Thrive Perspectives: Worldview - Suffering, Pain & A Broken World.

The question of why a loving God would allow suffering and pain is a complex and deeply theological one. God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving, and he created the world to be perfect and free from suffering and death. However, when Adam and Eve sinned, they brought a curse upon the world, which resulted in disease, and other forms of suffering. Suffering and pain need not be meaningless but can be used by God for a greater purpose. The Bible teaches that suffering can produce perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3-5), and that God is able to work all things together for good for those who love him (Romans 8:28). God is present with us in our suffering and that he understands our pain because he himself suffered on the cross. Jesus Christ is described as a "man of sorrows" who was "familiar with suffering" (Isaiah 53:3), and he is able to sympathise with our weaknesses and struggles (Hebrews 4:15). The question of why a loving God would allow suffering and pain is answered by the belief that God is sovereign over all things, that he is present with us in our suffering, and that he can use our suffering for a greater purpose. We also must remember that ultimate hope and healing come through faith in Jesus Christ, who conquered sin and death and offers us forgiveness and eternal life – where there will be no pain, suffering or death. The world we live in now is broken. It’s not meant to be our home. We’re not meant to like it here. This is our mission field, until God calls us into eternity with Him.