‘If there is a God, why does he allow catastrophic things to happen to His people?’. ‘Why is there so much suffering considering the “fact” that we are in the presence of a “loving” God?’. Different faces approach me using varying tones, presenting the same arguments and statements at different points in time. My response to their queries had always been the same, “every occurrence has a purpose, and God is working in the lives of everyone”. I began to understand the fault of my rehearsed answer. I failed to emphasise God’s love.
My faith had always been and probably always will be anchored firmly to the love that God showed me. I believe that His grace, forgiveness, and each blessing we experience is the manifestation of the unconditional love that He has for us. From the abundance of that love, He gave us the right to exercise our free-will and the capability to express our own love as well (1 John 4:19). In everything we do, we have the freedom to show love or to hold it back, from the most trivial things such as listening attentively to the more intricate ones where we need to make sacrifices to prove that we value a significant entity.
Personally, I think the best answer that could explain why these sorrowful things happen in our world today is the absence of love. The fulfillment of the commandment from Mark 12:30-31 constitutes an idealistic world without hatred, but since we are all human, our selfish personalities shield us from spreading the love that is already inside our hearts. It is very difficult to handle emotions especially when they are heightened by certain circumstances which could cloud our judgement. The only way to completely overcome the shortcomings of our flesh is to trust God and follow His example. There is no better model of love than what Jesus displayed when He died on the cross for our sins (John 3:16). His love never runs out, and it is for every soul present, it never ceases to amaze me.
God never changes (Hebrews 13:8) and the same goes for His true love. It is in my prayers that we would always be reminded of God’s perfect love and that we would be open enough to let that love influence all the aspects of our lives. True love will never fail; whatever the case, it will never be absent.
1 John 4:19
New International Version (NIV)
19 We love because he first loved us.
Mark 12:30-31
New International Version (NIV)
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
John 3:16
New International Version (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Hebrews 13:8
New International Version (NIV)
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.