Why Does God Allow Suffering?

(by Mike Blanding, father of Mateo)

I’ve heard friends say that our suffering is an indication that either

• God is not real; or
• God is not good; or
• God is not powerful​

And I suppose that’s a logical point of view. But if I wake up tomorrow and decide that God is not real, that God is not good, and that God is not powerful, those decisions do not make the suffering go away.  In fact, they don’t change my situation at all. They do not bring back my son, they do not bring back my joy, and they do not bring back my hope. In fact these decisions do not bring anything. They only take. They take away my joy, they take away my comfort, they take away my peace, and they take away my hope.
 
I’d much prefer to continue to believe in a real, good, and powerful Heavenly Father who knows my name, sees my pain, and holds my hand through it all.
 
So tomorrow morning I will wake up and I will decide with my mind, believe with my heart, and declare with my mouth that God is real, that God is good, and that God is powerful.
 
“I will bless the Lord at all times, and his praises shall continually be in my mouth” Psalm 34:1

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The #MightyMateo Legacy lives on.
Our little Mateo was highly involved in our efforts to fight online sex trafficking of children in the Philippines during his seven months of life. We believe that he'd love for us to continue this legacy.

Read more here.

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