Know! Read them in the archive below.
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thanks for writing this article. i have been wondering about this topic ever since i read a book called “Supernatural Childbirth” by Jakie Mize who is a christian who firmly believes and has experienced childbirth without pain. she beleives that if we have enough faith, trust in God with everything we have we can be delivered of every physical pain because as christians we are redeemed.the book goes on to include several women who followed the authors tips and prayed the prayers (which i could see no fault or wrong in) and they too had children completely naturally and without pain….this article is quite helpful.
Thank you so much Susie. I appreciate your kind remarks and for visiting us here at the website. Please come back again soon. For thousands of years, women have been giving birth without pain relief. That is pretty strong faith that Jakie has.
I’m personally going through a rough time now, I work insane hours and I’m in a burnout, discouraged, and it feels like I’m in a dark whirlpool thats never gonna end.
Anyway, like they say “the only way up, is up” and I have 2 choices, either deteriorate further or look to God for help – cause us much as the Christians before us has suffered there are also many Christians today who’s experiencing enormous blessings and peace in their lives…. exactly what I’m praying for now.
If you have time will you please pray for my situation. thanks
Hello Christof. I love your line that the only way up is up. So true. I have a schedule that is likewise brutal. The bi-vocational pastor’s life is not one that I would recommend. I work, pastor a church, have a nursing home ministry 3 times a week, write letters to prisoners, help one homeless man, have 1 daughter left in the nest who has High School band, basketball, do Outreach on Saturdays and also write for this website. What concerns me is that only 1 in 10 pastors will stay in their vocation until retirement and only 1 in 35 of bi-vocational ones, so I truly do understand. Even so, it would be a privilege to pray for you friend. It feels as if I already know you and will fall on my face, hands, and knees before the Mercy Seat in Jesus’ Name for you friend. God bless you and thank you for allowing us this honor and for gracing us again with your comments. You are always so transparent and honest that it truly is a pleasure to hear from you.
Jack,
Indeed sounds like you are working very hard – at least most of your work is for God and that must be such a blessing in itself.
I have huge admiration for what you guys are doing, what will this world be without people like you spreading the good message.
Thank you Christof. Very kind words from you my friend and I feel I know you well enough to think of you as one. I would add that the world is much better off with men of faith and godly wisdom like you sir that adds such edifying, exhorting, and encouraging words like you. That is our reward.
Another awesome study, Jack. I wish avoiding suffering were as easy as “having enough faith,” but your point that faith *brings* suffering is correct.
Thank you again Joe. I see you and Barnabas are related. The Son of Encouragement you are.
This is realy inspiring, I thank God for this message, many ask how come I am still suffering, I am a christian, I live the kind of life that is expected from a christian but I still suffer.
Thank you so much Caritas for your very kind words. As I said to Ajayi, ultimately, all suffering can help a Christian and suffering can bring people to God for help and then He can point them to Christ for salvation, so you see, God uses suffering and allows evil but for our own good. Rom 8:28 : “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” and Rom 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Jack,how can a person differenciate between God’s suffering and evil suffering?or is all the suffering from God?
What an awesome question Ajayi. One of the best I have been ever asked. If you remember Job, God allowed but never caused evil or suffering. We have a fallen world, but God can even use evil as Joseph said in Genesis 50:20, ” But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” God may allow us to suffer, but suffering creates character in us and we learn to depend upon Him. God does never cause evil, the Devil is, but the Devil is only as strong as God allows and He is God’s Devil and keeps him in check. Ultimately, all suffering can help a Christian and suffering can bring people to God for help and then He can point them to Christ for salvation, so you see, God uses suffering and allows evil but for our own good. Rom 8:28 : “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” and Rom 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Does this help my friend?
Thank you jack,I really appreciate your enlightment on this topic.may God bless you abundantly.
Jack i am scared now, i am of 12 years of age and i read the bible and pray everyday before i sleep and before i eat and other times, but in school i have been called a bible basher which means your obsessed with the bible, i just want to stop this suffering, but i guess it all pays off my faith because i will be reunited with my heavenly father, but please give me advice on how to stay strong
Hello Jean-Marc. In the first place, all who live Godly lives will suffer persecution and Jesus said that since they persecuted Him they will persecute you. The good news is that if you are being persecuted for your faith in Christ, then you know you are on the right side and that Christ stands with you. We actually are blessed Jesus said when they revile us, persecute us, say evil things about us for great is your reward in heaven. Just keep in the gospels and particularly John and 1, 2, and 3 John to keep strong in the faith. Your reward in heaven is great my friend. Just think about your eternal destiny and those who die without Christ is.
