Many people ask, “Why does evil exist in the world? How can a benevolent God allow such suffering?”

This is indeed a profound and difficult question, one that doesn’t lend itself to a simple answer. Yet, rather than seeking an immediate solution, perhaps we should take the time to reflect deeply on the matter, broadening our understanding as we go.

Let’s proceed thoughtfully, step by step, using simple examples to guide us:

Does cold exist? We certainly feel it, but if we examine it more closely, we see that cold, in a physical sense, doesn’t exist. Cold is simply the absence of heat. We coined the term “cold” to describe this state of heat deficiency.

Does darkness exist? We cannot see in the dark, but darkness itself is not a substance. It is simply the absence of light. We can measure light, but we cannot measure darkness directly. We cannot quantify the “degree of darkness,” but we can assess the level of light present. Darkness, like cold, is a term we use to describe the absence of something else—light.

Now, does evil exist? It is easy to claim that evil is real, as we witness countless atrocities in the world every day—war, violence, greed, hatred, and so on. However, let’s pause and reflect more carefully. What we call “evil” is, in fact, the absence of goodness. Just as cold is the absence of heat and darkness the absence of light, evil is simply the absence of goodness in the world.

With this understanding, we can find hope even in the most troubling situations or in people who seem to embody evil. They are not inherently “bad”—they are simply lacking goodness, the love of God, and the light of compassion in their hearts. Just as light can dispel darkness and heat can warm a cold room, love can drive out hatred.

This gives us hope for a better world. Our role is to bring light, warmth, and love into the world through our thoughts, words, and actions, dispelling the darkness, cold, and hatred around us. The more we do so, the more we help create the change we wish to see.

With love,

Little-pencil