Many people walk away from, or won’t even consider or come to God based on the self-imposed question, “What kind of a God would allow suffering; What kind of a God would allow disease; What kind of a God would not intervene in storms, violence, and death?”
Now, the asking of the question is legitimate.
It’s the not taking the time to explore the question and arrive at an answer that is, in turn, questionable in itself.
Why not attempt to answer the question, since those asking it have obviously based a life decision, ideology and worldview on the asking of it?
And notice that people rarely, if ever, ask,
What kind of a God would provide assurance of everlasting life so that nobody ever has to live in bondage to the fear of death?
What kind of a God would provide a Savior to rescue us from this present evil and again, assure us of life everlasting, free from all tears, pain and sin?
What kind of a God would knit people in their mother’s wombs, being their Father from even before they were formed?
What kind of a God would create the Alps, the Rockies, the Grand Canyon, whitewater rivers, fly-fishing streams, wildflower prairies, oak savannas and four unique seasons of every year?
What kind of a God would allow laughter, joy, peace, encouragement, humor, outdoor adventure, music and art?
What kind of a God would guarantee He is there in our suffering, disease, storms, violence and death?
What kind of God would promise, and fulfill the promise, to send us an Advocate to live daily within us?
What kind of God would place His Son at His right hand to intercede for us?
And what kind of a God would allow His human creations the autonomy and free will to reject Him by asking the question “What kind of a God would allow suffering….?"
What kind of a God would give us that prerogative?
The independence we have from God is bestowed by Him: what would be the reaction of those who ask, “What kind of a God would allow suffering?" to a God who would not grant us the freedom to even ask that question in the first place? More resentment and harrumphing, I surmise.
In addition, If the folks who question God’s allowance of suffering only want a God who provides the circumstances that meet their own personal preference, then what about the personal preferences of others? Of those who perhaps would like a yet different set of circumstances from God?
What is God to do then to make people “happy” in unison, across the spectrum?
The only way every person on earth would be 100% content with God is for God to make us generic, preprogrammed automatons.
I am convinced it is simple, self-righteous pride to think that humans know better, or that cancer, hurricanes and death surprise God, as if, during creation, these things never occurred to Him.
“And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.’” Matthew 24:4-13
“Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha” (John 11:1); “So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.’ But when Jesus heard this, He said, ‘This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was” (John 11:3-6); “So Jesus then said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe, but let us go to him.’” (John 11:14-16); “Martha then said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ (john 11:21-23); Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even though he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.’” (John 11:25-27).
When Jesus saw the people weeping over the death of Lazarus, he wept (John 11:35).
In Luke, Jesus weeps over the people’s rejection of His peace:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!” Luke 13:34-35
“When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes!” Luke 19:41-42
Nothing surprises God, and yet still God in Christ weeps with us. What kind of a God would do that?
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” Jesus, speaking in John 16:33b
And it is in Him, God’s gracious gift to us if we so choose it, that we, too, overcome the world minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week by week, month by month, season by season, year by year—through cancer, flu, stroke, heart attack, depression, frustration, grief, loneliness, maligning, human rejection, broken relationships, financial hardships, fear, material and physical addictions, self-loathing, boredom, impatience, drudgery and disappointment.
“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:3-5
“And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” Jesus, speaking in Matthew 11:6
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Jesus, speaking in Matthew 11:28-30.
copyright Barb Harwood
Copyright Barb Harwood
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