If God is Good Why Does He Allow Suffering?
Understanding why God allows suffering is a profound and complex question that has puzzled theologians, philosophers, and individuals for centuries. Many people grapple with the apparent contradiction between the concept of a benevolent, all-powerful God and the existence of suffering in the world.
While the topic is complex and subjective, 4 down-to-earth perspectives offer some insight into why many believe God allows suffering.
Suffering Was NOT Part of God’s Original Plan
Before we even attempt to answer the question “Why does God allow suffering?” it’s important to note that suffering was NOT part of God’s original plan. When God created the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, everything was perfect and flawless.
If Adam and Eve had simply accepted God’s plan and obeyed, their life would have been perfect too. Unfortunately, however, they decided to take matters into their own hands and do things their own way.
God gave us free will, which means He also gave us the ability to sin. Unfortunately, sin has consequences.
God could have taken away all sin, but He would have had to take away our free will too (and no one wants that).
God Helps Us in Our Suffering
The good news is that God doesn’t just leave us in our sin and suffering.
Not only did He send His one and only son to take the eternal consequences for our sins, but He also provided a great deal of help and healing today. Matthew 11:28-30 tells us:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
God is not a genie that grants 3 wishes or a magic vending machine in the sky.
But God DOES care about us, and He does offer hope and healing to those who seek Him.
Does God Cause Suffering?
Some people will tell you, “God doesn’t cause suffering — He just allows it.”
But the truth is: Yes, God does cause (some) suffering.
This does NOT mean God causes ALL suffering. Some suffering is the result of our own sin and selfishness (or that of those around us), but there ARE times when God causes suffering as well. For example, Isaiah 53:10a says this about Jesus’s death on the cross:
“Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer.”
This leaves the question: “WHY does God allow suffering?”
While we may never know the WHOLE story on this side of Heaven, the Bible does give us a few possibilities.
1. God Created Us with Free Will; We Have the Ability to Reject God’s Plan
Because humans have free will, we have the ability to make choices that harm ourselves and others.
We can choose to abuse drugs or alcohol, over-indulge in junk food, take our families for granted, or neglect our children. Others might choose to neglect, deceive, mistreat, or abuse us. And all of these actions have consequences.
No, it’s not right or fair that we often have the pay the consequences for others’ free will. But it is part of having free will.
2. God’s Ultimate Goal is Different Than Yours
Have you ever sat down to write out a life goal or mission statement for your life? For most of us, if we were being honest, we would have to admit that our life goal is probably something along the lines of “To have an easy, happy, comfortable life for me and my family.”
And yet, if you ask God what HIS goal is for your life, it isn’t to make you “comfortable.”
What if God wants to use the very struggle you’re going through right now to draw you closer to Him, or to use you to reach others in need?
How many people are motivated to solve big problems today because they first went through those problems themselves?
3. God Allows Suffering Because His Perspective is Far Greater than Ours
Do you know what challenges you will face 2, 5, or 10 years from now?
You don’t, but God does. He knows exactly what you need now to be prepared for what you’ll face later.
We often think about how inconvenient, expensive, time-consuming, or hurtful others’ actions can be. But how often do we step back to see things from a bigger-picture perspective? How often do we trust that God is still working it out?
Don’t believe for a second that right now is all there is, or that things will never get better. God still has a plan for you.
4. God Can Use Suffering to Correct Us When We Sin
So this is a reason people don’t talk about nearly enough. And it isn’t always the reason, but it is definitely sometimes the reason.
And that is that: God loves us too much to let us continue in our sins.
In fact, you see this over and over and over and over again in the Old Testament. The Israelites get complacent and stop following God. He warns them. They don’t listen. He punishes them. They all turn back to Him.
Honestly, so many books of the Old Testament are literally this SAME story on repeat. So why would we think God doesn’t still do this today?
Sometimes it’s just “bad luck” or “just life.”
But sometimes it’s because God is trying to get our attention so we’ll make better life choices.
Ultimately, God Works in Spite of Suffering to Bring Glory to Himself
God’s punishments aren’t always the result of our own personal sins or others’. Sometimes, God does miracles to draw people to Him. And in order for something to be a miracle, it has to start with a negative (so God can turn it into a positive).
For example, in John 9, we read the story of a man born blind — through no fault of His own or His parents:
“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.'”
If We Are Suffering, Is It Always One of These 4 Reasons?
Chances are, we may never know the full reason for the sin and suffering in our lives. These are just a few of the many reasons why we might undergo suffering in our lives. But we can know that God wants good for our lives, that He cares deeply for us, AND that our suffering and trials are not meaningless.
As it says in James 1:2-3:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Suffering isn’t fun. But we can rest assured that God cares, and He will help us when we ask.
How to Respond When God Allows Trauma
If you’ve been through the unthinkable, please know that your story doesn’t have to end in pain in trauma.
Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers? (6 Biblical Reasons)
Do you feel angry, hurt, disappointed, or confused because God hasn’t answered your prayers the way you want Him too? There may be a very good reason why He hasn’t.
6 Biblical Reasons God Doesn’t Answer Our Prayers.
10 Bible Verses About Trusting God in Difficult Times
When you’re going through trials and suffering, Scripture verses about trusting God in difficult times can be such a comfort. The Bible’s whole narrative is about humanity’s journey in trusting their Creator.
Meditate on and pray through these verses about trusting God in difficult times when you need a reminder about the big picture: God’s story, what He’s doing in the world, His boundless grace and mercy, and how much you matter to Him.
10 Bible Verses About Trusting God in Difficult Times
How to Trust God’s Plan – When You Don’t Know What it is
Do you ever struggle to trust God’s plan for you or to wait patiently on His timing?
It’s difficult when you want answers, for the pain to go away, or to step into a new and exciting future.
Thankfully, waiting doesn’t have to be a painful season. It can be an exciting season of growth while you prepare for whatever God has for you next.
How to Trust God’s Plan – When You Don’t Know What it is
How to Start Prayer Journaling
Want to spend more time in prayer, but not sure where to start (or how to stay consistent)?
Prayer journaling is a wonderful practice to help you regularly talk to God — no matter what you’re going through today.
Here’s how to start prayer journaling — plus 20 journaling prompts perfect for Christian women!
