Is There a Solution to the Problem of Evil?

I recently found a paper I wrote during the Spring of 2010 when I was taking a mandatory philosophy course. I remember dreading the class because the first eight weeks were spent trying to disprove the existence of God. I wrote this paper as a bit of a rebuttal to those first couple of weeks. I believe I ended up getting a B, which I think is entertaining because philosophy is opinion based and technically can never be considered wrong. But I digress.

David Hume argues that there is no solution to evil. He also claims that God cannot possibly exist, and if He does, God is imperfect. Hume's conclusion is based upon the conclusion that is God is all knowing, all powerful, and all good, He would not allow evil into the world, or He would prevent it. Hume outlines the basis for his conclusion in four succinct circumstances.
The first circumstance states that all creatures should just function through pleasure, not pain. As declared by Hume, "It seems, therefore, plainly possible to carry on the business of life without any pain" (85). Simply put, it is the pain suffered by animals that leads to evil in this world.
The second circumstance determines that the general laws of the universe also lead to an influx of pain through uncontrollable events. Hume reiterates his hope that all matters of the universe should create happiness and not cause calamity in nature through the use of pain (86). In his mind, if God existed, all would be right with the world since He would not want suffering to occur.
Hume's third circumstance targets the endowments, or lack thereof, in certain creatures. Hume highlights the laziness that has sprouted in human nature and describes it as one of the main downfalls in society (87). Without determination, Hume feels that mankind will crumble away.
Finally, Hume proclaims that the universe is derived from "inaccurate workmanship" (88) and nature is not protected from turmoil. If not for this inaccuracy, pain and laziness may not lead to the existence of evil in our world. This is Hume's culminating statement, which he feels ties his circumstances together, as proof that there is no God and no solution to the problem of evil.
I disagree with Hume's assumption that pain and laziness lead to evil. Evil exists in the world due to the serpent deceiving Eve and causing her to eat from the tree of knowledge, which led to free will (New International Version Bible, Genesis 3:5-6). That means that we can each choose from the path of righteousness or the path of evil. Through this course of events, the only clear solution to the problem of evil is fearing the wrath of and faith in God.
Many consider pain evil, but I feel that it helps build faith in God. It is when we are completely hopeless that we seek a solution to relieve the extreme discomfort. Numerous people turn to drugs and alcohol, which magnifies the feeling of hopelessness. Therefore, the answer must lie outside ourselves through the channel of prayer. If we truly seek an answer from God, He will guide us towards a solution and then end our suffering. For example, when we break an arm, we are not foolish enough to think we can fix it on our own. Instead, we go to doctors who specialize in healing broken bones. The same goes for our soul; we cannot be foolish enough to think we have all the answers, so we must seek God to heal our souls from pain and evil. By building this relationship and faith, evil will be reduced because, "The highway of the upright avoids evil" (Proverbs 16:17).
Another flaw in Hume's argument regards his hope to eliminate all evil and replace it with all good. Contrast is necessary to fully enjoy goodness. Also, if everything is considered good, then all actions, or lack thereof, are permissible without consequences. I believe this would cause perpetual laziness, which, according to Hume, actually leads to evil. Consequences to actions provide us with learning experiences that guide us down a more upright path. Fearing God's wrath could keep individuals from acts of evil, slowly dissolving that issue in the world, for it is said that, "A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil" (Proverbs 14:16).
Evil is a choice that has been given to the world in order to demonstrate free will. Evil serves a purpose to accentuate the goodness in humanity. When we plunge into evil actions, our lives take a turn for the worse. This is when we must ask God to intervene and save us from our downward spiral into evil. Being aware of the wrath of God and His eternal consequences can guide the lost towards salvation. Trusting in God for guidance and building a foundation of faith with Him will ultimately reduce the evil in the world.

Classical Philosophical Questions, edited by Robert J. Mulvaney, 13th edition. (Prentice Hall, 2009)