Why Does God Allow Suffering? (4 powerful truths you need to know)
Why does God allow suffering?
Why would a good God, a loving God, allow suffering to exist in this world? This question takes on a whole different (and painful) reality when we are the ones suffering.
Doesn’t God care that I’m suffering? Why is He allowing these bad things to happen to me?
Reconciling how a good and loving God could allow such pain in their lives (or someone close) is difficult. Many have walked away from their faith because of the suffering they’ve experienced. And I get that. I’ve been there.
Compounding the pain of suffering are the answers often given by Christians. Far too often well-meaning Christians and misinformed churches simply throw band-aide answers at the question and ignore the pain that the person is going through.
You just need to believe more. Just pray more. You are suffering due to a lack of faith. God is causing your suffering because “______.” True followers of Jesus are spared from suffering. And the list goes on.
These answers don’t comfort and often aren’t even true. They just make the suffering worse.
Thankfully the Bible offers a better answer to the question: why does God allow suffering?
So, let’s look at what suffering is and how a good God can allow suffering to exist.
The Difference Between Pain And Suffering
We will get to why does God allow suffering? in a minute. But first we need to understand what suffering is and isn’t.
First, we need to define the difference between pain and suffering. All suffering includes pain, but not all pain is suffering.
Pain is, in most cases, a good thing. If you touch a hot stove your body reacts with pain that causes you to quickly move your hand. The pain is a defense mechanism that keeps you from further harm. We might not like the pain, but it does serve a purpose.
To read more about why pain is a good thing check out: Why Pain Is Actually A Good Thing
Yet, we know all too well in our world pain can quickly move to suffering. An accident that leads to lifelong pain. A disease that ravages our body. Harm that was brought upon us by another human. Or the millions that have no access to basic human needs. Suffering is all around us.
Of course, it’s not just physical pain that brings about suffering, nonphysical suffering is often silent, but just as painful. Those who have been abused wear scars that seemingly never heal. Betrayal leaves many wondering if they will ever be whole again. Grief causes one’s life to halt and become devoid of meaning. And the list could go on and on and on.
Suffering is all around us.
Again the question not so quietly arises. Why does God allow suffering? Or more pointedly, how can a good God allow suffering?
What The Bible Says About Suffering
The Bible should always be our first stop in understanding God and the world around us. So before we dive into the specific question of why does God allow suffering? let’s look at what the Bible says about suffering.
The Bible contains a lot of suffering, but surprisingly says little about it. At least not to the end of why does God allow suffering. The Bible chooses to focus more on the response to suffering rather than the causation.
Virtually every passage on suffering in the New Testament deflects the emphasis from cause to response. Although we cannot grasp the master plan of the universe, which allows for so much evil and pain (the Why? question), we can nevertheless respond in two important ways. First, we can find meaning in the midst of suffering. Second, we can offer real and practical help to those in need. Philip Yancey in The Question that Never Goes Away
In the midst of suffering, facts and truth bring little comfort. Telling someone you’re with them and all hope is not lost goes a lot further. And that’s the Gospel, right? God came to earth and suffered with us in His pursuit of us. He didn’t give a lecture on why suffering exists, rather He says I’m with you and I will not leave you. His promise is that one day it will end, but until then He will be with us. One day it will all make sense. But in the meantime, we do not suffer alone.
The Bible spends much it’s time reminding us that our suffering is not meaningless, there is hope. God is redeeming all things for His good and our benefit. And the Bible teaches us to bring this message to those in the midst of suffering.
While the Bible has valuable things to say on the topic of suffering, it doesn’t directly answer our question. Rather it focuses on how we should respond.
So let’s dive a little deeper into why does God allow suffering?
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
What I’m about to say will be of little, or maybe no, help/comfort to those currently suffering. It will shed some light on the question we are asking. But reason and facts do little in bringing peace and comfort in the midst of suffering. Which I think is why God rarely responds to our demands for answers when we are suffering. He knows it will bring little comfort. Instead, he responds with, I’m with you.
If you are in the middle of suffering I would encourage you to go read: Why Did Jesus Weep?
Let’s dive into the question, Why does God allow suffering?
Well, not so fast… there’s a problem with that question.
