Question:
Why should I love Hashem if He does such cruel things (for example: illness, poverty, war)?
Answer:
The reason we should love Hashem is because of the countless gifts He bestows upon us every single day, even though we do not deserve them. He gave us two eyes, ears, hands, feet, and vital organs—a heart, liver, and kidneys—that (thankfully) function properly. He gave us ten fingers that move effortlessly and without pain. He granted us intellect and taste buds, allowing us not only to eat, but to enjoy food. He gave us ears to appreciate music and eyes to take in beautiful scenery. Not everyone is privileged to have all of these blessings, and Hashem has no obligation to grant them to anyone. Even if He had given us life without some of these abilities, we would still be grateful simply to be alive.
Consider the fact that Hashem provides us with food. Do we truly appreciate that? Human nature is to focus on what we lack rather than on what we have, but that perspective is false. Hashem feeds trillions of creations every single day, constantly and unfailingly. Is that not reason enough to love Him? People often engage in reckless behavior, such as dangerous sports, and even when they get hurt, Hashem allows their bodies to heal. A plank of wood cannot repair itself, yet Hashem created us with an intricate, built-in healing system that allows broken bones and wounds to mend—a wonder beyond comprehension and an immense kindness.
Hashem fills our lungs with air approximately fifteen times a minute, providing fresh oxygen so that we may continue living. He makes our hearts beat thousands of times an hour, without us being aware of it. He digests our food while we sleep, entirely without our involvement. And the list goes on and on.
Furthermore, although Hashem created us because He willed it, He has no obligation whatsoever to provide us with the level of enjoyment we experience in life. For example, He gave us the need to eat—but who said He had to create hundreds of varieties of fruits and vegetables, each with unique flavors and textures? He did so purely out of kindness. We need shelter, but who says our homes had to be comfortable, with couches, pillows, carpets, refrigeration, running water, electricity, and heating? While many of these are human inventions, who granted human beings the intellect to create them? And not all generations were privileged to enjoy these conveniences.
Once we recognize how much Hashem provides for us and for billions of other creations, we can address the difficult question: Why do sickness, poverty, war, and suffering exist? There are several reasons.
One reason is that if everything always functioned perfectly, we would forget that Hashem is the source of all goodness—and we might even forget His existence altogether. Since the purpose of creation is for humanity to recognize Hashem and serve Him, a world devoid of challenge would undermine that goal. Pain and hardship exist to awaken us, to remind us of our purpose, and to keep us spiritually aware.
Another reason is that Hashem is King. A functioning world requires law and order, which includes consequences. Hashem gave commandments, and when they are violated, punishment serves both as justice and as a reminder that there is a higher Authority governing the world. Most importantly, the difficulties Hashem sends are a means of cleansing us from our aveiros. These challenges ultimately heal us.
This can be compared to a hospital. To a child, a hospital appears cruel: needles, procedures, and pain everywhere. But in truth, a hospital is a place of healing. The discomfort is not an end in itself; it is a means to restore health. So too, the hardships Hashem sends are ultimately for our benefit.
Yes, there is death in the world. But death is only tragic if one believes that the soul ceases to exist. When we understand that the soul lives on, we recognize that there are times when death itself allows the soul to reach its proper reward in the World to Come.
In the end, everything Hashem does is for our immediate or long-term benefit, even when we cannot see it on the surface.
Best wishes.
