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Why Suffering Can Become Beautiful
Why would a good, all-powerful God allow suffering? Because I engage, online and in person, skeptics I hear this charge. I want a simple answer – there isn’t one. I freely admit to not knowing all the reasons. The following is an uncomfortable explanation; but could it be the reason suffering exists is pain is the only way for us to learn these good traits?
Mercy
Compassion
Sacrifice
Patience
Empathy
Sympathy
Humility
Resilience
Wisdom
Self-awareness
Perseverance
Priorities
And more….
Those who only see the suffering, look only through eyes of pain. Such is understandable. It is also short-sighted.
Suffering can have many positive outcomes:
Suffering can strengthen, like the butterfly who pushes through the cocoon which pushes the needed fluids into its wings enabling flight.
Suffering can also remind us of sin, as we remember we are part of a cursed world (Genesis 3,4).
Suffering will be defeated in the resurrection. Followers of Christ have an answer that atheists and agnostics do not. Both the righteous and unrighteous will be resurrected (John 5). What is “unfair” in this life is made right in the next (1 Corinthians 15).
Suffering is also a tool by God to teach us traits that we could hardly learn by living only good times. Whoever said it first, knew, “Experience is the best teacher”. Suffering is a needed experience to learn more about others, ourselves, and even God.
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