We see so much suffering in the world that believers and non-believers alike, ask the inevitable question of “why”. Why does God allow, or even initiate, the suffering we see in the world? If God is such a loving and caring Almighty, then why does He want us to suffer? Does He give a damn?
There’s a lot of scripture and scholarly citations that you can dig into, which will show that God truly cares for us and the world He created. You will find that our fall from grace in the garden brought evil into the world that’s driven by Satan. God gave us freedom to make choices to include whether we believe in God or not. We are not forced to worship, so Satan tries to help us make the wrong choices that drives a lot of the suffering in the world.
Love is not real unless its freely given between parties. For me, I look to Jesus, God’s only Son, our Lord and Savior, who was prosecuted, tortured and suffered on the cross. He had a choice too.
Thankfully, Jesus chose to take on the Sins of the world, enduring unimaginable pain and suffering, so that we could have a chance of redemption in His death and resurrection.
So, if the Son of God endured suffering, then what makes you or me special for some kind of exemption? God is neither indifferent or powerless to our suffering. Through Jesus, God knows what our struggles, pain and suffering feels like. The Apostle Peter offers a good summation:
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter: 5: 8-11
There’s a few mantras in the endurance racing world. This is one my favorites, “What doesn’t kill you makes you tougher.” If not for our pain and suffering, then how do we grow as people? If it weren’t for my struggles and seeking God’s help, I wouldn’t be who I am today. How about you?
Bottom line, we live in a world infected by Sin that creates the suffering in the world, which is man-made, not God’s. Moreover, God gives a damn, proven by Him giving us Jesus and His Holy Spirit.
I don’t say this lightly. I’ve experienced great suffering and pain in my life that includes the loss of a young daughter and having faced life threatening cancer. So, I’m speaking with the scars to support my perspective.
If you’re struggling with God, then look to God for reassurance and understanding. You will receive the Holy Spirit and know that you’re not alone and that you’re loved from above and here on earth.
Patrick Slevin's Blog 