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Your Question:
Why does God allow suffering when he's all-knowing?
Answer:
As a pastor and a man of faith, I've grappled with this question many times. Why does God allow suffering when he's all-knowing? It's a question that has puzzled philosophers and theologians for centuries. I believe that God's perfect goodness does not preclude him from permitting suffering. In fact, he may even use suffering to bring about greater good in our lives. Consider this: even if we were able to make the decision to accept suffering, God knows that we would accept it if we had all the relevant facts. It's not that we're willing to suffer, but rather that we don't know the full picture. God's knowledge exceeds ours, and he knows the complexities of directing a world of free people toward his envisioned goals. Every event sends a ripple effect through history, and God's reason for permitting suffering might not emerge until centuries later. I think the key to understanding this is to realize that we don't have the intellectual mastery of certain events. We can't see the full picture, and that's where faith comes in. We trust God, not because we understand his reasons, but because we know that he is good and loves us. The sufferings of this life are nothing compared to the weight of glory that awaits us in heaven. Knowing God is an incomparable good, and that's what gives us the strength to endure suffering.
Sources:
warranted christian belief
alvin plantinga
depression
edward welch
on guard
william lane craig
why does god allow evil
clay jones
jesus on trial
david limbaugh
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