I’ve been asking that question since October for personal reasons. They say it’s “Gods plan” but I just don’t see the good in it ...
the article actually does provide information regarding what you have stated.
please read the post again very carefully, particularly the accent on this being a spiritually fallen sphere with much damaged.
Read C. S. Lewis’ “The Problem of Pain”. It goes over this very effectively.
So does the Bible.
I understand your sentiment, if not your personal situation.
FWIW, I have found comfort in the Book of Job.
I don’t understand partical physics or many other of God’s ways. I don’t pretend to understand things like a Tsunami, either.
There are times in our lives when we all ask these questions. And no answer can be good enough. My kids’ best-friends just lost their father. A musician I respected was just killed in a car accident. I don’t get it. Losses...hurts... We go thru these things, we get thru them, but we ache inside. We blame Bush, but humor doesn’t seem to help. We just keep going, not seeing ‘Gods plan’. I have been pondering this life being a ‘breath’ or ‘shadow’ (Psalm 144:4). ‘Someday we will understand’ rings hollow right now...but that is what we have...
Satan is in charge on earth, not God.
It’s funny, because when in the Lord’s Prayer, we ask
“Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven”.
We never stop to consider the gravity of it - His will is ALWAYS done on Heaven, but on earth, not always.
All things serve God’s purpose. We don’t know the plan. We just obey.
The idea of whether something is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is our spin on things.
Two twin brothers are raised by a tyrant of a parent who beat them both to within inches of their lives. One becomes a successful businessman with a family, the other a murderer. Both were asked the same question:
“How do you find yourself where you are today?”
Both had identical replies:
“Given my circumstances, I had no other choice . . .”
I don’t know God’s plan, and I don’t want to know. I do know this - everything I have is a gift. Every moment, my family, each meal - everything.
If it is taken away from me, I’ll try to be grateful. I certainly want to be right now, but I may be in an awful lot of pain at that particular moment and do or say things I don’t mean to God.
Peter certainly had the best intentions about admitting he was Jesus’ disciple before the cock crowed thrice.
In addition to being a sinner, and broken, I also know I’m a coward. Yet, still, God has a use for me.
May He continue to recognize what a weak little man he’s created with me, and continue to be merciful on me and coddle me as He does.
I hope I see the use in the tragedies that befall me, and if I must afix blame, may I place it where it rightfully belongs.
Death is a different thing, from God’s point of view.
God does not promise you a life of happiness and joy or even fairness on this earth, not even to his most devout and faithful. The rewards you receive are not of this world but the next.
This simple truth is why I absolutely hate the preachers who promise prosperity and happiness in this life for those who just do a,b or c. This is absolute hogwash and heresy.
Tell the persecuted christian in N. Korea he’ll be fine and wealthy etc if only he live a more divout life. What nonsense.
God does not promise you a life free from suffering or misery or hardship. Do you think Job deserved to be ruined by God just to test his faith? Suffering is part of this world and life, and while many live in relative comfort many more live in abject squalor, do those who live in squalor have any less value, or are any less part of Gods will than those who live in power and prosperity? I certainly don’t think so.
What God does promise is his Love, and rewards in the next life for good living in this one.
To put it simply, who are any of us to know the will of God? It would be more laughable than the ameoba trying to know the will of the whale. Faith is something that is, we can’t and won’t understand it far more often than we do, but the believer has faith that there is a purpose and reason even if we have no ability to see it.
You are not alone in that. I suggest reading "A Grief Observed" by Lewis. It helps a bit, sometimes.
At least you don't feel quite so alone in your questions.