Why does God allow suffering?
Answered from the commentary of J. T. Mawson, The Bible Treasury, J. N. Darby and 8 others
God allows suffering because sin brought misery and death into the world, and this is a time when evil is still allowed to run its course before judgment. Suffering is not always punishment for a particular sin: God may allow it to make His work known, and the idea that every sufferer is being punished for personal wrongdoing is false. Yet God remains above evil and limits what it can do, turning trials to blessing for His people and for His own glory.
For believers, trials can test and strengthen faith, teach endurance and dependence on God, and form them in the likeness of Christ; they may also bring others to seek God. The reasons are not always known at the time, and the ways of God can remain beyond understanding. But suffering does not mean God has ceased to care: Christ entered into human sorrow, and God gives comfort and grace to sustain those who suffer. The promise is not that suffering will end now, but that it will give way to glory, when sorrow and pain are gone.
Verses: Job 1:6, Job 1:7, Job 1:8, Job 1:9, Job 1:10, Job 1:11, Job 1:12, Job 1:13, Job 1:14, Job 1:15, Job 1:16, Job 1:17, Job 1:18, Job 1:19, Job 1:20, Job 1:21, Job 1:22, Job 2:1, Job 2:2, Job 2:3, Job 2:4, Job 2:5, Job 2:6, Job 2:7, Job 2:8, Job 2:9, Job 2:10, Job 38:1, Genesis 50:20, Deuteronomy 8:2, Deuteronomy 8:3, Deuteronomy 8:4, Deuteronomy 8:5, Psalms 34:18, Psalms 34:19, Psalms 119:67, Psalms 119:68, Psalms 119:69, Psalms 119:70, Psalms 119:71, Isaiah 45:7, Lamentations 3:31, Lamentations 3:32, Lamentations 3:33, Habakkuk 1:2, Habakkuk 1:3, Habakkuk 1:4, Habakkuk 1:5, Habakkuk 1:6, Habakkuk 1:7, Habakkuk 1:8, Habakkuk 1:9, Habakkuk 1:10, Habakkuk 1:11, Habakkuk 1:12, Habakkuk 1:13, Matthew 5:10, Matthew 5:11, Matthew 5:12, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 10:29, Matthew 10:30, Matthew 10:31, John 9:1, John 9:2, John 9:3, John 11:1, John 11:2, John 11:3, John 11:4, John 11:5, John 11:6, John 16:33, Romans 5:3, Romans 5:4, Romans 5:5, Romans 8:18, Romans 8:28, Romans 8:29, Romans 8:30, Romans 8:31, Romans 8:32, Romans 8:33, Romans 8:34, Romans 8:35, Romans 8:36, Romans 8:37, Romans 8:38, Romans 8:39, 2 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:4, 2 Corinthians 1:5, 2 Corinthians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 1:7, 2 Corinthians 4:16, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 2 Corinthians 4:18, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 2 Corinthians 12:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Corinthians 12:10, Philippians 1:29, Philippians 3:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:4, 2 Thessalonians 1:5, 2 Thessalonians 1:6, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Hebrews 12:5, Hebrews 12:6, Hebrews 12:7, Hebrews 12:8, Hebrews 12:9, Hebrews 12:10, Hebrews 12:11, 1 Peter 1:6, 1 Peter 1:7, 1 Peter 2:19, 1 Peter 2:20, 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Peter 2:22, 1 Peter 2:23, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 4:12, 1 Peter 4:13, 1 Peter 4:14, 1 Peter 4:15, 1 Peter 4:16, 1 Peter 4:17, 1 Peter 4:18, 1 Peter 4:19, Revelation 21:3, Revelation 21:4
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
In 1983 a famous Rabbi in the US, Harold Kushner, published a book about the problem of suffering. In it he suggested that we should not blame God for sufferings (which is right); then he goes on to say that God is good, but that He cannot help it when evil befalls His people (which, of course, is a wrong thesis). Perhaps we may remind ourselves at this point of Romans 8:28, where we see the very opposite of Kushner's claim. God not only allows adverse circumstances, He is even in full control and uses them to form believers in His school' (Rom. 5:3-5; Jam. 1:3). His ways ultimately, and surely lead to the fulfilment of His purpose, that we should be conformed to Christ, the Firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). Why do we have sufferings? Is it not also, to make us realize that we are living in a world which is in direct opposition to God's will? (cf. 1 Peter 2:15).
