I went to a memorial service yesterday for a woman who died in September after a ten-yr. battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). These lines were on the inside of the “card” that was passed out at the service:
God saw her getting tired,
a cure not meant to be;
So He put His arms around her,
And whispered, “Come to Me.”
Her struggle inspired this sonnet that I published earlier on my blog:
https://thebardonthehill.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/when-trouble-tills-our-garden-by-the-bard-oth/
The Bard on the Hill 
If you view God as most people do I wonder at the intelligence or kindness of a God who took 10 years to relieve a woman of her suffering!!!!
There is a software or hardware malfunction somewhere!
I have discussed the topic of euthanasia and belief in God at http://moizbillah.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/non-poetic-rant-euthanasia-and-sanctity-of-life-are-they-opposites/
No, I don’t wonder. Suffering is in the world because of sin. Some suffering is a direct result of Satan’s attacks (see Job), trying to pry people away from God. Temporary suffering of even ten years is nothing compared to an eternity WITH God. Everyone who spoke at her service spoke of how her thoughts were always on others, even in the midst of her problems.
“No, I don’t wonder. Suffering is in the world because of sin. Some suffering is a direct result of Satan’s attacks (see Job), trying to pry people away from God. Temporary suffering of even ten years is nothing compared to an eternity WITH God. Everyone who spoke at her service spoke of how her thoughts were always on others, even in the midst of her problems.”
Amen my brother. I am heaven bound thanks to the work done on Calvary!
“Suffering is in the world because of sin”, you say. Animals also go through pain and suffering just as we do because of “sin”. The concept of sin used to explain pain and suffering still defies the concept of a God who is either All Powerful or All Loving. As Saint Augustine asked himself, either God cannot abolish evil or He will not. If He cannot, He is not all Powerful. If He will not, He is not all good. There is a third approach- which I suggest in my blog- however, that does away with the concept of either or to perhaps neither all.
Yes, I’ve already discussed those things, either on your blog or mine. There is another answer to the either/or (a false dichotomy) that you continue to ignore. And yes, suffering is in the world because of sin. You’d make a good atheist. 🙂
I once had faith of the kind that you do. Pray that if I be wrong I be guided to the straight path, the path of those on whom blessings are brought down, not those who earn God’s wrath, nor of those who go astray after being guided.
I always enjoy your view points- it makes me think. And one can always benefit from a prayer….