We will address the question, “Why does God allow suffering?” by looking at four types of suffering the Christian believer faces. Then, we will peek at what happens when we move beyond the “why” questions.
I remember when I held my ten-month-old baby girl tightly, her arms pinned to my chest. She was past tears, yet she still screamed. Her nana tried to distract her with a toy and candy, but baby girl fought harder. She needed to be still, or the doctors would sedate her.
You see, my baby girl had a rare blood disease, and knew all about those white coats. She had grown weary of their poking, prodding, and testing.
And she did not understand this awful testing and treatment was going to help her.
The truth is we all face troubles . . .
None of us are without trouble in this life, and it is extremely difficult to see how God could possibly use the awful things we go through for our good.
Our Lord Jesus reminded us that in this world we will have tribulations, yet he also said, “But take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
This may or may not encourage you. I remember at one time thinking to myself, “Well isn’t that great. You overcame, but what about me? I’m still hurting.”
When I settled down, I realized that He was saying because He overcame, our victory is in Him. Our victory is in how much we turn to Him, ask, and rely on Him for our own strength, comfort, healing, and provision.
He does not leave us without hope in heartbreaking situations. He wants us to turn to Him as our Source!
His divine power provides all that we need for life and godliness in and through our experience of Him (2 Peter 1:3).
And when it seems too difficult to go on, He gives us a sustaining faith to stand until we begin to experience the things we have only heard others talk about.[1]
Why Does God Allow Suffering?
You may have wondered why troubles come to you in the first place. Why does God allow me to suffer so much? I think we have all had that question at some point.
In this short article, I will briefly look at four types of suffering for the Christian believer, then peek at what happens when we move beyond the “why” question.
1. Suffering Because of Wrong Choices
The central truth we take for granted is that God gives each of us choices.
Every human being alive has been granted the freedom to make his or her own choices in life.
God did not create humans to be puppets on a string. He gave us a free will to choose love and trust. Whether we choose rightly or wrongly, the choice He will not take away.
This being the case, our first parents’ free will choice in the Garden of Eden opened the door to an overwhelming tide of sin consequences and suffering for our world that continues even today.
In fact, Jesus taught the first disciples to pray “Thy will be done on earth as is in heaven.” Because of sin, God’s will does not always happen on this earth.
God’s Will Does Not Always Happen
Simply because we live in a broken, fallen world, God’s will does not always happen. Many evil things in this world happen from someone’s bad choice. And of course, Satan, our enemy, loves to capitalize on that fact.
Sometimes other people make wrong choices; sometimes we make wrong choices.
The evil done in the world affects us all.
>The Key to Overcoming
There is enough suffering in the world already, so be careful not to make bad choices that bring suffering down upon others, or upon your own head.[2] However, if we do happen to make a bad choice, Jesus offers His blood which cleanses our sins if we ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness clears the tide of evil for us and for others. It allows Jesus’ blood to cleanse and heal.
Jesus loved and forgave. Even while on the cross He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Forgiveness and love hold tremendous power to turn the tide of evil in our lives, our communities, and our world.
2. Suffering Because Troubles Happen to Everyone
Sometimes trouble is not a result of our personal sin, or our parents’ sin, but is an opportunity for God’s grace to be seen in the circumstance.[3]
In other Biblical metaphors, the sun also rises on the good and the evil, and the rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous.[4]
In other words, we need both the rainy days and the sunny days in our lives to help us grow. It’s a balance only God knows how to arrange for our good. So, how we look at the rainy days is important.
There are many things that simply happen in this world like sickness, accidents, weather catastrophes, etc.
We can mope around and feel sorry for ourselves, or we can do all that we know to do and stand on the promises of God.
God is able to give us a sustaining faith to persevere when the trouble goes long.
>The Key to Overcoming
Grow strong in the Word, worship, and prayer. Connect with and fellowship with other believers in similar situations. Remember that God intends for us to turn to Him for the strength and grace to get through these things, so that His glory may shine on us, in us, and through us as witnesses of His grace.
3. Suffering Because You are a Target
It is important to note that the enemy of your soul has been targeting you since before you exited the birth canal.
Just as he targeted Eve and Adam in the Garden, he will come after you, if you declare your allegiance to God.
How can you recognize him? He comes to steal, kill, and destroy.[5]
He wants you to be weary, defeated, depressed, hopeless, unsuccessful, broke, sick, and yes, dead.
But Christ has come to set you free and give you life more abundantly!
>The Key to Overcoming
Ask the Lord if this is your situation. Ask Him for specific strategies [IMPORTANT] to overcome. Do not blame other people. Keep in prayer, in worship, and in the Bible. Find specific verses that address your situation. Then learn more about the spiritual weapons you have at your disposal as a child of the Most High King. You are more than a conqueror, in Jesus Name!
4. Suffering for Righteousness’ Sake
Sometimes when we are pursuing Christ with all our heart, we run into persecution for righteousness sake.
