Lowest Price If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil

Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my seventy-five years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence, has been through affliction and not through happiness, whether pursued or attained. ~ Malcolm Muggeridge

My dad survived throat cancer and dealt with a lot of suffering from the chemotherapy. When he first became ill I remember asking God why he would give my dad throat cancer when my father is a preacher and missionary and has served God for most of his life. To be frank, I felt it was unfair. Now that his cancer has returned and is in his lungs he is again going through chemotherapy. As many have experienced, I again questioned God and also felt overwhelmed with the world's suffering which mostly seems born of the evil actions of mankind. So with this happening in my life I read "If God Is Good" with a troubled heart.

While many have found this book comforting, I found it unsettling. Each time the author mentioned another person suffering or another individual being murdered or abused I felt myself becoming angry. Then Randy Alcorn would explain the reasons for the tragedy and I'd feel a little better. This went on through the entire book right up until the last chapter. I literally had to force myself to read this book because it dealt so deeply with things I have been thinking about recently.

If you wish for a peaceful world some of the realities in this book will frustrate you as they did me. Randy Alcorn presents case after case of evil's destructive influence. Then Randy says: "If God allowed less evil in the world, there would also be less good." While this is hard to believe at first it does start to make some sense as you finish the book.

So while reading this book did not put my mind at ease, I have lots to think about. No matter what anyone says about evil and suffering I've decided that the only thing we can really do is to accept that bad things are going to happen and that somehow we have to trust that God knows what he is doing when he allows illness, early death and grief.

When I look back at my own short life there were many times when I suffered emotionally and I can truly say it was for the best. Through suffering I've become a better person even though at the times I was in pain I thought nothing worse could ever happen to me. In retrospect, all the bad things I thought were happening to me actually turned out to be the best things that could ever happen. If I had married the man I thought I was supposed to marry my life would have turned out rather different. So while the rejection made me feel like the world was ending, now I am totally thankful for what happened. When you are in a bad situation you may think the pain will never end, but it does eventually even if it takes years.

~The Rebecca Review
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