As you might expect, I believe Jesus gives us lots to good reasons to have faith in God – indeed I spend much of my life trying to persuade people of these. But I also believe Christians should engage constructively and courteously with people who do not share our views.

Surveys consistently show that the number one objection to belief in God is the prevalence of suffering in the world. Many people believe this shows that God is not real, or not powerful, or not good. This is not just a contemporary view; people have wrestled with this issue down the centuries.

Jesus addressed the issue of suffering head-on, recorded by Luke in the first few verses of chapter 13. He also addressed the then-widespread view that the things which happen to people (good or bad) are deserved, and he repeatedly contradicted that kind of thinking. We might summarise His view as ‘stuff happens’ and this is just part of life, and he went on to teach people to get right with God now since none of us knows when we will be run over by the proverbial bus.

God never did promise an easy life, but what He does promise is that He loves us and wants us to turn to Him. Some of the most contented people I know are people whose lives have been marked by significant suffering but who know that God is with them in the ups and downs, twists and turns of life. Whatever highs and lows you experience, I hope this will be true for you too.

Wishing you God’s best,

David