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Your Question:
Is God still good even in the midst of suffering?
Answer:
As a pastor and a Christian, I firmly believe that God is still good even in the midst of suffering. The Bible teaches us that God's glory and goodness are so great that they far surpass any suffering we may endure in this life. In fact, the weight of glory is so great that it's beyond comparison with the suffering. To know God, the locus of infinite goodness and love, is an incomparable good that fulfills human existence. This means that even in the midst of suffering, we can still say with conviction, "God is good to me." It's also worth noting that God's sovereignty over all things, including our suffering, is a reminder that He is always working for our good, even when we don't see it. As the Bible says, "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). But what does it mean for our suffering to be good? The answer comes in the next verse: "The good is that we are being conformed to the likeness of his Son" (Romans 8:29). This is what we are intended to become through our suffering - to be more like Christ. In the Christian worldview, suffering is not something to be avoided or denied, but rather something that can be redeemed and used for our good. As Paul says, "The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts" (1 Samuel 2:6-7). This means that even in the midst of suffering, we can trust that God is working for our good, and that our suffering can be a means of growth and transformation in our lives.
Sources:
on guard
william lane craig
warranted christian belief
alvin plantinga
depression
edward welch
confronting christianity
rebecca mclaughlin
old testament theology
waltke
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