Why does God allow pain & suffering?
We’ve all experienced it. What’s it like from God’s perspective?
Have you ever had a time where you were at your lowest, from losing a game to grieving a loss of someone, and you question God, “Why have you forsaken me?” or curse at God for his allowance of pain and suffering? We’ve all been there before, but why does God allow pain and suffering in our world? This article will delve deeper into the question we all had before and explore its meaning.
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Before we even ask ourselves this question, we must understand how pain and suffering (sin) entered the world. Throughout the Bible, in Genesis, the great fall occurred when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the temptation of the serpent (Satan). Because of their disobedience, sin entered the world, creating doors that led to many kinds of suffering and pain, such as diseases, plagues, famines, etc. But God loved us so much, more than we could ever imagine, that we were created in the image of God with a soul, mind, heart, and the ability to have free will. God did not create us to become robots, programmed to obey his commandments, but instead humans with the ability to do what we want. There is no perfect world, but a world with pain and suffering, because we will always fall short when pleasing Him. God knew that from the very start, having a plan to save humanity. This is stated in Genesis 3:15 (NIV), “And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” It was the first promise God made to humans, stating that there would be a serpent crusher who would defeat Satan and save humanity. That was Jesus Christ, the one who died on the cross to bear the sins of humanity but rose again on the third day, defeating death and claiming victory over Satan so that we may live. This free will God gives us is our decision, whether to follow God or separate ourselves from Him for worldly desires. But there will be the Day of Judgement that will come soon, where we will be judged for our actions.
Additionally, pain and suffering can help strengthen our faith in God. When we choose to follow God, it will not be a straight path to heaven but a narrow path where God sets trials and hardships to test our faith. The purpose of pain in our life is not to give up but to ENDURE to the end, which correlates to Matthew 24:13 (NIV), “But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved”. Those pains and trials can lead us to a different path, a path we would not choose but lead us to a better life. We cannot see what God has in store for us, but WE can be grateful in those times of hardship, that WE can turn to the Lord for assistance, that WE can ask the Lord for forgiveness. So, despite all the suffering and pain that steps into our lives, we should trust and have faith in Jesus so that our boat can sail through the storm.
This was similar to when God tested Job’s faith by allowing Satan to destroy and ruin Job’s life. Satan comes in and takes away Job’s wealth, the animals he owned, his servants, and even his children. But even in times of agony and torment, Job did the unthinkable. Instead of cursing, blaming, and mocking God for this suffering, Job praised the Lord, stating in Job 1:21–22 (NIV), “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all of this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” Job had every right to be angry at God, but he still glorifies Him in his name. On another day, Satan struck Job by inflicting sores all over his body, and even his wife told Job, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” But Job still had faith and glorified God. This reflects our life because in times of suffering and pain, we should put our faith and trust in Him, because even though the path might not be clear, God has a plan for us to steer us back in the right direction. We were born into an unfair and cruel world, so when we are experiencing pain and suffering, we should not blame God for his wrongdoings, for God is right and perfect. When God came onto the earth, he did not have a comfortable and easy lifestyle, but instead was humble. He lived a perfect and sinless life, yet was put on the cross, hated by the world. It demonstrates how this world is unfair and unjust. But through the grace of God, we should be grateful for his love, that we can live to see another day despite the difficulties and hardships that occur in our daily lives.
May the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
