“Dr. Dixie, since God is infinite and if He really loves humankind as deeply and tenderly as you say, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world? Suffering seems so pointless—it appears that God either doesn’t care, or can’t figure out how to stop it.”
Attempting to the find answers to the “whys” of suffering or measuring God’s goodness by our own circumstances always results in confusion and doubt. A “wide angle” view of human history makes it more possible to accept the truth that God is unfailingly good and cares deeply for His human children. We can believe this even when in very difficult personal situations.
SIN is the overall reason that suffering is an integral part of the human experience. Sometimes the sin is individual wrong choices—for example, unfaithfulness in marriage, abortion, murder, drunk driving, greed or gossip. Certainly the underlying cause of all suffering is First Adam’s sinful choice in Eden. The Bible tells us clearly that because of the love of God, Jesus came to redeem us from that fallenness. (Isaiah 53) However, we are not promised that salvation guarantees no struggle or pain of any kind on earth. Reading the history of the great men and women of faith in Hebrews 11 shows us that life is often very difficult for those who love God.
Our lifestyle can greatly affect suffering. When we think in accordance with God’s Word, our decisions minimize the suffering from personal sin and we are able to reach out and ease the suffering of others. We are Jesus’ healing, comforting hands on this earth (John 14:12).
God’s children have the privilege of confidently asking God for what we need. But asking God to remove all adversity is the equivalent of asking Him to give us a bloated ego and spiritual apathy. In the same way that our children need firm, consistent discipline—which is often painful—to eliminate selfishness, so God’s children need the discipline that often comes through painful circumstances, caused by sin, to eliminate our selfish demand that God and other people make us constantly comfortable and happy. Daniel’s three friends were tossed bound into the fire, but the fire burned the ropes off their hands and feet. They came through the fire and didn’t even smell like smoke (Daniel 3:19-27). Often, the furnace of affliction is where we find freedom from bondages to things like sex, porn, chemicals or money. In Christ, we are not victims. We don’t have to “smell” like our circumstances because in Christ, we are more than conquerors.
Only all-knowing God is in the position to determine what is or is not pointless. God promises to always produce good from each difficulty (Romans 8:28), but we often cannot see what the good is in the midst of suffering. Indeed, the good may not even become evident in our lifetime!
To accurately label any suffering as “pointless”, we would have to be able to see clearly that it has no current, future or eternal purpose whatsoever. Because our perspective is so limited, it is impossible for us to make that assessment. Not only do we see only a tiny piece of the “puzzle”, unless we seek God’s perspective, what little we do know is often distorted.
“Faith living” chooses to believe God’s appraisal of Himself and the eternal value of every moment of our lives, no matter how our circumstances appear.
Infinite Grace Ministries teaches that thinking in agreement with God will change our life experience. If you or someone you know struggles with anxiety and worry, call 580-774-2884 to learn how the love and mercy of God can set you free.
