With so much suffering in the world have you ever heard one of these statements?
“Why do innocent people suffer?”
“If God is so good why does He let children suffer?”
“Why do good people die early?
“God made me sick so I would get closer to Him”
It is understandable that when people don’t know the nature of God that they will be searching for answers as to why there is so much pain and suffering in the world. It’s always best to go to the Bible to get answers for tough questions like these instead of listening to opinions:
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
— 3 John 2 (NKJV)Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
— James 1:17 (NIV)And if you hard-hearted, sinful men know how to give good gifts to your children, won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them?
— Matthew 7:11 (TLB)Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
— 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
— Psalm 34:8 (NIV)how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
— Acts 10:38 (NKJV)The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
— John 10:10 (NKJV)
Yes, we know that it is often stated that sickness, disease, troubles and death are passed off as “good” and “gifts” and “blessings.” To be blunt, that is just a way for people to justify what happened when they don’t understand the facts.
Let’s rephrase John 10:10 in everyday vernacular: God is good and the devil is bad. It is as simple as that!
But what about Job?
The story of Job is often used to justify an opinion that God causes suffering.
By the way, the little Peruvian girl pictured at the top of this page was bitten by a snake and suffering from a severe infection. Fortunately for her, she was treated by United States Air Force medics. She received antibiotics and was transported to a place to recover three hours away.