God provides the strength, even when you don’t see it. That seems almost hypocritical for me to say right now, as I’m dealing with a wife who has neuroendocrine carcinoma in her liver, and I definitely do *not* feel strong. At the same time, I’m not strong enough to do anything *but* hang in there. Regardless of what happens to me or to her, I know staying in Christ is the *only* way to make it through life alive. 😉
Joe, it’s not hypocritical and you are so right! I pray for you and your wife.
My husband, my father and father-in-law all battled cancer within these past 5 years – my husband is declared cancer free in May! Both my father and father-in-law are well after surgery and treatment! (neither are Christians but we prayed for them)
May God be with you and your wife and loved ones and healing upon her, strength to carry you through!
Thank you, Jack, for this article!
Bad things happened to me a lot, and my siblings, who are Christians, often point to some kind of ‘secret sin’ I might have, which they think is the cause for misfortune or suffering. They go to ethnic churches (speaking only one language excluding English or other speakers). Anyway, I believed I was cursed because they always assumed I was to blame for everything bad that happened to me.
I go to church and my church refuted my siblings’ claims immediately. I just happened to come across this article and now I know it’s not my fault.
My pastor had said, heroes aren’t born that way too. God puts a lot of trials and tribulations to build character, and these things either make or break a person. Heroes endured them and their faith strengthened in the process. I thought that was a good analogy too. Not that I am a hero or anything. It helps me understand that to be refined more into Christ’s image one must go through the fire just like pottery, God being the potter.
Thank you again and God bless you for helping believers and non believers alike with your insightful articles!
Judy, this is such and encouragement. That “heroes” analogy is a very good one. I know that God says that as a Father, “He corrects every son (and daugther) that He loves.” Storms of life are like this in effect: There are storms of affection, of correction, of direction, of reflection, and perfection. All in all, they are always for our best. Thanks Judy.
I have a friend who killed her self last month. it was Dec. 3 2012.
I had been talking to her every day for a year.,she had no faith that things would get better. She felt so alone. I kept telling her she was never alone, that God is always with you. I have been in the valley. God was carrying me the whole time. Yes it was hard to know my husband was dying of cancer. I am a stronger person today . God did take my husband home. We were married 43 years when he passed away. God gave me grace an strength to get through because I ask him to. We do suffer, but we are stronger for it. It taugh me to only live for today. Trust in God with my heart and soul. I pray and stay close to God,. I am concerned for my friend. She was a Christian. I have a hard time with her doing this to her self. I believe Gid wants us to live every day joyful and helping others. I know I should not feel this way but I am so worried about her soul. Thank you so much for all that you do to help.
I have a friend who killed her self last month. it was Dec. 3 2012.
I had been talking to her every day for a year.,she had no faith that things would get better. She felt so alone. I kept telling her she was never alone, that God is always with you. I have been in the valley. God was carrying me the whole time. Yes it was hard to know my husband was dying of cancer. I am a stronger person today . God did take my husband home. We were married 43 years when he passed away. God gave me grace an strength to get through because I ask him to. We do suffer, but we are stronger for it. It taugh me to only live for today. Trust in God with my heart and soul. I pray and stay close to God,. I am concerned for my friend. She was a Christian. I have a hard time with her doing this to her self. I believe Gid wants us to live every day joyful and helping others. I know I should not feel this way but I am so worried about her soul. Thank you so much for all that you do to help.
Too often Christians get deceived by teachings from early in their spiritual lives that the devil uses to steal all hope. I know a false teaching about “giving an account” (from Romans 12 or 14) had me fearing my judgment before God, when I would have absolutely zero excuse for many things I have done. Sometimes such weak hope also leads to failure in our ability to cope with stresses that others consider normal. Sometimes it seems like the only way out is to “go Home early.”
I have been there. Too often I still want that.
I understand your concern over her soul, but don’t put yourself in that rut. God knew her heart, and God will be fair. What often hurts to those left behind in this manner is that there’s nothing we can do to change her eternal home now. I know some teach the ability to pray the deceased into Heaven, but that is not supported by the New Testament. Instead, let me encourage you to pray, seeking how God would have you use her story to encourage others.
Hello Claudia. How hard this must be. I had a first cousin who was not saved who did this and he left behind 4 children and a pregnant wife. It hurts so bad but I see your faith is so strong and I admire that. Thank you for your powerful testimony to your trust in God.
