Why do we experience pain and suffering?I think this is a question that has plagued us for generations. If there is a loving God, why would he allow people to go through such terrible and horrific experiences? My partner recently purchased a book called ‘God’s Problem – how the bible fails to answer our most important question – why we suffer’ by Bart Ehrman.He too had the same question and was hoping this book could shed some light and theory on the issue.

For me, the answer has always been very simple. Though I certainly don’t like to suffer nor do I want others to suffer either, I know the answer is rooted in love.Seems hard to wrap your brain around.As someone who has experienced deep suffering I still question God around this issue.

I believe that God created the Heaven and Earth. He created us in His image and gave us this earth to live in. He made us stewards, He gave us dominion over it and He left humans in charge. God also gave us the most important gift, free will. Only a selfish God would create beings to worship himself. We are given a choice every day through out our lives to be in relationship with God or not. God does not force himself onto His children. Yet He is always with us, always present and forever ready to meet us no matter what the circumstance. To me, the gift of choice is an act of love.

When I look around our planet I am affected deeply by what I see. Wars,famine,disease,poverty,greed and oppression seem to go on without ever ceasing. I feel saddened and angry that so many innocents are made to suffer. I feel frustrated that I myself am facing situations that I cannot seem to change.It’s easy to look up at the sky and blame God. A lot of people say if there really was a loving God we wouldnt have suffering. But I disagree.

What kind of world would we live in and what would we spirtually learn if God was a magician? If God ran around all day answering our every request? There would be no adventure, no journey and no life lessons. Life would lose its worth. We would be mindless robots worshipping a magic God all day. We are not only human beings, we are spiritual beings living in human bodies. If you are a believer, than you know this earth is not all there is.

When we suffer, I believe God suffers along with us. What happens here on earth is not God’s doing. What happens on earth is human kind’s doing. We have been created and empowered to live on the earth. We possess all we need to heal pain, ease suffering and live in peace. There is enough food to feed the world. Collectively, as humans we choose not to.  Everything that goes on in our world, good or bad, is because of free will.

When we choose to have a relationship with God, we are choosing to begin a journey of our spirit. As we grow to know who God is, who Jesus Christ is, we begin to see that we are missing out on so much. I don’t believe anyone was meant to be alone or suffer the indecencies of this world. But because we were given free will, these are the choices we have made.When you choose to be in a  spritual relationship with God you have a chance every day to make a different choice.One that is filled with life, love and hope.

I can find hope in knowing that the earth isnt all there is. That what we do here on earth, how we grow and learn has an everlasting effect on our souls.You can choose to believe it or not. There is hope in knowing that we do have the power to change the world. When we learn to stop focusing on our selves and learn to focus on the needs of others. We need not suffer when collectively we have so much resources.

I am no stranger to heart break or hard times. I absolutley detest going through suffering. But I’ve learned that God does have a plan for each of us it’s just that sometimes we haven’t understood it. As I seek Him with all of my heart, as I grow closer to Him, I hope that one day what I face will make sense. I trust in the plan that God has for me.I trust in the person who created me and all the mysterious and vast beauties of our world.Until then, I will strive to keep my faith, try to serve others and love in the best way I can.

Free will means we can make the choice every day to do something positive.We can reach out to those in despair.We can choose love.God truly made us in His image. He wants us to love others in the way that He loves us. Unselfishly. I need only look to Jesus for a guide into just how far that love goes. Everlasting.