A COSMIC QUESTION

Why does life have to be so hard?

This is a HUGE, DEEP QUESTION that has no single, one-size-fits-all answer.  The following truths are very clear throughout scripture, however, and they explain a LOT.  They should at least shape our thinking on this issue--and the other issues discussed below!

1. Sin messed everything up; that is, the world we experience is NOT how God created it to be.
When God created the world, everything was perfect (see Genesis 1:31, James 1:16,17), but when people started disobeying God, things went from bad to worse (see Genesis 3, Romans 1:18-32).  In other words, death, sickness, and all forms of extreme suffering were never in God's original plan.  Some bad things happen as direct punishment for sin, and others are indirect punishments; some are simply "fallout" from thousands of years of sin and its consequences (see Exodus 20:4-6, Psalm 38, Proverbs 5:22, and John 8:31-34).

PROS:  This answer is really satisfying from a "big picture" perspective.  It really helps to know that God did not come up with painful things like divorce, addiction, abuse, etc.  Galatians 6:7-9 and several other passages basically say "you reap what you sow", and it's true:  we all have some sort of a hand in MOST of the pain we experience in life.

CONS:  True as it is, this answer FEELS very hollow in situations where the innocent suffer.  For example, no matter how much certain adults may deserve the painful consequences of their lust, selfishness, or cruelty, their kids don't deserve to be born into painful home situations or experience any form of suffering, abuse, neglect, etc.  Remember:  helping someone FEEL better when they are suffering requires physically being there for them, listening, and being patient--not just throwing answers at them.

2. This life isn't meant to be an ultimate paradise; Heaven is.
The Bible clearly presents life in the world as we know it as little more than preparation for the afterlife (see 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, 2 Peter 3:8-18, and all of Hebrews 11, especially v.13-16). Jesus is preparing a home for us (see John 14:1-3) that will be amazing (see Revelation 21).  In the meantime, we are what C.S. Lewis called "spiritual amphibians"; that is, we are designed to be able to live here, but it's not really our home (see Romans 8, especially verses 18-28.  It's like we're scuba diving or space walking (using equipment and finite reserves to even breathe), or--to use an image the Bible itself uses--camping out here (see 2 Corinthians 5:1-10).

PROS:  This answer is really satisfying when we finally "see through" popularity, romance, money, accomplishment, or whatever else we think will help us feel like we've "made it" (graduation, a good job, marriage, kids...).  It's exciting to think that the greatest joys in life are merely shadows of what's to come, and comforting that there will no longer be tears or suffering in the new Heaven and new Earth.
BONUS MUSICAL TIP:  If you don't already have "Beautiful Letdown" by Switchfoot in your MP3 player, you should!  The title song (and, actually, entire project) is about this whole issue, and they say it all very well.  Plus it's great music!

CONS:  This is a pretty deflating perspective on life if you take it too seriously and/or too far.  Don't forget:  Jesus did say that He came to give us life "to the full" (see John 10:10, John 20:31, and 1 John 5:12)!  Scuba diving and camping are fun, and the "foreign-ness" of these experiences actually adds excitement!  Life lived from God's perspective is like that.