Board index ‹ The Problem of Evil and Suffering

[Nic J]

Why does God let us go through hard stuff ?! He knows how things are gonna play out ?! Why would he want his children to go through things that hard ?! I know we have to learn and grow, but still.

[jimwalton]

“Why does God let us go through the hard stuff?” I have found, in my many years of life, that most of the valuable things in life, and most of what has worked to develop my character, happened when I had to struggle through something. I learn more when I have to work at it than when it’s easy. I think deeper when I have to solve a problem than when it’s easy. I grow more when I have to figure things out than when I don’t. Relationships are stronger when we work through crises together than when life is easy and good. I become stronger when I have to deal with hard things. If I can sight-read music on the piano, I learn nothing; when I have to work at it, I learn new skills. An athlete who is pushed becomes a better athlete.

As far as spiritual things, good times and an easy life teach me little to nothing about God, faith, courage, persistence, patience, and a dozen other things. It’s the challenges, the things I don’t understand, the pain of stuff not working right, the silence of God when I need him, and the difficulties of life that make me push, seek, dig, study, pray, and learn. I get very lazy during easy times.

“He knows how things are going to play out?!” Yes, but that doesn’t mean He’s making me do anything. I’m not a robot. I make my own choices in all legitimacy; it’s just that God can see ahead to know what they were. But He is not forcing me in any direction. So, yes, He knows how they will play out.

“Why would he want his children to go through things that hard?” He is most interested in making us holy: complete, whole, separated, mature people. Hard times are the path to get there. I have learned far more through the most severe parts of life than I have ever learned through the comfortable times.

I hope this helps. Feel free to talk more. It's always a pleasure talking to you.