Awhile back, a little boy I know was seriously injured in an auto accident. The accident wasn’t his fault; he didn’t do anything to deserve what happened to him. However, this type of situation causes people to wonder why such a cute little boy had to suffer so much pain. When a tragedy like this strikes, some folks think God doesn’t care about people.
Then, there was a good friend of mine who was diagnosed with a very unusual bone problem in her leg. The doctor recommended a complicated surgery that would require months of recovery. In her distress, she asked me why God allowed this to happen to her.
“Why, God?” is a question we often ask when calamity strikes our lives. Sometimes, we ask it to find a reason for our pain, because we don’t want to suffer needlessly. At other times, we may be trying to blame God for our misfortune.
The truth is that God does not tempt anyone, nor does He whimsically choose someone to suffer for testing. The Bible teaches us that God is love and He is always morally good. He always has our best interests at heart and He is always working to help us overcome the adversities of life. He does this because He wants us to develop a stronger relationship with Him. In this sense, you might say that the pain we suffer has a good purpose. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)
Now, it’s very important to remember that Satan is the tempter and murderer. He is the father of lies. He introduced sin and death to the world. And, he is the ruler of this world who wants to destroy us. We should blame Satan, not God, for the pain and trials we face in life.
So, understanding these principles may not take away our pain, but it might help us rely on the One Who loves us the most and Who wants to help us bear our burdens. It should comfort us to know that we can turn to the Lord for help in every situation that we face in life.
Remember, God loves you and so do I.
Phil
Copyright © 2010 Philip Walter