In the face of devastating events – horrific natural disasters, systemic injustice, personal loss, or any of life's shattering blows – it's a question that echoes through hearts and minds: "If God is good, why does He allow suffering?" It's a question that Christians and non-Christians alike grapple with.
Instead of focusing solely on suffering, let's consider a different angle: "Why does an all-good, all-knowing, and all-powerful God allow good things to happen to bad people?" This change in perspective acknowledges the complexity of a broken world where both good and evil exist.
Suffering is Real, Even for Believers
Let's be clear: being a Christian doesn't shield you from hardship. Jesus himself warned us:
John 16:33 NIV “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The Apostle Peter said don't be surprised.
1 Peter 4:12-13 NIV [12] Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. [13] But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
God's sovereignty means He allows everything, but allowing is not the same as doing it. God doesn't do evil.
James 1:13-15 NIV [13] When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [14] but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Understanding Job's Experience
The book of Job is often cited in discussions about suffering. However, a close reading reveals that God didn't directly inflict Job's pain. Satan did, with God's permission.
Job 1:6-12: Details the exchange between God and Satan, where God allows Satan to test Job's faith.
Job 1:6-12 NIV [6] One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. [7] The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” [8] Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” [9] “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. [10] “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. [11] But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” [12] The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Job, like us, sought to understand his suffering. He attributed it to God, saying, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away."
Job 1:20-21 NIV [20] At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship [21] and said: “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.”
But this highlights the human tendency to look for someone to blame, rather than acknowledging the reality of a fallen world.
God's Goodness: A Foundation
We often rate God based on our circumstances. When things go well, we declare, "God is good." But what about when tragedy strikes?
The Bible consistently affirms God's goodness:
The Reality of a Fallen World
Sin brought consequences: pain, suffering, and death. We live in a world where these realities coexist with God's blessings.
Genesis 3:17-19 NIV [17] To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. [18] It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. [19] By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
God's Ways Are Higher
God's goodness is inherent in His character. He is all-knowing, all-wise, and all-seeing. We cannot fully comprehend His ways.
Isaiah 55:8-11 NIV [8] “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. [9] “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. [10] As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, [11] so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 NIV As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
Romans 11:33 NIV Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Free Will and Its Consequences
God grants us free will, allowing us to make choices. Sometimes, those choices cause suffering for ourselves and others. God doesn't force us to do good.
Trusting God's Goodness
Our journey with God deepens our understanding of His character. We learn to trust Him, even when we don't understand.
John 3:16-19 NIV[16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. [19] This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Romans 8:32-39 NIV [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5 Simple Ways to Respond
When faced with the question, "Why would a good God allow this?" remember:
A Prayer for Wisdom
God, we know You are good. Grant us wisdom as we walk with those who are suffering. Help us to listen, to love, and to trust in Your goodness, even when we don't understand. Amen.
Instead of focusing solely on suffering, let's consider a different angle: "Why does an all-good, all-knowing, and all-powerful God allow good things to happen to bad people?" This change in perspective acknowledges the complexity of a broken world where both good and evil exist.
Suffering is Real, Even for Believers
Let's be clear: being a Christian doesn't shield you from hardship. Jesus himself warned us:
John 16:33 NIV “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The Apostle Peter said don't be surprised.
1 Peter 4:12-13 NIV [12] Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. [13] But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
God's sovereignty means He allows everything, but allowing is not the same as doing it. God doesn't do evil.
James 1:13-15 NIV [13] When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [14] but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Understanding Job's Experience
The book of Job is often cited in discussions about suffering. However, a close reading reveals that God didn't directly inflict Job's pain. Satan did, with God's permission.
Job 1:6-12: Details the exchange between God and Satan, where God allows Satan to test Job's faith.
Job 1:6-12 NIV [6] One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. [7] The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” [8] Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” [9] “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. [10] “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. [11] But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” [12] The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Job, like us, sought to understand his suffering. He attributed it to God, saying, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away."
Job 1:20-21 NIV [20] At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship [21] and said: “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.”
But this highlights the human tendency to look for someone to blame, rather than acknowledging the reality of a fallen world.
God's Goodness: A Foundation
We often rate God based on our circumstances. When things go well, we declare, "God is good." But what about when tragedy strikes?
The Bible consistently affirms God's goodness:
- Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
- Psalms 84:11 NIV For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless
- James 1:17 NIV Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
- Psalms 145:9 NIV The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
The Reality of a Fallen World
Sin brought consequences: pain, suffering, and death. We live in a world where these realities coexist with God's blessings.
Genesis 3:17-19 NIV [17] To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. [18] It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. [19] By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
God's Ways Are Higher
God's goodness is inherent in His character. He is all-knowing, all-wise, and all-seeing. We cannot fully comprehend His ways.
Isaiah 55:8-11 NIV [8] “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. [9] “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. [10] As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, [11] so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 NIV As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
Romans 11:33 NIV Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
Free Will and Its Consequences
God grants us free will, allowing us to make choices. Sometimes, those choices cause suffering for ourselves and others. God doesn't force us to do good.
Trusting God's Goodness
Our journey with God deepens our understanding of His character. We learn to trust Him, even when we don't understand.
John 3:16-19 NIV[16] For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. [19] This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Romans 8:32-39 NIV [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5 Simple Ways to Respond
When faced with the question, "Why would a good God allow this?" remember:
- Listen: Allow space for their pain.
- Pray: Lift them to God.
- Be Patient: Grief takes time.
- Love: Show them God's comfort.
- Be Gracious: Treat them as you'd want to be treated.
A Prayer for Wisdom
God, we know You are good. Grant us wisdom as we walk with those who are suffering. Help us to listen, to love, and to trust in Your goodness, even when we don't understand. Amen.
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