SUFFERING MIGHT BE HERE TO STAY
When I saw this week's qotw, the first thing that came to my mind was the conversation I had with my father as a kid. I asked him a question;
"Dad! God is all powerful and loving, why is it that he allows suffering and hardship to exist in the world?"
Dad simply smiled and replied with a question;
"Why is it that there are so many salons in almost every street, Yet a lot of people go around with bushy and unkept hair?"
"That is probably because they have refused to go to the salon and get a haircut. It's not everybody that likes getting a hair cut."
"My daughter, You have answered your question. Not everybody wants to get a haircut, in the same way not everybody wants to go to the Lord and have their suffering taken away."
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My father has always believed that if the world turned to God in all sincerity, suffering would be taken away for good. I agree with him to a certain extent. Below are some of the reasons why I think Suffering still exists in the world.
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SUFFERING AS A NATURAL PHENOMENA
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As air is essential for survival, perhaps suffering is essential in the circle of life. Meaning that suffering is something that we must go through and if suffering is taken away, life looses it's form and meaning. Most people turn to God only in their time of need and suffering and when life is all rosy, they forget about God. Therefore if suffering is taken away from the world, people might forget about God and never turn to him. Besides When Jesus Christ, God's own son, came to the world, he had his own share of suffering. I think that suffering is an essential part of life.
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SUFFERING AS A FORM OF DISCIPLINE
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Believers, always believe that God, is the Almighty father and we are all his beloved children. Coming from that angle, you will agree with me that every parent disciplines their child from time to time using different forms. Perhaps suffering could be a Way in which God disciplines us for our wrong doings. Meaning that each sin has it's consequences. Perhaps we should stop seeing suffering as a punishment, rather we should see it as a disciplinary action from a caring Father.
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SUFFERING AS A SATANIC ATTACK
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Over time I have noticed that even the unbelievers believe in the existence of supernatural powers both good and bad. The scriptures two us about the unending battle between the good and the bad. Perhaps aligning ourselves with God has clearly marked us as children of light. The enemies of light might not be too happy with our decision to Join The light, Therefore they keep attacking us in the form of suffering, hoping that we would give up on God and come over to the dark.
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SUFFERING AS A PERSECUTION
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The Bible let's us know that If we must follow Jesus, we must be prepared to carry our cross and follow him. Carrying of cross has never been used to describe a happy moment or time of fun, rather it always describes suffering. Therefore if God has asked us to carry our cross and follow him, that could be him telling us that the pathway to heaven is not Rosy. Therefore the Sufferings we face on earth could be the cross that Jesus warned us about.
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SUFFERING AS A PATHWAY
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Most people believe that this world is not our home, we are barely passing through to somewhere greater. You Will agree with me that no journey to success comes without some hurdles along the road. Also we have always been taught that the road to condemnation is wide and broad, while the road to righteousness is narrow and thorny. Therefore our sufferings could be the hurdles set to test us in our journey to righteousness.
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I do not presume to know God's mind and say for a fact that these are the reasons why God allows suffering to keep existing. None of the points mentioned here is a theory, these are merely My thoughts on The question.
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