One of the most challenging questions of faith we face today is, Why does a good, all-powerful, and all-loving God permit the world to be filled with suffering and evil? Throughout history, this challenge has troubled believers and skeptics alike. Yet, as we turn to Scripture and the witness of faithful Christians throughout history, we find not complete answers to every “why,” but profound reasons to trust God’s character and purposes even when we cannot fully understand them.
First and foremost, we need to recognize the mystery of God’s ways. As the prophet Isaiah states, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” As the heavens rise above the earth, my ways are higher than yours, and my thoughts are higher than yours” (Isaiah 55:8-9). God responded to Job’s anguish over his unimaginable losses and pain with questions which revealed His sovereign wisdom over creation rather than explanations: “Where were you when I laid the foundation for the earth?” (Job 38:4). God invites us to humility, reminding us that our finite minds are incapable of grasping the infinite purpose of an eternal God. Scripture teaches that some things remain a mystery this side of heaven, despite the idea that we should have a full, rational answer to the problem of evil.
Secondly, consider the gift of free will. Humanity is created in God’s image, with the capacity for genuine love and choice. True love cannot be forced; it must be freely given. As a result of this freedom, people can choose to rebel against God and harm others, thus opening the door to moral evil. Throughout history, sin has contributed to suffering throughout the world. As Romans 5 reminds us, death entered the world through the sin of one individual, spreading worldwide. As a result, God permits this freedom since coerced goodness does not constitute goodness, and without choice, an authentic relationship with Him would be impossible.
Thirdly, suffering can serve a greater purpose. God works in profound ways through trials, as the Bible assures us. As stated in Romans 8:28, “for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” Suffering can strengthen our character, draw us closer to God, encourage us to examine our priorities, and develop compassion for others. When we are challenged to ask, “Why?”, we are often able to find deeper faith and moral development as a result of that search. The author of James writes that trials produce steadfastness, which leads to maturity (James 1:2-4).
It is important to note that God does not stand distant from our pain; He enters into it. Dietrich Bonhoeffer pondered this truth in his writing from his Nazi prison cell before his execution. He observed that God does not rule as a distant tyrant overriding suffering with power, but meets us in weakness, as revealed by the cross of Christ. Bonhoeffer wrote about a God who is present in suffering, bearing it alongside us. As the suffering Servant, Jesus Himself took on our infirmities and sorrows (Isaiah 53:4). As our Lord declares in John 16:33, “In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world.” God is not absent; He is Emmanuel, God with us, even in the shadowy valley.
A final point of Scripture is the promise of ultimate justice and restoration. God promises that no wrong will go unpunished, and no suffering will be forgotten. He promises that every wrong will be rectified, either through Christ’s atonement on the cross or by final judgment. As the resurrection foretells in Revelation 21, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will no longer exist, and there will no longer be mourning, nor crying, nor pain.” Evil will be defeated, and all things will be made new in the future. In the meantime, we live in hope, trusting that the God who raised Jesus will one day redeem every tear shed.
It is true that the problem of evil does not disprove God; rather, it drives us to the foot of the cross, where love triumphs over pain. As we suffer, let us remember that Christ suffered for us. We should trust His promises, work together in community, and look forward to the day when faith becomes sight.
I pray that the God of all comfort will sustain you today as well as in the future. Amen
