Why do good suffer and evil prosper?
This is one of the most difficult questions to answer. In fact this question is an atheist's most potent weapon against the people who have faith in God.
The books of Job and Ecclesiastes pronounce it an unfathomable mystery. The author of Job seems to regard the very asking of the question as an offence to God. Explaining the blessedness of God's chastisement, one of Job's friends said, "Though He wounds, He also bandages. He strikes, but His hands also heal" (Job 5:17-18). Job puts forward all kinds of detailed arguments for questioning God's justice but God refuses to reply to his accusations, telling Job only to sit down, shut up, and fear him.
Christian life is a race (Hebrews 12:1). Runners get rid of all unnecessary weight when they get set on the track. When unnecessary things occupy us, God gets angry. He is displeased when our pastime steals our prayer time. Even the times of earthly blessings can blur our spiritual vision and make eternal values unimportant. God cannot tolerate this. When everything seems to be going right, He suddenly sends a storm. He is interested in the removal of those ‘extra pounds’ to help us to win the race. He lays us down on our backs so that we may “look up”.
The sufferings of unsaved men are often used by the Holy Spirit to cause them to realize their needs of salvation and to turn to Christ in repentance and faith. The sufferings of Christians are the means of developing a stronger dependence on God and a more Christ-like character.
God has a plan for your life and He knows and understands you. As part of that plan, you live on this earth and are subject to natural and physical laws. You are also subject to the consequences of sin and the results of choices made by you and others. Yet no matter what happens, you are a child of God and He loves you. He knows and wants you to know that your time on this earth is but a small part of your eternal life. God takes no pleasure in your suffering but He knows that difficulties, regardless of their cause, can bring His children closer to Him and can make them stronger.
Trials and adversity are parts of this life. When you understand that God has a purpose and plan for you and that He can give you comfort and peace, even in the most difficult times, those trials become a time of rejoice.
There is no simple answer to this question but when you have faith in God and His plan, you can be assured that there is purpose in all that happens to you here on this earth and He will transform the bad things into truly miraculous events. ”And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).............. Next Question