I don't hold to the idea that God causes suffering and crisis. I just know that those things come along and God uses them. We think life should be a nice, clean ascending line. But inevitably something wanders onto the scene and creates havoc with the nice way we've arranged life to fall in place.
In her book "When the Heart Waits," Sue Monk Kidd expresses her belief that suffering and crises are not caused by God but are inherent parts of life. She suggests that such challenges are used by God to teach and guide us through our spiritual journeys. The unpredictable nature of life often disrupts our carefully planned paths, introducing chaos where we expect order.
Kidd highlights the inevitability of these disruptions, suggesting that our desire for a straightforward, uninterrupted existence often clashes with reality. Instead of viewing life as a seamless progression, she encourages embracing the complexities and the lessons they bring, recognizing that they play a vital role in personal growth and spiritual development.