If God is good, why doesn’t He just eliminate suffering?
It’s the question I’ve thought about since a kid, wrestled with as a teenager and lived with throughout the pain I was going through when heavily oppressed and depressed.
And while there are no straightforward answers to this question. Let me humbly offer you three perspectives/realities that have helped me through times of difficulty.
I forgot who it was that said it, but I read once that God works slowly and suddenly. When we are at our wits end, wondering how long before a breakthrough comes, He suddenly comes through, breaking in with dawn.
No one can ‘agape’ Jesus or God or others unconditionally without the power of the Holy Spirit. We all fall short, we are all sinners needing grace, needing unconditional love to transform us.
Let’s allow the Lord to come and take away that self-doubt by saying gently- its’ true, you can’t – it’s not humanly possible to live or love perfectly. But I have not rejected you – and you can and will continue the journey – not by your own power, but by the Love of God poured out through the Holy Spirit int Your heart.
Sometimes the truth about yourself reaches your heart easily, sometimes it takes time.
And for me the truth that I’m wonderfully made is one of those truth that takes a little longer to sink in than usual.
I don’t think I’m alone in this, but one moment you can feel and you know that you are indeed a work of art and another moment (especially when you slip up) the condemning voice comes again and tells you ‘hey, you’re not good enough’.
I remember that moment, my heart was pounding as I submitted a frame print of mine for an auction. I knew it was a print, it was a Christian charity auction and I thought it was compulsory to submit something so that was my submission.
Paperheart Pieces