Answer |
Jesus once said: "out of men's hearts come evil thoughts... murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit..." (Mark 7v21-22). In other words, when people - like you and me - think we know better than God how to live, we cause suffering, to other people and sometimes to ourselves.
Because we reject God and his guidelines for living in his creation, the whole thing is messed up: in Bible-speak, the ground is "cursed", imperfect (Genesis 3v17). This world goes wrong - earthquakes, tsunamis, diseases. God allows suffering because he allows humans, who cause it, to exist. Asking God to stop suffering existing in the world is actually asking God to stop us existing in the world. But actually an answer to this question isn't that helpful. When we suffer, what we really need is two things... |
Hope |
God won't allow suffering in his world forever. One day he'll get rid of all suffering and everything that causes suffering: he'll remake the world new, and "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21v4). People will live with him in his perfect presence.
But because we reject God and cause suffering, we don't deserve to be in that world. That's why God's Son, in his love, came into the world as the man Jesus. He lived perfectly, never causing suffering - but he came, he said, to "suffer many things and... be killed" (Mark 8v31). As Jesus died, he took what we deserve: separation from his Father God's perfect presence. So he can offer life in God's remade world to anyone who asks for it. Anyone who trusts Jesus can look forward to a guaranteed place there. |
Help |
God promises to be with Christians when they suffer: nothing can "separate us from the love of God" (Romans 8v39). And he promises to use suffering to help Christians know him better, and become like the people he created us to be. "In all things, God works for the good of those who love him" Romans 8v28)
If there's no God, there's no reason for suffering of hope beyond it. It's just random bad luck. It's meaningless. On the other hand, if there is a God who loves us, suffering is still horrible - but we can face it with hope, look beyond it to a better life, and trust in the God who promises to help us through it. |
"All this hope is based on what the bible says. Can we really trust it?"
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