Why Does God Allow Suffering? — rethink

Originally published at https://rethinknow.org on January 13, 2020.

Why does God allow suffering?

Have you ever asked yourself that question? Wondered why a good God, a loving God, could allow suffering to exist in this world. This question takes on a whole different (and painful) reality when we are the ones suffering. Doesn’t God care that I’m suffering? Why is He allowing these bad things to happen to me?

This question has caused many to struggle in their faith and some to walk away entirely. Reconciling how a good and loving God could allow such pain in their lives (or someone close) became too difficult. And I get that. I’ve been there.

But I think we have a flaw in our understanding of who God is and why suffering exists. Many well-meaning Christians and misinformed Churches have made the problem worse by simply throwing a band-aide answer, or a dangerous misunderstood answer, at the question. You just need to believe more. Just pray more. You are suffering due to a lack of faith. God is causing your suffering because “______”. True followers of Jesus are spared from suffering. And the list goes on.

But there’s a better, more Biblical answer to this question.

So, let’s look at what suffering is and how a good God can allow suffering to exist.