WHY DOES GOD ALLOW HARDSHIP?

We live in a mixed-up, messed-up world. Sometimes terrible things happen that don't make any sense at all, and we wonder why?

Steven Curtis Chapman is one of the best known singer-songwriters of contemporary Christian music. Over the last 15 or 20 years his songs have blessed millions of people. Last Wednesday tragedy struck the Chapman home, and Michelle Malkin wrote about it on Thursday. Here's what she said:

"Steven Curtis Chapman's five-year-old adopted daughter, Maria Sue, died Wednesday when her teen-age brother accidentally ran over her as he backed the family's car out of their driveway. Chapman's music and life have been inspired by, and centered on, faith and family.

His oldest daughter, Emily, encouraged Chapman and his wife to adopt after having three of their own natural-born children. The couple adopted three beautiful girls from China. They performed missionary work in Chinese orphanages and established a charity named after their first adopted daughter, Shoahannah. At the time the accident occurred, the family "was celebrating the engagement of the oldest daughter Emily Chapman. And were just hours away from a graduation party marking Caleb Chapman's completion of high school. Now, they are preparing to bury a child who blew out 5 candles on a birthday cake less than 10 days ago. Maria Sue had just graduated from church preschool.

(SOURCE1:michellemalkin.com/2008/05/22/maria-sue-chapman-rip-2003-2008)

*We wonder why, but that's O.K. Randy Alcorn explains, "The Bible itself raises this question. It never backs away from it. The problem of suffering and evil is in Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Job and many of the Psalms. God does not condemn people for asking such questions. For instance, Jeremiah 12:1 says, "Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead

...

Continue reading this sermon illustration (Free with PRO)