by Shannon Rayford

Created on: May 28, 2008   Last Updated: March 17, 2009

This question has plagued, and will continue to plague, believers and non-believers alike. If God loves us, why is there so much pain in the world? Well, has anyone ever asked if God doesn't love us, why is there so much happiness in the world? Do we question God when children are born healthy? Do we question Him when we are fortunate enough to provide for our families? Of course we don't. There is both good and bad in the world and there is a reason for that. We are neither in heaven, nor hell, so both good and evil will exist.

When people ask this question I often respond saying if there was no bad in the world, what would separate heaven and earth? If every time I needed money, I prayed and it miraculously appeared in my pocket, or every time I felt pain, I prayed and the pain instantly disappeared, wouldn't I already be in heaven?

It is human nature to focus on the bad rather than the good. Think about, has an officer ever pulled you over to tell you that you're doing a great job staying within the speed limit or to tell you that he appreciates you wearing your seat-belt? I think not. When things like 9/11 happened many people wondered why God didn't stop it, but did we look to God for answers on those days we made it to work safely? Did we look to God for an explanation when our country was at peace?

In the Bible, the story of Job is about a man that had everything he could hope for and he was a great servant to the Lord. When God tells Satan to consider what a good servant Job is Satan states, "Does Job fear God for nought? Hast thou not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse thee to thy face"(Job 1:6-11). Even Satan knows that it's easy to be faithful if you always have good fortune. When God released his hedge around Job and Satan had his way with him, Job lost everything, except his faith. In Job 2:10 Job tells his wife, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

Some may still wonder, but how can He sit back and watch when He sees his children in pain or hungry? The reason is God does not see this life on earth as we see it. He sees it as a time for learning, growing, and proving our faith. It would be pretty easy to be faithful if things always went our way. Look at it this way. A parent of a teenager sees their child get upset over friends gossiping about

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