Sorry Jack this is the wrong department to tell you I need your guidance on another site called AllaboutGod.net.
I don`t know how I wandered on this site.
The are saying what you told me ages ago when you need to be in a fellowship otherwise Satan will pick you off.
Has you know we talked about it,and you did not know I was housebound. I am still looking,but this site seems to answer this by getting to know people,and of course emailing each other.
Jack you have covered that ground with me,and has you know you have taught me a lot of important things from the bible what I did not know about. My instinct (Holy Spirit) is not to go on that site because I find their is no need to.
What do you think Jack?
Thank you Anthony…hey, any department is good here my brother. I went to the site and looked at it and it looks fine…there are no pastors or seminary grads there but more like Christian’s who have blogs. I see that there is some good stuff there and it is a good place for a new believer to go to. I have a few concerns because some of the comments I read in the forums and on the blogs seems to be more focused on a happy life in Christ when the goal should be to glorify God and to be joy-filled, not happy. I think you can learn and grow from others there but I would trust your Holy Spirit-inspired feeling to not go there. If you are not comfortable there, then there must be something wrong that you cannot quite put your finger on. I like the one on one but and this may help you some and I do realize you don’t have a lot of choices in your area for Bible-centered, Christ-elevating, God-glorifying churches there but there is still something that YOU can contribute to a local church even if its far from perfect, which I know the one I am at is not perfect….that’s because I am in it! Since you are housebound, God understands and I certainly do. This is not your fault. I am just glad to be your friend and I too have so much to learn.
The site is okay but there is nothing like personal, relationships in a local body of Christ, the church. Since you can’t, you know you can come here anytime for anything and I cannot wait to meet you in heaven brother. Oh, what a joy that will be to meet you face to face and worship the Lamb of God together in eternal joy!
Thanks for replying so quickly Jack,and your opinion.
I have read what you said,and I think you are quite right about not going there.
Yes I have an illness,that makes me confused,but if you add Loneliness on top of that it`s terrible.
It`s a combination of both,but this site is for me personally.
I say that because I would not want the 3 yrs I have spent on this site where you personally have helped me a great deal,and the other thing is I would more or less be starting all over again.
I go to Questions.org to read the bible and ask questions if I want to know something I can`t understand.
You don`t have join their service is free.
Recently I have been reading about Godly sorrow,and I have found out that I have it.
Like St Peter after denying Jesus 3 times he wept bitterly I have found out that I am doing the same.
It could happen any time I just think all the sins I have committed,and I just break down and weep bitterly.
It`s a different thing from crying.
It seems to come from my heart or spirit,and I have a very deep feeling of sorrow.
So I have decided not to go there.
I know you are a Godly man so I am following behind you on that narrow path. God is with you Jack I just know.
Anthony, you bring me such joy and this is part of the reason that I have grown to love you as a brother in Christ, but more than that, a friend. Your loneliness must be a hard road to travel, yet you remain faithful in fellowship here. I also love and think the website GotQuestions.org is a rock solid website. It is theologically sound and biblically faithful to the Word of God and I too love this site and it is very, very dependable.
Yes, godly sorrow is true repentance because it causes us to confess our sins and seek forgiveness, which we know God promises to give to all who would ask (1 John 1:9). The fact that you weep over your sins is concrete evidence of the Holy Spirit abiding in you and proof that you cannot be taken out of the Father’s and Christ’s very own hands (John 10:28-29).
As for me being a godly man, I am still a wretched sinner and like Martin Luther once wrote, we are both sinners and saints at the same time and we live in this tension until we will be perfected at His coming and in that day brother, get ready for a hug of your life as we fall down together before our Great Savior and King…oh, what a joy that day will be!
Thanks Jack for regarding me as a friend,that means a lot to me,because I don`t know how you do what you do.
My Grey matter is going downhill fast.
I read that Godly Sorrow from GotQuestion.org,and it really must have been very hard for St Peter.
Now I am beginning to understand what these little sentences really mean.
When I was a Catholic I just read it,and was told no more about it.
This is the biggest mistake the Catholic Church makes, only the Pope downwards to the priest only knows this information you just knew St Peter wept bitterly.
It`s the first time in my life what this really means and I should of been told that.
Thanks again Jack for giving me to understand better, my eyes are getting opened so I can understand,and to me this is the work of the Holy Spirit.
My brother…fewer things bring me more joy in this world than knowing and writing back and forth to you…the one exception will be meeting you in person! In the Kingdom!