Does God exist?

It seems that we can't listen to the news or read a newspaper without hearing about something sad or devastating that has happened in the world.  We live in a world that, as it is now, will never be free from this kind of thing.  I have heard the question often asked "If there is a God, why would He let all these things happen?"  I can't honestly say I've ever personally been asked that but I've wondered how I would respond if I were.  And I really wasn't sure.  It's a hard question to answer.  Recently I was sent an email from a friend and the subject line read "Does God exist?"  It put into perspective that question that quite often goes unanswered.  I thought I'd share it with everyone because I haven't heard or seen a better way to answer the question "Does God exist?"

"A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.  They talked about so many things and various subjects.  When they eventually touched on the subject of God,
the barber said: 'I don't believe that God exists.'

'Why do you say that?' asked the customer.  

'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?  If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would
allow all of these things.'
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.  The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. 

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.  The customer turned back and entered the barbershop again and he said to the barber:
'You know what? Barbers do not exist.' 
'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber. 'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!'
'No!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed
beards, like that man outside.'

'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'
'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't
look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'"

"God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration. Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith....By faith we may look to the hereafter and grasp the pledge of God for a growth of intellect, the human faculties uniting with the divine, and every power of the soul being brought into direct contact with the Source of light. We may rejoice that all which has perplexed us in the providences of God will then be made plain, things hard to be understood will then find an explanation; and where our finite minds discovered only confusion and broken purposes, we shall see the most perfect and beautiful harmony. "Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12." [Steps to Christ ch. 12]

What a great thing to look forward to!  Having all the perplexing cares of this world made clear to us.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that there is a God.  And He loves each of us more than we'll ever know.