This question is perhaps one of the most asked questions of doubt between both the believer and the unbeliever. If God is so good, then why is there so much suffering in the world. Why doesn’t He just save us all right now if He loves us so much?
Many churches and christians today preach merely on God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness and focus less on the matter of sin, judgment, and God’s wrath. When we are filling ourselves with a semi-true, distorted view of God, some serious questions and doubt arise as soon as you are faced with trials and suffering. I say this not to judge, but to bring awareness to those who may be questioning the reality of who God is... because I can testify that I’ve been there myself at one point as well.
Personally, I’ve always had this question in the back of my mind, but it never made me waver too much until I experienced loss and trials first hand in my own life. I now, can see much clearer what God’s purpose and plan is for my life, and life in general, but I will say I have no solid answers to this question. For me (a broken human being) to try and say that I know all of God’s intentions and know His thoughts, would be impossible alone, but thankfully through His word and His Spirit we have the ability to better understand Him, His character and nature.
So let’s start back in the beginning of all things, the beginning of suffering and sin. We all know the story about Adam and Eve in the garden with the forbidden fruit that was eaten and cursed us for all of the generations to come. That sounds kind of unfair if we’re gonna be honest, like seriously because of Eve’s weakness I now have to feel pain and live through global pandemics and funerals and disasters? The thing we need to recognize is that every human has had a sinful nature from the beginning of time. If it were you or me in the garden, we would have eventually rebelled against God as well, as we do today in our every day lives. There is danger in playing the “blame” game and sulking in self-pity. That is deception that comes from the enemy. The lies and excuses made to cover our sin are just like Adam who blamed Eve, and Eve who blamed the serpent... we have a choice, live in denial of our sinful nature, or turn to God and recognize that we have failed Him over and over; out of our own free will, not because of others decisions.
We are all set apart from God due to our sins and we face the consequence of our own sin and the sins of those around us every single day. We live in the earth for the time being, and Satan is the ruler of the earth-the light bringer, the father of lies and deception. With this in mind, we have a better understanding of how loving God is. Because of sin we all had an eternal destiny in hell set aside from God because God hates sin. If He would allow sinful humans into heaven, heaven would be corrupt as is the earth today and God will not tolerate rebellion from His children who He created to glorify Him.
When you view life as the Bible states, you feel less pity when you recognize just how blessed you are even to have a second chance at forgiveness of your sins, and eternity in heaven. It is so easy to get so caught up in this world and become attached to material things rather than spiritual things. This world is not our home as a Christian, we are citizens of heaven...we will feel pain and grief in this life, but nothing can separate us from God’s love and promises to His faithful children. I like using the analogy that we should view our life as one who is on board a ship they don’t really want to be on in the first place and it starts to sink. We are all about to drown, but God’s forgiveness is like a lifeboat that comes to rescue us from drowning. We can either decide to stay in the sinking ship and hate God for allowing us to drown, or recognize His love and chose to die to ourselves and step on the life boat, the only thing that can save us.
Not only are trials a result of our sin, but they can also strengthen our relationship with God in ways that would be impossible without facing them. I have come to a point in my life where I would not change my past because it made me so much stronger spiritually and saved my soul from eternal hell. I am so thankful for God’s mercy He has showed to me. So, so thankful that through past anxiety and depression I was able to be freed and healed and filled with joy from the holy spirit. So thankful, that even through my loss of my brother on earth, it took me to places that my brother had been praying I would reach spiritually. I get to one day praise God along side my brother in heaven as I dream about often, and it is my prayer that God uses my life to draw others toward Him as He can use anyone and any situation, no matter how painful, He holds us together and builds us up and protects us. His plans are not to harm us but to give us hope and a future!
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