Out of curiosity and genuine concern, a friend of mine took a poll asking her followers why they choose to not believe in God, and the main result came down to this simple question: “How can I believe in God when there is so much pain and evil in the world?”
This is one of the trickiest theological questions of all time, likely due to the fact that while we can discuss pain at the intellectual level, it’s a completely different story when we’re the ones in pain or watching others suffer.
However, I hope to shed light on this subject in case you are on the fence about God these days. Many of my points are inspired by the book, The Problem of Pain, by C.S. Lewis, which I would highly recommend 🙂
The first step in Christianity is declaring that God is good and sovereign over our lives. But when a relationships falls apart, a loved one passes away, or even when a day full of humiliating mishaps occurs, we are left wondering if God even cares.
But C.S. Lewis argues (which I very much agree with) that the reason we have pain is because God cares. God cares enough about finishing what He’s started (us, His precious creations) to allow pain and suffering because He wants what’s best for us.
Think about it this way: When a potter is forming a masterpiece, will he leave it in a motionless, stable block on the table? No, of course not. Then the clay would just be a meaningless clump of wet dirt. The potter will pound out the air pockets, cut it into the right shape, and bake it to perfection.
Assuming clay has feelings, I’m sure the clay doesn’t enjoy the molding experience. But in the end, the clay has a purpose, a beautiful purpose, after going through the transformative process.
We are like the clay and God is like the potter. God doesn’t want us to stay useless. Our pain, our struggles, and ultimately overcoming those hardships creates a stronger, more faithful spirit within us. God doesn’t inflict pain on us, but He allows it in order to help us reach our full potential.
This, in fact, is what makes God loving. Loving someone isn’t condoning all their behavior. It’s about encouraging them to be who they are meant to be, even if that means going through difficulties or changing. It means being present through it all, just as God is for us.
God has done everything within His power (which is infinite) to ensure a wonderful future for us, an eternity with Him. But we must overcome the obstacles on Earth and carry on His legacy first.
The best gift we can have isn’t even Heaven–it’s being in a relationship with God, the most loving, perfect, and faithful being in the universe. Our pain often draws us closer to God, which is what it’s intended to do. By allowing us to experience difficulties, we are given the best gift of all–God’s comforting presence and understanding of our situation.
Now, like I said earlier, this can all be debated on the academic level. But when it’s personal, things feel a whole lot different.
Though pain has a purpose, it doesn’t make it easier to experience. If you are struggling today, you are not alone. You are loved and valued just by being here. You don’t have to explain your feelings or force yourself to feel “happy” about them. Rather, by being honest about how you feel, you can find deeper healing.
These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:7-9
The Will to Wake Up 