5 Reasons Why God Allows Suffering
If you’ve ever asked the question, “Why does God allow so much pain and suffering?”—you’re not alone. Many Christians, in the midst of a painful experience, wrestle with this difficult question. If God is all-powerful and loving, why would He let us go through such terrible times?
Today, we’re going to dive into this tough topic. By the end of this discussion, I believe you’ll find some clarity and hope.
Why Do We Experience Pain and Suffering?
Pain—whether emotional or physical—is never easy, but it’s something we all experience. If we haven’t faced it yet, we certainly will in the future. So why does it happen? Here are five reasons why pain and suffering exist in the world and why we sometimes experience them firsthand.
#1 Free Will and Its Consequences
The first thing to understand is that God gave humanity free will. We are not robots; we have the freedom to make choices. With that freedom comes responsibility and consequences. Yes, God is love, but without free will, that love would be meaningless.
Because we have the ability to choose, sometimes our suffering is a direct result of our own poor decisions. For example, if I choose to drink alcohol and drive my car, then crash into a telephone pole, I will suffer the consequences—injury, jail time, or losing my driver’s license. But that suffering isn’t God’s fault; it’s the result of my own bad choice.
Other times, suffering happens because of someone else’s bad decisions. Imagine a family losing a loved one because another person decided to drink and drive. In that painful moment, it’s crucial to remember that the suffering is a result of human choice, not God’s design.
#2 The Natural Laws That Govern Our World
Another reason we suffer is because of the natural laws that govern our world. Consider gravity—it keeps our feet on the ground and makes life on Earth possible. But that same gravity means that if someone stands on the edge of the Grand Canyon, trying to take the perfect selfie, and they stumble backward, they will fall. Gravity doesn’t stop for selfies, no matter how good the picture might be.
The same principle applies to weather and natural disasters. The weather cycle is essential—rain waters crops, and sunlight helps them grow. However, when we build homes in high-risk areas like floodplains, the Gulf Coast, or the California foothills, we may experience floods, hurricanes, or wildfires. These events are natural and part of the world’s balance. They only become “disasters” because humans are there when they happen.
#3 The Choices of Past Generations
Sometimes we suffer due to decisions made by people who came before us. A great example is asbestos. In the past, people didn’t know that asbestos exposure could cause cancer. It was widely used as insulation until years later, when we discovered the severe health risks. People today still suffer because of what seemed like an innocent decision by past generations.
This serves as a reminder: the choices we make today can impact future generations—for better or worse.
#4 The Benefits of Pain and Suffering
Not all suffering is bad. In fact, sometimes it’s extremely beneficial. Imagine living without the ability to feel pain—some people actually suffer from this condition, and it’s incredibly dangerous. Pain acts as a warning system that protects us.
I remember when I was a kid, I reached up onto my dad’s workbench and grabbed the hot end of a soldering iron. I let go fast! Thankfully, God gave me the ability to feel pain. I had a blister on my hand, but imagine the permanent damage I could have done if I hadn’t felt it. That painful experience taught me a valuable lesson.
Pain teaches us wisdom and strength. It also gives us compassion—because we know what suffering feels like, we don’t want to inflict it on others.
#5 Pain Points Us Toward God’s Ultimate Plan
This might get a little philosophical, but bear with me. When life stinks, we often look forward to when life stops stinking. This is one of the reasons why God allows us to experience pain and suffering—so that we will long for the time when He wipes away every tear.
As Christians, the pain and suffering of this life are only temporary; if we submit ourselves to God’s will, we can look forward to eternity with Him in heaven, where suffering will be no more.
If you’d like to know how you can spend eternity in heaven and avoid eternal suffering, check out the article linked here.
