This is the oldest question in human history, and it is the greatest challenge facing every believer in the existence of an all-powerful and all-loving God. The eye cannot close to the cries of the suffering, the tears of the oppressed, and the burning of hearts.
If God is “love,” as the Bible describes him, and if he is “merciful and merciful,” as the Qur’an describes him, how does this combine with the presence of earthquakes, wars, and sick children? Is God unable to prevent evil? Or does he not care?
In this article, we will delve into the depths of this question to discover that suffering, despite its cruelty, is not evidence of the absence of God, but rather it is sometimes the place where we encounter Him.
First: The gift of “free will” and its high price
God did not create us “robots” (machines) programmed only for obedience and goodness. If he did, our lives would be devoid of meaning, and “love” would be impossible; Because true love requireschoice.
- The choice requires two possibilities:In order to be free to love and do good, we must also be free to reject and do evil.
- Human responsibility:The greater part of the evil in the world (wars, hunger, injustice) is the result of man’s “abuse” of this freedom, and not a desire of God.
“For you were called for freedom, brethren. However, do not view freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but in love serve one another. Partially” (Galatians 5:13).
Second: The “broken” world, not the “perfect” world.
Christians believe that the world we live in now is not the version God intended in the beginning. The Bible teaches us that evil entered the world as a result of man’s separation from God (the fall).
Suffering and evil are “symptoms” of a spiritual illness that has afflicted all of creation. As we find in the Qur’an an indication that this worldly life is a testing ground:
“And We will certainly test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits. And give good tidings to those who are patient” (Surat Al-Baqarah: 155).
We live in a temporary and broken world, but it is not the last stop.
Third: God does not watch us from afar…but rather suffers with us!
Here the greatness of the “message of Christ” emerges. In other philosophies, God may be a distant deity who watches our suffering from his high throne. In Christianity, the loving God did something amazing:It has come down to us.
- Christ and suffering:Jesus Christ not only explained suffering theoretically, but He experienced it in His own body. He hungered, thirsted, was sad, cried, was oppressed, and finally suffered on the cross.
- A suffering god:When we suffer, we do not cry out to a God who does not understand us, but to a God who bears the marks of nails on his body. He is “a man of sorrows and acquainted with sorrow” (Isaiah 53:3).
Christ’s death and resurrection are the guarantee that God has not abandoned us, but has prepared for us a path to victory over suffering and death in the end.
Fourth: Redemption and transforming “ugliness” into “beauty”
God, in His wisdom and love, has the amazing ability to bring good out of the heart of evil. Look at the story of Joseph Al-Siddiq (found in the Bible and the Qur’an); How the betrayal of his brothers, his slavery, and his imprisonment turned into a means to save entire peoples from hunger.
The Apostle Paul says:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28).
Suffering may be the “scalpel” that eradicates pride from our hearts, or the “fire” that purifies our faith so that we become more mature and compassionate toward others.
Fifth: Hope for a happy ending
Christianity does not promise us a life free of pain, it promises us…“God’s existence”In the midst of pain, and at the end in which God wipes away every tear from our eyes.
Present suffering, no matter how long, is a “moment” as opposed to “eternity.” Without the perspective of eternity and resurrection, suffering remains an unsolved mystery. But with Christ, pain is the labor that precedes new birth.
Conclusion for thought
Dear visitor, if you are going through distress now, know that God is not the one who caused you this pain, but rather He is the first to feel you. He stands at the door of your heart, not to offer you a philosophical explanation, but to offer you“same”As a companion on the road.
Do you feel the bitterness of injustice or pain? We invite you to try praying in Jesus’ name, ask Him to give you the peace that surpasses all understanding, and share your story with us if you like, we are here to pray with you.