Why I'm Still a Christian

[Lek]

Would you end suffering and replace it with happiness?

Also, saying we get hardships but we get the strength to overcome them or whatever is a nice idea, but it really doesn't apply to children getting terminal diseases, or people getting flung into depression so deep that they kill themself, which I've been very close to doing myself. Your answer seems to amount to, "God can do whatever he likes, and I'll agree with it regardless". You admit to being totally unable to fathom what he is doing, so how can you possibly know he has our best intentions in mind?

Yes. Just as he is going to do. Read the last chapter of the book of Revelation. But I could decide to create a world where there is suffering; and you're right that I don't know why he did it this way. We've all gone through suffering and we've made it through. I don''t lay around bemoaning the fact that people have to suffer. I just live my life the best I can. You never answered my question as to whether or not suffering can be good. Why is suffering evil? Yes, it hurts. My wife hurt when she delivered our kids, but she wouldn't go back and undo it in order to save herself the pain. We all go through suffering to attain things that are important to us. The way we handle our suffering says much about the kind of people we are. I imagine God wanted to create a world where people would experience adversity and struggle toward the goal which they desire. I don't know for sure why he did it this way, but with his help I'm working toward that goal. That's not saying that God isn't good or loving.

As for suicide, I've been there. I take meds for OCD and anxiety and have also come to the edge. It's funny though, that what has taken you away from God has brought me closer to him.

As for intentions, he has revealed them to me in the scriptures and in Jesus Christ.