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Why Does God Allow Suffering in Our Lives?

God changed my perspective on the painful experiences I had endured.

By Clare Anderson

I have always wanted to understand the reason why. Why does a loving God allow suffering in our lives when He is all-powerful and could easily prevent it?

Through my experiences, I have come to understand at least two reasons why God allows suffering in our lives.

Through Suffering We Develop Empathy

When I was a teenager, I went through a very painful experience during which I struggled with suicidal feelings. I didn’t really want to die; I just wanted to escape all the pain and distress that I felt I couldn’t bear anymore.

I prayed constantly and asked God to sustain me minute by minute. I was afraid that I might be tempted to end my life. I cried out to God and asked Him why I had to go through all this pain. I couldn’t understand the reason for it. Then God impressed me that

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References

Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association., 1898), p. 225
Timothy Keller, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (New York: Riverhead Books, 2015), p. 306.

About the author

Clare Anderson is a pen name.