A good God!

We plan to guard ourselves against any potential disaster. We reserve funds and take insurance policies to weather difficult times that might arise. But there may be occasions when difficulty overwhelms us, and we crack under pressure. Such occasions show us the frailty of human strength and security. We find ourselves exposed when all possible options have been exhausted.

What if the Infinite One is not just infinite in power but also in love? One might, then, find not just the power to be rescued but also a readiness to help. One might ask: why is there pain in the first place? Couldn't an all-powerful God design a world without pain? The Bible reiterates that God made a good world. The Divine made humans in His own image and likeness - and so followed a moral and relational capacity. It means that there are consequences of human choices. While God gave them a good life and environment, there were boundaries He set, without which freedom becomes meaningless. When the first humans rebelled against the Divine mandate, a curse followed. Now, if that curse is wiped out as inconsequential, that would demean human choice and dignity.

While there were occasions when Jesus could pull off a miracle rather effortlessly, we see him breaking down while visiting the family of his dear friend, Lazarus, who had died. From the cross, he cried out, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'


When one walks in tandem with God's will, He brings meaning even in menacing situations. No wonder, then, that early Christian philosopher, Paul, exhorts readers to be 'patient in tribulation'.