Actually there’s a fundamental flaw in that question. The assumption in that question is that we know better than God and that we are the center of importance. I know most of us wouldn’t say that. But that’s how we are acting, isn’t it?
The reality is our understanding of God, of suffering, and of love are all severely limited. We are finite beings trying to grasp at an infinite God.
The problem of reconciling human suffering with the existence of a God who loves, is only insoluble so long as we attach a trivial meaning to the word “love”, and look on things as if man were the centre of them. Man is not the centre. God does not exist for the sake of man. Man does not exist for his own sake… We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the divine love may rest well pleased. C.S. Lewis in A Mind Awake
Fixing The Flaw In The Question
The first thing we must recognize is that God sees the larger picture and is orchestrating everything for His glory, which is to our benefit. You and I are not the center. There’s a larger story unfolding that you and I are not privy too. We have to ask ourselves if we trust that God’s plan is good, even if at the moment it doesn’t seem good. That’s what faith demands, believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse.
Paul points to this mindset in 1 Corinthians 13:12. For now, in this life, we see things imperfectly. But God sees the bigger picture and one day He will reveal it to us. But until then, we are told to trust in His plan.
I think the reason so many of us struggle with this question of suffering is that we can’t trust God. We demand answers and that God fixes our problem(s). Thus insisting to be at the center. We think there’s no way something good could come from our suffering. The problem is, you and I are stuck with an extremely limited view. We can only see what’s right in front of us. God sees the larger picture. Is it possible that maybe something bigger is unfolding? Something we cannot see or even understand?
The point I’m trying to make is that until we put God at the center, we will struggle with this question of why suffering exists. Until we understand that there are things we will not see this side of heaven, this question will cause us to stumble. Until we place our trust that God’s plan is good, even when it doesn’t seem to be, we will never be at peace with this question.
God sees and understands what we cannot. Not only is He in control, He’s a good God that is working things for His glory and our benefit. We can trust in His goodness even in the midst of our suffering.
4 Truths About Why God Allows Suffering
So, what do we know about why does God allow suffering?
There are a few things that are important things on the topic of suffering we should know. This is not an extensive list, rather the top four things I think we should recognize.
Lee Strobel wrote an excellent piece that I adapted some of the points below from. You can check it out here: Lee Strobel Reflecting On A Mass Shooting
Lesson 1: God Is Not The Creator Of Suffering
In the beginning, God created a world absent of suffering. In Genesis 1:31 God looks over His creation and declares it VERY good. It was not in His original plan that suffering would take place.
So why is there suffering if God didn’t create it? Because of love.
God designed humans to love. But love requires a choice. Love cannot be forced, it must be chosen. Thus God had to give us the ability to chose, He had to give us free will. Without it, we cannot truly experience love.
Of course, we knew the consequences of free will. We rebelled against God, and still do. And our actions brought evil and suffering into the world. But God wasn’t taken aback or surprised. He set out on a path to redeem humanity. Because of love.
We are the creators of suffering. It’s not by God’s design, it’s by our sin. God allows for suffering, but He did not create it. The good news is that even though we royally screwed up. God enters into our suffering in his pursuit of us. Hope is not lost. God is restoring creation to His original design.
Why does God allow suffering? Our free will has created suffering and God is restoring us.
For more about the effects of sin and the work of Jesus check out: What Is Sin? (why it’s more than missing the mark)
Lesson 2: Though Suffering Isn’t Good, God uses It For Good
While God didn’t create suffering, He is in the business of redeeming it. Romans 8:28 echos this promise. God is working all things, even the bad things, for our benefit.
It’s easy to see this in someone else life and doubt in our own life. We love stories of other peoples suffering being used for good. But often doubt that God can use our suffering for anything of value. The suffering we experience we see as too harmful, the damage too extreme, to be repaired much less be used for something good.
But that’s exactly what God is in the business of doing. Taking the bad of this world and redeeming for something good.
Lesson 3: All Suffering Is Temporary
Have you ever heard the question, If God is love (good) and is all-powerful why doesn’t He just get rid of suffering?
It’s a common question that is used to argue that either God is not all-good or He is not all-powerful. Thus we cannot, or should not, trust Him.
But there’s a flaw in that question. The assumption is that the story is over. But God isn’t finished yet. Just because He hasn’t, doesn’t mean He won’t.
