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Your Question:
Why is God allowing this suffering?
Answer:
As a pastor, I've had to grapple with this question many times. I believe that God allows suffering not because he causes it, but because he can use it for our good. Just like how my son Joshua and daughter Rebecca face challenges that help them grow stronger and wiser, we too can be refined and purified through our experiences of suffering. It's not that God takes pleasure in our pain, but he is gracious and loving enough to make it count. I recall a time when Susan, my wife, was going through a tough period. She was struggling with her health, and I was concerned for her well-being. But as we prayed and sought guidance from God, we came to understand that he was using her suffering to draw her closer to him. It was a difficult time, but it also brought us closer together as a family and deepened our faith. I believe that's what God does with our suffering - he uses it to bring us closer to him and to others. The Bible teaches us that suffering is a universal human experience, and it can be a catalyst for spiritual growth. When we're faced with suffering, we're forced to confront our own limitations and weaknesses. But we're not alone in our struggles. We have a God who understands our pain and who has suffered himself on our behalf. As I reflect on the cross of Christ, I'm reminded of the depth of his love for us. He voluntarily underwent unimaginable suffering to save us from our sins. If he can do that for us, can we not trust that he will use our suffering for our good, even when we don't understand it?
Sources:
warranted christian belief
alvin plantinga
raising passionate jesus followers
phil diane comer
job
francis andersen
depression
edward welch
confronting christianity
rebecca mclaughlin
on guard
william lane craig
why does god allow evil
clay jones
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