And really, the Bible has quite a bit to say about this, such as:
If you suffer for righteousness sake you are blessed; your reward is great, and the kingdom of heaven is yours.[6]
In fact, Jesus warns all His followers not to be shocked because a disciple is not above his master and that, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).
And again, Timothy reminds us, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12).
The Principle is This . . .
Those who are born of the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit, whose actions are born of the Spirit will be persecuted by those who are of the flesh.[7]
So, do not be surprised, dear friend, when trouble comes your way. Really your struggle is not against the people themselves, but against the invisible forces at work in these situations.[8]
>The Key to Overcoming
Do not give in to fear or despair, but trust God to deliver you just like He delivered all the saints in the Bible. Build your faith by praying in the Spirit[9] and abiding in the Word. Continue in all kinds of prayers and worship. For the glory of God rests upon you in this hard thing, and His grace is with you! He will give you enormous overcoming power to prevail!
4. Moving Past the Question of “Why Does God Allow Suffering?”
Often, we are unable to see all the ways God is working in our lives when we encounter suffering and trouble.
We get stuck in the forest looking at the underbrush and can’t see the tops of the trees—so to speak. God’s always good ways are as high as the heavens above—far above our understanding.
Yet, we do know God is always working. He is constantly moving in our lives to bring good from the bad.
God is always working to turn those terrible things around for good, just as he has done for Abraham, Moses, Joseph, the Apostles, and now, you too.[10]
Sustaining Faith Through the Storms
The question for us, like righteous Job, is will we continue to trust God even when we do not have it easy? Even when bad things come our way? Even when awful things seem to last forever?
Take for example Job, God declared He was a righteous man with integrity. Through his trouble, he was tempted and even counseled to cast aside his faith, his character, and integrity.
Of course, the story of Job is complex with many lessons and applications, but through all his troubles, he did not lose faith in God.
When he did not understand, he trusted his Creator completely.
How Much Can We Trust God with Our Suffering?
Can we trust wrongdoers into the hands of the One who truly is our Vindicator, and can we trust Him to bring His judgment in His time?
Can we put our hurts and disappointments into His hands, and can we give Him the people who offended us? Will we decide to forgive others like our Christ forgave His tormentors?
Can we trust Him when we get a bad medical diagnosis, and can we trust Him as Healer when we cannot see the end? Can we trust His provision of grace and strength on the hard days?
Will we trust Him as our Source for our daily needs?
The Best Trade Ever
In truth, the disciple’s life is a walk of faith through the good and the bad. Life’s circumstances test our confidence in the goodness of our Lord.
When we are able to put these concerns into His hands, He will exchange all our concerns for His peace. I say this is a good trade!
God allows Suffering to Develop Treasures in Our Character
One way that God works through our troubles is to help us become more like Him in love, action, and character.
When we pray for people we disagree with, or when we love the unlovely, we are being transformed into the image of Christ, and we begin to look like the image of our Father in heaven. We take on the nature of sons and daughters of God.[11]
God Allows Suffering & Trouble to Develop our Perseverance, Character, and Hope
Many times, we get caught up in our present difficulties and can’t understand the ways in which God works good from our troubles.
It’s hard for our minds to comprehend how important the invisible character qualities are to our Creator.
In those times when we do not understand, the Apostle Paul gives us a verse of hope to sustain our faith:
“We also exult [glory] in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint.”
Rom 5:3-5
I can’t tell you the number of times in hopelessly long and hard situations, I clung to a sliver of hope and said to myself, “Hope does not disappoint. Hope does not disappoint.”
God was developing a deep and powerful faith that I would see His goodness in the land of the living.
God healed my baby girl completely of the blood disease, and now she has two beautiful children of her own. I did see His goodness in my life and my daughter’s life and have seen it many times since.
Victories in Faith Are More Precious Than Gold
This kind of faith, which is tried by fire, results in faith more precious than gold.
Riches perish, but love, faith, hope, character, and integrity last forever.
When we learn to hold on to hope and are sustained by God’s grace and strength through the hard times, we come to a place where we experience our Lord God in a way we only previously heard about.
In awe of His goodness, we can only say like Job,
“I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!
I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise! I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.”
Job 42:5 MSG
My Prayer for You:
I pray for you, my friends, reading this article right now. Lord, I ask you to surround them with your love and grace in their areas of suffering. Give them sustaining faith until your miracles are released in their lives.
Show them your glory in the middle of trying situations. Your word says that as they draw near to you, you will draw near to them. I pray they feel your comforting presence and you give them peace.
And I ask you, dear Lord, to bring breakthrough miracles to their lives right now, in Jesus’ name, Amen! Thank you my precious Friend.
[1] 2 Peter 1:3; Eph 6:13-14; Job 42:5.
[2] 1 Peter 4:15.
[3] John 9:3.
[4] Matt 5:44-46.
[5] John 10:10.
[6] 1 Peter 3:14; Matt 5:10, 12.
[7] Gal 4:29.
[8] Eph 6:12.
[9] Jude 1:20.
[10] Rom 8:28.
[11] Matt 5:44-45.
