With all the pain, suffering, war, and famine in the world. One might naturally ask, where is the loving God of religion?
Well the presence of suffering with the idea of a loving God has plagued theologians for centuries, so don’t worry you’re not the first to ponder about that.
And if that’s the question that’s the roadblock towards accessing God, well sorry but you’re gonna be thinking about that one for a while bud.
But let me help you out a little bit.
The Question
Everyone’s asking, “where’s the loving God?”, but why is nobody asking: “where is the evil God?”.
Like you’re telling me God is evil and this is the most evil world he could come up with? Like you look around at the nice parks in your city, the children playing on their bikes, people going to school and making something of themselves. And this is what evil looks like to you?
Now let me be the first to side with you on this subject, even I question God’s benevolence sometimes. I too, get angry, frustrated, and down on myself with the state of my affairs. And I too have suffered great inequity in my life. Now I’ve always said, that even though I may suffer, I suffer in luxury you know? Like I have a roof over my head, I have food in my belly, I even have a little bit of money to spend on frivolous purchases. But I too suffer. Maybe I don’t suffer as much as the people in other countries. But hey man, my burden is mine to bear. No one’s living my life for me, no one can live my life for me, and no one should have to.
But that’s the thing you know, we all got problems. And I imagine God is up there like “don’t worry you can blame it on me”. ‘Cuz God can handle our blame right? We’re his children, and if he’s our Father, then surely a child can rant and throw a temper tantrum in front of his Father. And I implore you, to start a conversation with God, even if it’s an angry one you know. Really let him know how you feel, of course don’t be too rude, but even if you are (cuz even I’ve done that), I’m sure he can handle it. He’s a tough guy.
The Answer (?)
So what is God, if he’s not evil or loving, well, I don’t really have the answer to give you man. But maybe this verse will help.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV)
Like if anyone tells you that they know what’s going on in God’s mind, why he does what he does, why the way the world is the way it is. They’re lying to you man. And asking these questions, and still walking forward with love in our hearts, is what faith and trust require.
If the Bible ain’t doing it for you, here’s something from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
O Nanak! Call Him Great! He Himself knows Himself.
The praisers praise the Lord, but they do not obtain intuitive understanding –
the streams and rivers flowing into the ocean do not know its vastness.
Even kings and emperors, with mountains of property and oceans of wealth –
these are not even equal to an ant, who does not forget God.
…
Highest of the High, above all is His Name.
Only one as Great and as High as God
can know His Lofty and Exalted State.
Only He Himself is that Great. He Himself knows Himself.
Page 5 (SGGS)
So like, we’re all just human man. We’re all trying to understand the infinite with a finite mind. And you know, sometimes I look around at the world and I don’t see a loving God either, but then i look closer, and I don’t really see an evil one either, naw mean?
The Reflection
And trust me, much like you, I too wish the world was a better place. I don’t know why I had to go through what I had to go through, I don’t know why anyone should. I was like to my friend one day “I deserve a good life”, and my friend’s like “why do you think you deserve a good life”, and I was like “everyone deserves a good life it’s a basic human right”, and my friend’s like “nobody deserves a good life”. And those words still haunt me you know, like do I not deserve a good life? Does anyone not really deserve a good life? Then why are we even born to begin with?
And I ain’t got the answers for you man, the only answer I’ve found is, the reason I went through all the things I did, was so I could stand here today and help those who are in a worse place than me. Because suffering teaches strength and resilience, and I definitely have that today. Only the oak tree that has faced tremendous winds grows strong and sturdy.
So whatever you’re doing today, whatever you’re feeling. Maybe your facing some turbulence in life, maybe all is going swell. But just enjoy man, this life is the only one we got that we’re aware of in this moment, take it in, take in the good, take in the bad. Just make the best of it.
Peace ✌️