Biblical Answer

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Your Question:

Why does God let us struggle when He's supposed to be all-loving?

Answer:

As a pastor and a Christian, I've grappled with this question many times. It's a challenging one, because we're taught that God is all-loving and all-powerful, yet we see suffering and pain all around us. One way to approach this is to consider the idea that God's love is not just about making our lives easy and comfortable, but about drawing us closer to Him through our struggles. When we're faced with difficulties, we're forced to turn to God for comfort and strength, and that can be a powerful catalyst for growth and intimacy with Him.

The Bible tells us that God's purpose for our trials is often to bring us humbly before Him, to experience a breaking in our inner, independent selves, and to drive us to cling to Him more closely. This is not to say that God causes suffering, but rather that He uses it to shape us and mold us into the people He wants us to be. As the apostle Paul wrote, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). So even in the midst of suffering, we can trust that God is working everything out for our good.

I think of the cross of Christ, where God's love was poured out in the most extreme form of suffering. Jesus endured unimaginable pain and humiliation for our sake, and that's a powerful reminder of God's love for us. When we're struggling to understand why God allows suffering, it can be helpful to reflect on the cross and the love that was demonstrated there. It's not always easy to understand, but it's a reminder that God's love is not just about making our lives easy, but about drawing us closer to Him, even in the midst of pain and struggle.

Sources:

warranted christian belief
alvin plantinga
potters freedom
james white
god
j i packer knowing
confronting christianity
rebecca mclaughlin
power of a praying wife
stormie omartian
on guard
william lane craig
building dynamic faith
jerry falwell

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