McGee quote about suffering

<p>J. Vernon McGee, "The problem is this:'Why does God permit the prosperity of the wicked? Why is it that God's people seem to suffer more?' Many times, as a pastor, I found myself puzzled. I saw God's people tried. I saw God's people suffer. I saw the prosperity of the wicked, and it was hard for me to understand it.

It was brought home to me when our first child was born. In the hospital God took that child. I only heard the cry of that little one. All she ever did in her life was cry. I shall never forget the day she died. Across the hall from where my wife was, there was a very wealthy couple who had a baby boy, and their rich friends came to celebrate with them. As I drove into the parking lot in my old beat-up Chevrolet, they all drove up in Cadillacs. They went into the hospital with their champagne and celebrated the birth of the little boy. He was a precious looking little baby -- all they desired, I guess. I shall never forget that night. It was summertime, and I went out on a balcony that was there and cried out to God. To be honest with you, I don't know to this good day why God took our baby and left the baby across the hall. They have money, and, boy, they live it up! I have seen write-ups about them, and they have been in trouble several times. Their little boy is now an adult, as my daughter would be. After all these years, I still don't have the answer. You may be thinking, You are a minister, and you don't have the answer? No, I don't have the answer. Then how can you comfort others? Well, I'll tell you how. Although I don't have the answer, I know the One who does, and He has told me to walk with him by faith. He tests me by putting me in the dark. Then I'll reach out my hand and take his. In His Word He tells me that I can trust Him. Someday He will explain the whys of life to me."

From "Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee", commentary on Ps 73.1.</p>