The Innocent Who Suffer: Where is God in the Pain?

Last updated on: March 11, 2022 at 1:53 pm by Dennis Knapp

The Innocent Who Suffer: Where is God in the Pain? 2022-03-11T13:53:17-06:00 Dennis Knapp

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Why would a all-power good God allow the innocent to suffer?

All suffering is the result of the Fall. The answer to the problem of evil is Jesus and the cross. The Son of God, guilty of no crime and innocent in nature, suffered and died on a cross. God allowed it. Why? To show the true nature of humanity when in the presence of pure love and holiness, and to show this love as sacrifice. Therefore, Jesus chose to die, to suffer the worst form of death—for us.

Humanity killed the Son of God and God in turn redeemed humanity. Death was defeated and evil overcome. Now, it is for us to accept this gift or reject it. To continue to live in sin and in so doing spread evil or embrace the way of Jesus and choose holiness and life.

Suffering and death are not the end. In Christ, suffering and death are reframed and remade into something powerful. Suffering becomes transformative, not merely a “thing” one endures for no reason at all.

The choice is ours.

Lord, I can see plainly that you are the only and the true source of wisdom, since you alone can restore faith and hope to a doubting and despairing soul. In your Son, Jesus, you have shown me that even the most terrible suffering can be beautiful, if it is in obedience to your will. And so the knowledge of your Son has enabled me to find joy in my own suffering. Lord, my dear Father, I kneel before you this day, and praise you fervently for my present sufferings, and give thanks for the measureless sufferings of the past. I now realize that all these sufferings are part of your paternal love, in which you chastise and purify me. And through that discipline I now look at you without shame and terror, because I know that you are preparing me for your eternal kingdom. Henry Suso, O.P. (1295-1366)

Further Readings

Here are some good resources for further exploration.

The Problem of Pain by CS Lewis

A Grief Observed by CS Lewis

If God, Why Evil?: A New Way to Think About the Question by Norman L. Geisler

God, Freedom, and Evil By Alvin Plantinga

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL by Eleonore Stump

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