Tag Archives: hope

Why Does God Allow Suffering?


I have a problem with suffering. I am sure you do also. A couple of years ago I experienced some of the worst pain in my life and I ended up in hospital. I knew the medical reasons why I was suffering but that didn’t make it any easier. If God wasn’t going to answer my prayer and take the pain away, I wanted to die. When the pain had gone I changed my mind. We struggle to keep their faith when confronted with pain or illness or death.

The problem of suffering is therefore a question we have something in common with our friends. The answer to our question should therefore help them as much as ourselves. For some it is an intellectual and theoretical question about the existence of God and problem of evil. For others it is a present and personal experience. The answer we give will greatly depend on the context. Our culture finds the issue of suffering a huge problem. The presence of pain and evil in the world leads many to question the existence of God. David Hume, the philosopher put it like this:

“Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil?” (David Hulme)

Here is how C.S. Lewis framed the dilemma,

‘If God were good, He would wish to make His creatures perfectly happy, and if God were almighty, He would be able to do what He wished. But the creatures are not happy. Therefore God lacks either goodness, or power, or both. This is the problem of pain in its simplest form.’ (C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain)

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A Route of Hope: Katie Ruth

Our daughter Katie has just published her first book of poetry.

The book launch was held at the Fox and Hounds, Bishopsgate Road, Englefield Green, Surrey on Saturday 12th December. You can view photos here

“I have, in recent years, learned an extremely valuable lesson about the importance and rewards of perseverance. ‘A Route of Hope’ is a collection of my poetry which has been published with a prayer that I might be able to encourage people.

Anyone who struggles, feels alone, suffers with anxiety or stress; I want to inspire these people to persevere and rest in the knowledge that we are never alone. I hope that my simple poems bring you a smile for the moments you feel unable to. ” – Katie Ruth

 

After the Rain

Diamonds on the leaves
They’re perfectly round
The blue sky is settled
And there’s much less sound
The grasses looking happy
Waving to the trees
Where the birds are sitting
In the evening breeze
And the flowers are thankful
That now they can show
Their beautiful colours
Early, tomorrow.

At least 10% of the profits from the book are being donated to Umthombo and their work among homeless street children in Durban, South Africa.

Priced £4.99, you may pre-order copies from Katie