Why Must I Suffer?

American Catholic ^ | 7/22/09 | http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0287.asp

[bdeaner]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[ET(end tyranny)]

Yes, we have one son, who is now 6-years-old. And my wife is now pregnant again! She is 11 weeks into the pregnancy and all seems to be going well so far! I would be eternally grateful to you and anyone else for your prayers. We are praying that this new baby will survive and thrive.

Wonderful news!

Prayers sent. :)

[editor-surveyor]

"How can we reconcile God's goodness with the birth of deformed babies, with innocent people being killed or maimed by drunk drivers, terrorist attacks, starvation, disease or natural disaster?"

The word is sin. Nobody likes it, but God's word tells us how sin brings about all of the grief in this world.

[boatbums]

A little late viewing this thread again. I also will pray for your wife and new baby.

I was thinking about the purpose of suffering in our lives today and remembered a time in my early twenties where the Lord gave me insight about the suffering and doubt I was experiencing at the time. It was this:

When we have suffering in our life we can only take one of three tacks:

1. There is no God, no reason, no fairness, all is chaos, we are no different than other animals or plants.

2. God is evil, mean and he delights in causing suffering because he likes to see us hurt and demoralized.

3. God is good, He loves us and has a plan for our lives. He allow suffering in our life for numerous reasons and they are all intended to make us stronger in faith, closer to Him, closer to each other and eager to be with him in heaven one day.

I don't know about you, but I'm going with #3. The alternatives are either there is no God or he is evil and we are ALL doomed.

[bdeaner]

I also will pray for your wife and new baby.

Thank you!