Who Is Responsible: I am
Who Is Affected: Myself and others
Needed Response: Repentance and confession to God
Who Is Responsible: Person who sinned and others who allowed the sin
Who Is Affected: Probably many people, including those who sinned
Needed Response: Active resistance to the sinful behavior, while accepting the sinner
Who Is Responsible: Persons who ignore the facts or refuse to take precautions
Who Is Affected: Most of those exposed to the cause
Needed Response: Prevent them if possible; be prepared if they can’t be prevented
Who Is Responsible: God, Satan
Who Is Affected: Most of those present
Needed Response: Ongoing trust in God’s faithfulness
When suffering or troubles happen, do they always come from Satan? In Job’s story, his series of tragedies did come from Satan, but this is not always the case. The chart above demonstrates the four main causes of suffering. Any one of these or a combination of them may create suffering. If knowing why we are suffering will teach us to avoid the cause, then the causes are worth knowing. However, it is most important to know how to respond during suffering.