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Interests => Religious Discussions => Topic started by: BlueStateSaint on January 30, 2015, 10:58:32 AM

Title: The Challenge: When Life Gets Hard
Post by: BlueStateSaint on January 30, 2015, 10:58:32 AM
Interesting article on the Townhall site today.

Quote
The Challenge: When Life Gets Hard

Rebecca Hagelin | Jan 30, 2015

Editor's note: This piece was co-authored by the author's daughter, Kristin Carey.

Why do bad things happen?

It's a question that we all ask at least once in our lives. Sadly, the question torments some people so dreadfully that they come to the hopeless conclusion that there is no God.

How do we reconcile the truth that life can be hard—often cruel—with the truth that there is an all-powerful God who is good?

Some of the bad things that “happen” to us are the direct and natural results of our own sins. In other words, many of life’s hardships are entirely avoidable. But we all sin. While God always forgives anyone who genuinely seeks forgiveness, he usually does not remove the earthly consequences of our sins. And those natural consequences can cause untold suffering.

Still, it is usually easier to accept the suffering that comes as a result of our own shortcomings than it is to accept the pain that comes to us because of someone else’s sin. When whole families fall apart because one person was unfaithful; when millions are overcome with grief and fear as terrorists attack; when plague, or drought, or a natural disaster wipes out thousands; when a child suffers terrible abuse, it’s hard imagine that there is a God who cares.

Yeah, I know that there's a firestorm in the making here.  Go for it. :fuelfire:

http://townhall.com/columnists/rebeccahagelin/2015/01/30/the-challenge-when-life-gets-hard-n1950215