Why does God allow suffering? This is the age-old question of Christians and non-Christians alike, and it's unlikely to be answered to anyone's satisfaction this side of heaven. Even though I'm just an ordinary guy, I'd like to take a stab at it.



Why does it seem like God doesn't want good things for me? Why wouldn't he want me to have good health, and to be happy and safe? Why wouldn't he want me to have enough income to pay my bills, help my kids with school, and go on a vacation once in a while? It doesn't seem like these things are that much to ask for. I don't think He's that concerned with these things because there is something that is much more important to Him.

I've read many books by Dr. Larry Crabb, best-selling author, psychologist, and counselor, and while they are always excellent and insightful, most of the ones I've read have been kind of hard for me to follow, because they're so intellectual. Some of the books he's written are "The Marriage Builder", "Inside Out", and "Finding God".

Recently, I discovered another book by Dr. Crabb called "Shattered Dreams - God's Unexpected Pathway to Joy". I started reading it and I realized it was different than the others I've read by him. It was actually much easier to read, and I could tell from the writing style that this book was intimately important to him, that he had really lived what he was writing here.

In "Shattered Dreams", Dr. Crabb explains that happiness and joy are not the same thing, and although most of us want happiness, God actually knows that this isn't the best for us. We believe that it's important to have plenty of money, good health, a nice car or house, a happy family, and so forth.

God wants us to find joy in a different place - in relationship with Him. If you can achieve that relationship and still have the above-mentioned happiness, that's great! I don't think they are necessarily exclusive of each other. After all, God does want us to have good things. The Bible says "If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!".

Sometimes God will let us experience pain and suffering so that we don't become too satisfied with our current lifestyle. He also realizes that we can get very busy trying to maintain that "happy" lifestyle, and that will also limit the joy we will find by having relationship with Him. What happens when we experience this pain? Most of us will do whatever we can to get rid of it.

"Shattered Dreams" encourages us to allow ourselves to feel that pain, to mourn, and to grieve. It is in the midst of these trials, and on the other side of them, that we encounter God, and only then are we able to experience the true joy that He desires. It is not comfortable or fun, but it is ultimately the only true path to joy, and in my opinion, the reason that bad things happen to good people, and why God allows suffering.