Why God?

This week we concluded our Confident Christianity Grow Nights by looking at one of the biggest questions people ask: Why is there pain and suffering in the world?

Most of us have experienced moments when suffering seems deeply unfair. Sometimes that pain has come from circumstances beyond our control, sometimes it has been inflicted by the actions of others. In those moments, the question "Why?" can feel impossible to ignore.

One of the observations made by our presenter has stayed with me. When someone who is suffering asks that question, they are often asking much more than a theological question. They are asking it from a place of real, pulse thumping, breath stopping, experienced hurt.

It's a bit like someone who is desperately thirsty asking why it is so hot and why their mouth is dry. What they need most in that moment is not a lecture on temperature regulation and human biology. They need someone to hand them a glass of water.

There has been a great deal of thoughtful and extremely valuable theological work done on the problem of suffering. Yet, what I was left pondering upon leaving our session was God's response to humanity's pain. I was drawn to the fact that He did not remain distant from it. When humanity cried out 'Why?', God did not send an explanation. He came, Himself, in the person of Jesus. He walked among us, shared in our pain, and ultimately gave His life so that all who come to Him might drink from the water of life.

If someone came to you in the midst of their pain and asked, "Why?", how would you answer?

Colleen