Suffering is coming to an end. It’s temporary.
Why is God taking his time?
One possible answer is that goes back to Point 1 is His love. His desire is that no one would perish, but that everyone would be reunited with Him (1 Peter 3:9). God is waiting, He’s being patient, He’s continually pursuing those far from Him in hopes they will return to Him.
Suffering exists because the story is not over. God is still pursuing His people. But one-day suffering will end and the final chapter will be written. Then we will be able to see the whole story and how masterfully it was written and how much love God has for us.
For now, we must hold onto the hope that our suffering is temporary. And let’s not forget Point 2, it’s not pointless.
Lesson 4: Suffering Will Turn Us Bitter or Turn Us To God
Suffering spurs us to action. It either drives us closer to God or makes us bitter at God. It doesn’t allow us to stay in neutral.
Suffering will force us to move, we don’t get to decide that. We decide where we move too. Will we turn from God because we think He’s not good, not loving, not trustworthy because of our pain? Or will we turn to God trusting that while things don’t make sense now, one day God will reveal the grandeur picture?
We get to choose. But before you decide just consider that God didn’t spare Himself, He entered into suffering Himself. He knows what you are experiencing and wants to walk with you through it.
Why does God allow suffering? Well we can’t fully answer that question on this side of heaven. But hopefully this has helped you understand why suffering exists and God’s response to our pain.
You might also like: 7 Surprising Truths About Death
Thanks for reading! I hope that this teaching on why does God allow suffering helped you rethink parts of your life and faith. If it did would you share this post with a friend or two? That way they can benefit from it as you have. See you next time!
If you want more about God’s response to the pain we face check out: Why Did Jesus Weep
“Why is God taking his time? One possible answer is that goes back to Point 1 is His love. His desire is that no one would perish, but that everyone would be reunited with Him (1 Peter 3:9). God is waiting, He’s being patient”
I’m sorry, but I find it difficult to understand how such tragic suffering, like a three-year-old child being abused, could be seen as an expression of God’s love. That perspective seems to overlook the profound pain and injustice experienced by victims, and it feels disconnected from the reality of pain and injustice in the world.
“God sees the larger picture and is orchestrating everything for His glory, which is to our benefit”
I disagree that God’s Glory is to “our” benefit.
When a lion eats a gazelle, the gazelle suffers for the lion’s benefit. There is no benefit to the gazelle: only suffering.
Christ is clear that the MAJORITY of people on Earth walk the “wide and easy” road that leads to perdition: biblically, MOST people’s suffering is destined to continue eternally.
Have you considered the possibility that God’s PERFECT Glory DEPENDS on the suffering of imperfect beings? Have you considered the possibility that what is “good” for God IS GOING TO BE “evil” for you, just like the lion and gazelle? Have you considered the possibility that it literally does not matter to God whether you or I or even the majority or all of humans DO suffer eternally?
HIS Glory will be Good for HIM regardless whether the rest of us suffer.
His Glory does NOT transmit ANY “benefit” to us, especially when His Perfect Glory DEPENDS on Perfect Justice that Just entails our suffering.
We suffer so He can HAVE Glory.
We will ALWAYS BE powerless to His Will, and His Will is ALWAYS going to be for HIS own Glory even at our expense.
“He entered into suffering Himself. He knows what you are experiencing and wants to walk with you through it.”
He does not know what we are experiencing because he was NEVER human: he was ALWAYS GOD. He always KNEW God. He was NEVER separated from God. He never sinned so was never at risk of damnation. He never NEEDED to fear or worry. He knew His own future, He knew His own fate, He knew His own Judgment. NONE of us can say that.
It was impossible for him to screw up.
It is NOT POSSIBLE for a PERFECT being to empathize with those who are imperfect: perfection is just not compatible with imperfection.
He will NEVER KNOW what it is like to BE NOT Perfect.
There is a BIG gap between His Perfection and our imperfection, and that gap makes it so He can NEVER BE on our side.
Even in human form, He was on the outside looking in: He will NEVER KNOW our plight as imperfect sinful beings, and He can’t Know it or He wouldn’t BE God.
“He’s a good God that is working things for His glory and our benefit. We can trust in His goodness even in the midst of our suffering.”
