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Your Question:
Why does God allow good people to suffer?
Answer:
The question of why God allows good people to suffer is a complex and age-old one. As a pastor, I've had to grapple with this very issue many times. The Book of Job, in particular, offers some profound insights into this question. God's answer to Job's question is not what we would expect, and it might even seem like a dodge at first glance. However, upon closer examination, it's a complete and satisfying explanation. The key is to understand that God's reasons for permitting suffering are not always immediately apparent to us. As the author of the passage notes, God's reason for permitting suffering might not emerge until centuries later and perhaps in another country. Only an all-knowing God could grasp the complexities of directing a world of free people toward His envisioned goals. This means that we can't always see the purpose behind God's permission of suffering, but that doesn't mean it's not there. In fact, the Bible teaches that suffering can be a part of our salvation. It saves us from eudaemonism, a system of ethics in which attainment of happiness and personal well-being is the highest goal. Through suffering, we're forced to look beyond our own self-interest and to trust in God's goodness and love. As the author notes, "The sufferings of this life cannot even be compared to the weight of glory that is to come." In the end, God's goodness and love are so great that they far outweigh any suffering we may experience in this life.
Sources:
warranted christian belief
alvin plantinga
jesus on trial
david limbaugh
raising passionate jesus followers
phil diane comer
on guard
william lane craig
old testament theology
waltke
depression
edward welch
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