Why God allows suffering? Whether Christian or not, many of us have asked that at least once. I asked it as a young teenager who knew nothing of the world and had not yet dived into what it meant to be a Christian. I fought for a long time for the things my church or my grandfather preached to me, and I had a hard time understanding how God could allow so many to suffer like this. Hungry, needy, injured, poor, and more… it wasn’t until recently that I came back to Christ and realized this answer.
What is Free Will?
Before we can delve into the question of why God allows suffering, we must first understand the concept of free will. Free will is the cornerstone of our existence, the power to make our own choices, whether they lead to good or bad outcomes. It’s about independence and empowerment in decision-making. Without free will, we would be living in a state of dictatorship, a reality that history has shown to be far from ideal.
So, what does free will have to do with God allowing others to suffer? Well, the answer can be hard to digest. God grants us free will. He doesn’t force anyone to make decisions. Love is free. Force is not. This means that true love cannot be forced, it must be freely given. We all have the choice to make the right or wrong choices, and it is in these choices that suffering can arise.
Remember, we also live in a broken, fallen world. Have you ever heard someone say, “If we lived in a perfect world?” Well, that’s because we don’t, and not everyone makes the best choices; not everyone takes a loving and healthy path. However, it is this very freedom of choice that creates a fair and just world. We are not puppets on a string performing in a play but active participants living and partaking in the shaping of our world.
Where Does Suffering Start in the Bible?
Our journey to understand suffering begins in Genesis, specifically in Genesis 3, where the Bible introduces the Fall. God had cautioned Adam and Eve against eating from the tree in the middle of the garden, the Tree of Knowledge, warning them that they would surely die. However, the Serpent tempted them to eat from this tree, promising that their eyes would open and they would be like God, knowing good and evil. This is a pivotal moment in the Bible that sets the stage for the existence of suffering in the world.
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Genesis 3:4-7
When Eve and Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge, they disobeyed God and caused the Fall to begin. The knowledge they took on consisted of good and evil and a burden they weren’t supposed to carry. God gave only one command, so through free will, they were tempted and acted on that temptation. After the first sin occurred, it started the domino effect for God’s creations. However, please keep reading to find hope for our future through the darkness.
The Fall to the Broken World
Adam and Eve used their free will to choose to disobey God. Sometimes, we may not understand why God says what he does or commands certain things from us, but there are good reasons for it. Just as a parent has a good reason to tell a child not to play in the road, however, the child may see the open street as a great place to play basketball and draw chalk characters. But as parents, we know their lives are at risk. Just as God knew our lives would be at risk if we ate from the forbidden tree.
Okay, so you might be asking, why did God create this tree in the first place? He is the Creator of the Universe, after all. Well, it circles right back around to our free will. If the tree hadn’t been created, would Adam and Eve really have had the freedom of choice? If the opportunity to follow God’s command wasn’t there?
Why God Allows Suffering: A Test of Faith
It’s a hard truth to swallow that sometimes we are being tested through our agony. But through our suffering, it can allow us to get closer to God. They are ways to let our faith to really blossom and prove to be a worthwhile testimonial. Of course, this is easier said than done, like many things. A biblical example of what this looks like is through the story of Job. He was a righteous man who suffered significant loss and tribulation yet remained faithful to God and never strayed away from Him.
If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5
Let’s take a look at the Book of James, which explains trials and temptations and describes how enduring trials and remaining faithful will produce perseverance. When you practice perseverance, you become more mature through your trials as you learn from the hardship. There is a warning to those who doubt, and it is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around either way.
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
James 1:5-7
This verse can be a hard reflection to realize if you are swaying in the wind, unstable. Or if you are humble and faithful in all that is provided to you, whether good or bad. Following the Bible and taking in everything it offers can be a lot. You don’t need to digest and regurgitate it, but take it one verse and chapter at a time and try to meditate on the Word and how it can relate to your life.
What Are Possible Reasons God Allows Suffering?
We obviously don’t know precisely God’s reasoning other than interpreting the Bible to gain guidance. It’s not always cut and dry, but here we are. Many bring up this question. So, let’s talk about possible reasons God allows suffering to happen around the world.
Growth and Strengthening of Character
Struggles can build resilience and character, which helps you define your character. Have you ever felt like you came out stronger after a difficult challenge? Have you learned some new things about yourself or those around you that would alter how you do something in the future? Going through challenges allows you to learn more about yourself or others, giving you more insight into how you may choose to act or make choices in the future.
How to Draw Closer to God
As God’s creations, we don’t see the full picture. We see life in fragments, little pieces. Many seek God during their darkest moments, and doing so can help them draw closer to God. Turning to God during challenges can also bring relief. I have done this numerous times, and it makes me feel better afterward.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us
Romans 5:3-5
Trusting in God’s plan will bring you closer to Him, allowing you to put your worries into God’s hands. It’s easier said than done, but when you start trusting in God’s plan rather than trying to push through life on your own, you can find relief.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
How to Look Forward: The Hopeful Promise of Future Restoration
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed.
Revelation 21:4
A future without suffering in God’s kingdom is promised: a place with no more suffering and hope in eternal life. His promise is one to look forward to. I know I have felt it in the dark times, asking the questions: Why is this happening? When will things just get better? Why can’t everything work out? Why do I feel this way? When will this be over? Do I need to go through this?
I’m sure most people have felt many of these questions at some point in their lives. I came to terms with the fact that hard times make us stronger and gain insight and wisdom. However, this can be an opportunity for us to be a source of hope for others. Be there for others who are dealing with the same struggles you have been through. You can help them work through it. It can be a chance to turn personal pain into ministry, relate to someone, and guide them through the pain.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Final Thoughts on Why God Allows Suffering
Wrapping your mind around why God allows suffering around the world is a hard concept to understand. However, hopefully, this article helped clear up some of the “whys.” Realizing our free will is viewed highly by God that we have the opportunity to make our own decisions. He’s not a forceful God. He wants us to make the choice to trust, love, and follow Him.
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