THE REASON FOR PAIN AND SUFFERING

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen.

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:

I don’t believe that God exists.
Why do you say that? Asked the customer.

Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist.

Tell me, if God exists, why are there be so many sick people?
Why are there so many abandoned children?
If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.
I can’t imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.

The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument, so after the barber had finished his job, he left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.
He looked dirty and unkempt.
The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

You know what?
Barbers do not exist!
How can you say that? Asked the surprised barber.
I am here, and I am a barber.
What are you talking about?
I have just worked on you!

No! The customer exclaimed.
Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.

Ah, but barbers DO exist! replied the barber.
That’s what happens when people do not come to me.

Exactly! Replied the customer.
That’s the point!
God DOES exist!
That’s what happens when people do not go to Him.
That’s what happens when people don’t look to Him for guidence and help in their lives.
That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.