A good many people throughout history, have completely denied the existence of God over this very issue.
For the Christian, this is still a very difficult question. Horribly painful things happen to Christians everyday. What are we to make of this?
Does God not care? Is God really all powerful? When we are screaming our guts out in pain....where is the answer?
The book of Job provides us a glimpse into this mystery.
Job 1:13-19: "Now there was a day when his [Job] sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The
fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants
and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three
groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the
servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell
you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, and behold, a great wind came across the
wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon
the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell
you.”
In one day, Job lost all of his wealth, his seven sons, and his three daughters. Here was a "blameless and upright" man who was completely stripped of everything. Worse yet, it would seem, Satan asked God to let him do this, and God permitted it?
What? Come on...what????
This is a very difficult event to wrap our minds around.
Are you prepared to hear God's answer? Are you willing to set aside your own understandings and simply come to God with this question?
Listen to Dr. John Piper, in these three videos from his 2008 Regional Conference, "When the Righteous Suffer".
If you allow God to speak to you, it will change your worldview, and bring you great comfort.
