If there's a God, why is there so much suffering in the world? — ecoTrain Question of the Week
The presence of suffering here on earth should not be a criterion for the validation of the existence of God. God's plan for man has always been of good and not of evil. However, man's act of disobedience was what led to the existence of suffering in our world. In essence, the suffering we have in the world is man-made. Assuming man didn't disobey God, we all would have been in a garden of no suffering — a perfect place God wants us all to be.
Just like God sent man — Adam, out of the garden of Eden and brought suffering as punishment for his disobedience, some of the sufferings some of us are going through might be as a result of what we did wrong. In some rare cases, it might be as a result of what our fathers or forefathers did. Let me illustrate. In my place, there is a man accused of evil deeds, though everyone knows the kind of person the man is and what he is capable of doing. But to my greatest surprise, he not only denied the deed but he swore on behalf of his children and the ones yet to be born that if he is guilty of what he's accused of, that his children should suffer the punishment. These are children that know nothing about it. Let's imagine the man is guilty, his children might be the ones to pay for what they know nothing about, but if he's not, thanks to God. I believe my illustration of how someone can pay for what he has no hands in is possible.
Also, not all sufferings are evil. Some are used by God to test our faith in him. Just like the case of Job's suffering. The word of God tells us that God allowed Job to go through what he went through in order to test Job's faith in him. As we all know, Job passed the test and was rewarded thousands fold of what he had before. Such suffering that serves such purpose doesn't last long. It endures for a while. And the thing is that, there's always a reward at the end of it all.
Furthermore, we at times have to go through some challenges in order to witness progress. I believe this is the law of nature. Just like the saying, the death of one ushers in the birth of another. There are some heights we will have to go through some challenges in order to attain — such is life.
In essence, suffering is man-made, God has always and will continue to love his people. I believe God is pained whenever he sees us suffer. And that's why he sent his only-begotten son to die in order to bring us back to him. Though man disobeyed God and man was punished by God, the same God still sent his son to pay the ultimate prize. There's no love greater than having to lay down one's life for another.
Such is the type of love God has for mankind, however, man's ego will not let him enjoy God's love to the fullness.
To finally answer the question, I believe my writeup here has given a clear answer to the question. God isn't the architect of man's suffering and he's never in support of man to suffer. Everything we go through in one way or the order can still be traced to man. Man alone is the cause of the sufferings we have in the world.
It has always been God's plan for mankind to be free from sufferings.
Thanks for coming around — St. Filipz.