Suffering and evil are realities that every human being encounters at some point in life. Whether through personal pain, loss, injustice, or witnessing global tragedies, one of the most profound questions asked throughout history is: “If God is good and all-powerful, why does He allow suffering and evil?” This question isn’t just philosophical; it’s deeply personal. For many, it challenges the very foundations of faith.
The Nature of Free Will
One of the most common theological answers to the problem of evil is the concept of free will. God created humanity with the ability to choose. Without free will, love would not be genuine, it would be programmed. However, with that freedom comes the potential for people to choose wrongly, resulting in suffering, injustice, and evil.
God does not force goodness upon us. True relationship requires freedom, and unfortunately, that freedom has been misused throughout history, leading to much of the suffering we see today.
A Broken World: The Fall and Its Consequences
From a biblical standpoint, the world was not originally created with suffering in it. The Book of Genesis speaks of a perfect creation disrupted by human disobedience, commonly referred to as “The Fall”. This moment introduced brokenness into the world: pain, disease, death, and moral evil.
Rather than abandon creation, God began a redemptive journey that continues through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Suffering as a Tool for Growth
Although suffering is painful, many spiritual traditions, including Christianity, affirm that it can serve a greater purpose. It shapes character, deepens empathy, and fosters dependence on God. Romans 5:3-4 says, “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope”.
Many who have suffered deeply attest that, in their pain, they found strength, clarity, and even joy they wouldn’t have known otherwise.
The Mystery of God’s Sovereignty
While we seek logical explanations, there is also a profound mystery to God’s will. Isaiah 55:8 reminds us, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”. This isn’t a cop-out, it’s an acknowledgment that our understanding is limited.
What looks like meaningless suffering to us may have an eternal purpose beyond what we can see now. Faith sometimes means trusting that God sees the whole picture, even when we don’t.
God Is Not Distant from Suffering
The Christian message uniquely teaches that God Himself suffered. Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, experienced betrayal, pain, injustice, and death. He did not remain distant, He entered into our suffering to redeem it.
This changes the narrative: we don’t serve a God who is indifferent to our pain, but one who understands it intimately and promises to be with us through it.
Hope in the Midst of Pain
The Bible doesn’t promise a life free of trouble. In fact, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The Christian hope is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God in suffering, and the promise of a future where suffering will be no more.
Revelation 21:4 declares, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain”. That is the ultimate hope Christians hold onto.
So Why Does God Allow Suffering and Evil? That question may never have a fully satisfying answer in this life. But Scripture, experience, and faith all point toward a God who is just, loving, and intimately involved in our broken world. Rather than offering a quick fix, Christianity offers a God who suffers with us, walks beside us, and promises ultimate restoration.