That is literally blind faith. There is literally NO reason by Nature or history to believe that “we can trust in His goodness” or that “God is working things for our benefit”.
“We can trust in His goodness even in the midst of our suffering.” Tell that to children in Gaza. Tell them that it’s “for their benefit”.
I suppose I am the type who has “turned bitter” toward God because of the suffering I have endured and witnessed.
I have NO reason to believe God is “good” or that the suffering inflicted on us by each other is somehow working for our own “benefit”, unless you consider the economic benefits and luxuries of the “first world” made possible by “third world” suffering and squalor to be a “blessing”, but methinks God sees that as iniquity.
Religious folk SAY “God is good”, but that doesn’t make it so.
Reality paints a different picture.
I think God is good to some.
But it seems there are FAR MORE gazelles than there are lions in God’s circle…FAR MORE of us suffer than receive “benefit”.
Far more of us are going to suffer than will receive God’s Blessings, and that is true in the “afterlife” as well. FEW will be Saved, and the rest shall suffer eternally for God’s Glory.
Suffering shall exist for all eternity: the majority who end up excluded from God’s Graces shall always suffer so God’s Chosen Few can enjoy “goodness”.
It doesn’t matter whether He created it or not. What matters is He CHOOSES, consciously, to allow His children, whom He claims to love, to suffer. How is a God that makes that choice worthy of worship?
I think the point is that suffering is not a bad thing happening for no reason. Suffering(like the thing I’m going through as I write this comment)can and is used for the greater good so long as we CHOOSE to grow from it. I can confirm that every stage of suffering in my life has helped me in some way. If God wrote the final chapter(The Rapture)right now, how many people would be left behind? Quite a few I would wager. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful;He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” In my life experiences, this rings true. I have never came out of something worse off, or dealt with something I could not bear nor handle, including the death of a close loved one. Suffering is something that makes us truly strong, and beautiful. The same way a scar can make someone’s face something of great beauty, our scars can be what make us beautiful, our bad experiences what give us wisdom and insight into others situations, our pain and suffering something that makes us truly strong. Same way you have to work out to get stronger, you have to go through suffering and make mistakes to become wiser and stronger
I’m in pain everyday….I waited months to get into a Dr & she just said take aleve even though I said it doesn’t work. It feels like God has abandoned me & it’s just not fair I’m constantly suffering. Some days I think “what’s the point of me even being here?” I can’t live a normal life anymore. I need a break.
Oh how I enjoyed this passage I was just discussing this a few days ago.And walk right into some answers.Thank God you decided to write this message it strengthen me build my faith I feel super great.
“I will never leave nor forsake you!” Either God is a liar, or the people that are supposed to help that are in the Church, have dropped the ball and we/I am back to being doomed!
Surely you can see that it’s the people in the Church that dropped the ball, which doesn’t make God a liar in this instance?
Oh, so insightful! Thank you , Holy Spirit, for this wisdom. I will trust and hope!
I’ve always said because we live in a fallen world. We weren’t promised a perfect life here once we became Christians, that’s for eternity. In our time of suffering we need to turn to the Lord to comfort and strengthen us. It something that we have to choose sometimes minute by minute.
Thank you so much for this. I’m currently going through pain and suffering, and knowing it’s not why, but how I’m going to respond was just what I needed to hear. God used your article to really help me, so thank you!
You left out an important point. Satan is the God of this world. You are right, God did not create suffering, but the fall in the Garden of Eden opened man up to sin and suffering. John 10:10 tells us that the “thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy,” so anything that brings suffering is not of God. And in Romans 8:28, you must not leave out the rest of the verse. The promise in this verse is only for those who love Him and follow Him.
What you say about this is Satan’s world, you are so correct. Alot of people don’t really know this. We are waiting for God’s kingdom to come here on earth and dispose of Satan. Then, there will be no more suffering
Through the midst of suffering I have seen all that you have pointed out in this article. This is all so true and relevant and I wish I could have put this as beautifully. Thank you so much for this ????
I’m glad you found it helpful! Thank you for reading!
I wrote a follow up to this one about the benefits of pain, you can read it here: https://www.rethinknow.org/2020/01/20/why_does_god_allow_pain/