In the context of life’s most difficult moments, we want to know “why?”
We might at as well ask to to pluck the planet Mars from the heavens between our thumb and forefinger and flatten it between our hands like a piece of Play-dough. We have neither the strength nor the wisdom to comprehend the reasons of the Universe.
Indeed, flattening Mars between our palms would be far easier than understanding all the reasons of life and history.
However, having acknowledged how little capacity we have for understanding the reasons of God in the universe, we should be quick to note that it is not as though we have no understanding in hard times. There is so much we do understand.
To begin with, love is real. There is truth in Queen Elizabeth’s words after 9/11 that grief is the price we pain for love. The depth of pain we feel when met with sudden loss reminds us of the reality of love. Grief hurts so much because love is so real.
Still more, amid loss, we understand more about the love of parents for children when we see their grief. Could any reasonable person explain the feelings of a mother for her child by merely saying that evolution organically programmed mothers to care for their young?
A parent’s love for his or her child also assures us that the present path on which we find ourselves is the only possible avenue forward towards redemption. Had there been any other option, God the Father would have pursued it rather than giving his only begotten Son (John 3:16). Sending a child to die is the last option any parent would choose.
No, we cannot pluck Mars out of the air like we are taking decorations off our Christmas tree. Nor can we understand why life can hurt so much. But we can be sure that love is real. And that the God who loves us so much that he gave His only Son is the one true God who can be trusted even though we cannot comprehensively understand why.
See also:
Reflections on the Road During Our Time of Grief
The Danger of Cherry-Picking Only Praises from the Psalms
Incurable Cancer and the Problem of Good
Ask, “How Long?” Instead of “Why?”
9 Reasons Tim Keller’s Book on Suffering is Superb
Andy Naselli’s interview of John Frame regarding the Problem of Evil
Men seek an understanding of suffering in cause and effect
Job: A Writer of Superb Genius Has Erected a Monumental Work
