Where's God in suffering?

Tragedies occur daily—sometimes on the other side of the world, sometimes too close to home. Some affect you indirectly, others directly. Why does God allow these terrible things to happen? Philosophers and religious scholars have puzzled over this question for centuries, without ever fully answering it.

Though the tragedies of this world are difficult to cope with, one thing is certain: God offers you his strength and comfort. You may feel lost, but God’s love is unchanging, and he cares about you. He wants to shoulder your burdens, to bear your pain.

God understands hardships and he knows how much they hurt. How? He has been through it himself, in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus was rejected by society, including the religious mainstream. He was falsely accused, tried in a kangaroo court, tortured and then put to death in one of the most cruel and grotesque ways ever invented. Even his closest friends left him at first, preferring their own safety.

But God knows the secret of suffering: it is not the end. The Bible says that “for the joy that was set before him, Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame.” (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus had confidence that God had a greater purpose behind his suffering, and you can be sure that if you allow God to work in your situation to accomplish his good and loving purpose for you, he will certainly do it.

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