BIG QUESTIONS: If God exists then why does He allow suffering?

Many people have said to me that they cannot believe in God; because if there was a God why would he allow injustice, war, sickness and terrible things to continue on earth without doing anything!!!

I can understand this frustration and as a Christian I can only give you my own thoughts on this and what we know from the bible. 

People choose good or bad
We all have the power within our souls for either good or bad.  We are created with choice and reason; this concept makes our lives our own!  We choose, we decide, we create what we will make of our lives.  This lesson about life was shown to us right at the beginning of the bible in Genesis.  God was showing us through the story of Adam and Eve, that mankind has been given the freedom of choice over how they live out their lives, not to be robot like beings; you all would agree this kind of existence would be no existence at all.  Without getting too deep at this stage, by allowing bad things to flourish in our lives, we are encouraging the wrong choices. The bible states in Psalm 34 - Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.  

Thankfully, most of us choose to use our lives for good, to help others, to make the world a better place.  Unfortunately, as we all know this is not the case for some.  We hear on the news every week about some terrible atrocity that has taken place or some awful injustice, the list would go on and on!  It is safe to say these awful things have been done out of man's heart and man's choice, wrong choices lead to negative outcomes for our lives and for the lives of others around us.  The problem is God often gets the blame, or people presume God does not exist because He doesn't do anything!  If God stepped in every time something terrible happened by the hands of someone else, would that then still be free will, would it mean we choose for ourselves how we live life? ....

Man has the potential of existing as a great being, a loving being; everything that God is.  If the whole world and every single person on the planet could strive for goodness, it still wouldn't be perfect, but the world would certainly be a better place.  God has entrusted us with the responsibility to look after this world whilst we are here and to try and love one another, but somehow it is almost impossible for us to live in harmony together.  Some of it stems from greed, jealousy and pride, again all very negative choices that produce negative outcomes on others. 

What about natural disasters & death?
The story of Adam and Eve also showed us that through wrong choices, evil entered the world and unfortunately for now, it is here to stay.  This fact opens up the whole of creation and mankind to the outcomes of evil, including sickness, death, natural disasters and so forth.  

Why should innocent people be hurt because of the bad in the world?
Bad people may look like they are prevailing here on earth but the bible makes it clear that when they meet God face to face one day - they, and in fact all of us will have to answer to what we have used our lives for.  Have we used it for good, to help others, to encourage, to build up, to be generous with out time, talents, money and gifts or have we wasted it on trivial activities.  

So why doesn't God step in and help us? 
Because God loves us so much, He was willing to help us when he sent Jesus to earth.  When Jesus came, it was to give mankind another chance and put all the wrong in our lives right again; that one day we can live forever.  Also, I believe when we come to God in prayer, God will help us but that is our choice as to firstly, whether we believe it or not, and secondly whether we ask for it!  We often expect God to come out with a magic wand without any effort from ourselves; this is not how it works.  I believe we also have been given the bible that also shows us the amazing way to live out our lives; inspirational quotes etc are all great but I have noticed many of the principles they teach are biblical values anyway (God's values), if God made us we only need to go to the creator to get some answers on great living.....and it's FREE.

One day, God will step in and do something about this world!
To finish, we come right to the end of the bible to the book of Revelation where it says God will one day come back to earth to once and for all make everything new; he will create a new heaven and a new earth and bad things and evil will be gone forever.  So yes, one day God will step in and do something about this hurting world.

Whether you believe the bible or God or you don't, that is your choice it should never be a forced choice or a choice because of others.  We choose for ourselves.  Our whole life hangs on the choices we make.  So I don't know about you but I'm going to enjoy my choices today and make sure they are good ones!

This blog covers an awful lot of information in just a few short paragraphs.  I have tried my best to explain this as simply and as briefly as possible.

Lv Caroline x

Bible Verses
Rom 5v12 - Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death resulted from sin, therefore everyone dies, because everyone has done wrong.

 Rom 8 22 - For we know that even the things of nature, like animals and plants, suffer in sickness and death as they await Christ's return.  

2 Cor 5v10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due to us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
 
Rom 3 22- 25  We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. 23 For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. 24 Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our wrong doing.

From Rev 21 - Then I saw a new earth (with no oceans!) and a new sky, for the present earth and sky had disappeared. God himself will be among them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.”And the one sitting on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new!”