Articles
The Missing Piece
The Missing Piece
In the classic problem of suffering, there are three pieces: God is all-powerful, God is all-good, yet evil and suffering exist in the world. Ravi Zacharias, Christian apologist, suggests it’s been a classic problem because there’s a missing piece to the puzzle: God is all-knowing. “His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.” (Job 34:21). God knows there are benefits to suffering in this world.
Suffering makes us long for a world beyond this one. “Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 19:26). Suffering draws us closer to God. “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.” (Job 13:15). Suffering loosens our grip on this world. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there.” (Job 1:21). Suffering changes our perspective about ourselves and God. “He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.” (Job 28:28). Finally, suffering was the mechanism God used to draw our hearts back to Him in Christ. “As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous one, My Servant, will justify the many.” (Isaiah 53:11).
