stemelbow Posted November 11, 2013 Posted November 11, 2013 The saints have suffered. Everyone suffers. Just because God sometimes tempers our suffering and sometimes lets us feel the full weight of it, does not mean that he is not involved. I have no doubt that there are faithful Philipinos who are suffering because of the storm who still do not doubt the love of God, or His supervision in their lives. The issue then is, as far as we can tell, it's all very arbitrary. SOme suffering He stops and some He does not. We simply don't know if the stopping of one suffering is good or bad, though, since we also must accept the notion that suffering is ultimately for our good.
stemelbow Posted November 11, 2013 Posted November 11, 2013 As others have pointed out, while the Hollands were faced with two choices, either choice would have resulted in a faith-promoting story. Even if they had chosen the "right" road, doubted, then turned around and gone back to the wrong road, discovered their error and then had to try and go back, it would be a tremendous story. I agree. That sounds like a more effective story if faith building is the goal. The one that we have just brings up questions and concerns, well at least for some of us. Somehow it's the ultimate of faith building, it seems.
bluebell Posted November 11, 2013 Posted November 11, 2013 It makes me curious if God stops our suffering because He knows we can't take it, but if we were able to take it He'd let it be because we can actually learn and grow from it. Kind of an interesting thought. Maybe.
bluebell Posted November 11, 2013 Posted November 11, 2013 The issue then is, as far as we can tell, it's all very arbitrary. SOme suffering He stops and some He does not. We simply don't know if the stopping of one suffering is good or bad, though, since we also must accept the notion that suffering is ultimately for our good. I think the issue is more one of faith than anything else.
stemelbow Posted November 11, 2013 Posted November 11, 2013 I think the issue is more one of faith than anything else. Could be. If someone following his/her path in life runs into a situation wherein he/she is spared from assumed suffering, then this situation can be seen or explained in four ways: --God stepped in and helped, for gracious reasons deciding on this particular occasion this particular person won't suffer for this particular situation.--It was all by chance that this person just missed the immense suffering. But his/her time will come so no biggie.--God stopped the suffering even though it could have benefitted this person if this person was strong enough to handle the suffering.--The devil stopped the suffering because he knew it would only make this person stronger stronger.
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