"Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this?" Such poignant questions asked at some of the most wrenching moments in human history, have confounded wise people for centuries. If God is good, how can evil happen?
We wouldn't attempt to answer a question of the ages in a single magazine. But this month's Journal does bring fresh hope to those facing what might be called the bottom line of faith—that moment when it looks as if there's nowhere left to turn.
Much of this month's content bears witness to the presence and power of God even in the midst of adversity, and to the life-affirming possibilities of prayer. Cynthia Gray writes about missionaries who are bringing practical help to those in the very pit of poverty and despair. Channing Walker suggests that it's not how much faith we have, but where we put our faith, that can make a difference in our lives. Corinne Teeter tells how we can begin, in small ways, to challenge the ultimate reality of evil through persistent acknowledgement of the allness and omnipotence of God. And a brave young woman, faced with a series of personal tragedies within a few years, shares her college entrace essay with Journal readers. Don't be surprised if you shed a tear as you learn of Sarah Drake's perseverance—and triumph.
