War. Terrorism. Kidnappings and killings. Disease epidemics and even pandemics. Drug epidemics. Increasing atrocities around the world cause more and more people to ask, why suffering? Why would a loving God allow kidnapping, rape, torture, murder, and war? Why would He allow death and damage from earthquakes, tsunamis, and other weather disasters? Why the ravages of disease? How could He allow millions to starve? People have long struggled to explain the reasons for human suffering. But the Bible clearly explains both the origin and the future of suffering.

You have been waiting in line for such a long time and rehearsed your words. You have admired this woman from a distance, wondering how she has coped with so much sorrow and pain. In your heart you think, “You are such a strong person. I don’t know how you do it. If it were me, I’d just give up and die.” The line moves a bit, words are spoken by those who came to comfort her and the family. You are anxious to just console her in some way. Two more people in front of you. Finally!

Because of other calamities and disasters making news headlines lately, not as much attention has been given recently to a different problem. This is the problem of drought increasing around the world. Although occasional monsoons, snowstorms and typhoons continue to make headlines, rainfall shortages and worsening drought conditions—from Asia to Australia to the Americas—are affecting once rich agricultural land around the world.

“The Ukraine crisis has dramatically worsened relations between NATO and Russia. With cooperation on nuclear security now suspended and the lack of a ‘red telephone,’ experts at the Munich Security Conference warn any escalation in tensions could grow deadly” (Der Spiegel, February 13, 2015).

“Copenhagen police shot and killed on Sunday morning (15 February) a man suspected to have carried out two terror attacks in the Danish capital over the weekend. ‘Once again Europe is shocked by what appears to be another brutal terrorist attack targeted at our fundamental values and freedoms, including the freedom of expression’” (EU Observer, February 15, 2015). The Danish-born Palestinian gunman opened fire on a conference about “freedom of expression” and later on a Jewish synagogue.