God does not cause the suffering to His own, but He allows it to happen, so that His servants can benefit from the experience (e.g. increase their faith), and also for His own glory. Two examples are: Job, whom Satan tested to the uttermost, see Job 1 & 2, and Peter, whom Satan desired to sift as wheat, Luke 22:31.
Do you ask, reader, Why then are we in such a world still? I will tell you. Scripture tells us, God in grace is still leading souls to profit by and enjoy this. It is a world of misery, and sorrow, and oppression. Did God interfere to change it, He must come in judgment and close the time of mercy; and that He does not do, while yet any have ears to hear. He allows, therefore, the evil which He will judge, to go on meanwhile. And we, though we may thus have to suffer awhile in the world, ought in this sense to rejoice that it is yet allowed; because it is still a time of mercy extended to others. The end will be everlasting joy in a much better world. Christ is gone to prepare a place for us, and He will come again and take us to Himself, that where He is, there we may be also. Thus Peter says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
Suffering comes to us from different quarters and for various reasons, but that which is testing the greatest number now, and causing the most suffering at this time is the war, and many are asking why it should be? Why, if God is good, should there be any war at all? That is a question that calls for an answer. God is good, ten thousand times ten thousand voices bear witness to His goodness, but the world as such has rejected God, and despised the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that His goodness would lead them to repentance (Rom. 2:4) and has chosen to follow Satan, the adversary instead of God. In Eden Adam listened to the voice of Satan and turned his back upon God and by that act of disobedience sin entered into the world and death by sin (Rom. 5:13) and when sin came in, peace spread its wings and flew away. “There is no peace, says the Lord, unto the wicked” (Isa. 48:22). The world has been Satan’s world since that day and “suffering and sweat and tears and blood” are the result, they are part of sin’s foul brood.
The Bible alone accounts for the presence of evil, and its resultant misery and death. By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin. It is a righteous thing that misery and death, with all their concomitant evils, should be the lot of man — the righteous dealings of a just and holy God with rebels; and, while sin remains, righteousness demands that all these evils — the fruit of sin — should also remain. Even God's saints, while here in the body, are exposed to the sorrows to which humanity is heir. The Lord Jesus Himself submitted, in grace truly, to all the consequences — sin excepted — of taking a place among men and specially the remnant of Israel, a thing wholly distinct from being made sin on the cross. To remove the sufferings while sin is present would be a denial of God's righteous government.
There is only one answer to be given. God is not the author of evil, but He has allowed sin for His own glory. He did not create creatures who were incapable of choosing between good and evil, else He would have created mere machines—infinitely more wonderful than motor cars and aeroplanes, but yet on the same level.
C.C. — God has the sovereign right to manifest Himself. How could He manifest His absolute sovereignty over evil unless He allowed evil to come?
God does not bring evil into existence, but there are times in the history of the world when, in His wisdom and the carrying out and furtherance of His own plans, He withdraws His restraining hand, and allows evil to rear its head, so that it may be destroyed, and brought to nought. For instance God said to Pharaoh long ago,
Do you think it is only of Job that God thinks? Do you think that God is not thinking of every one of you now, and that in the presence of the evil angel? Do you suppose that this was something entirely exceptional? The account of it was, the allowance of it was, the special circumstances of it were peculiar; but the principle is the same for every believer. God in His sovereign love and grace takes a pleasure in His children, far more than we take in any of ours. And you know what that is for a parent. Well now, God takes more pleasure in you — not merely in Job — in you. I grant we do not deserve it; that is another thing altogether. Love does not count up deserts at all. Love goes out because God is love, and for His own glory in Christ the Lord. Now He is able to do it righteously; able to do it effectively. But here there was tremendous suffering before Christ came in, and before the full light of God came. God allowed all that; nevertheless it was He that began it; and, if God begins, how will He end? Worthily of Himself. It is not merely patching up; it is not merely repairing, but a radical work of self-judgment in the soul.
Psalm 103 brings before us the effect of the Lord's presence on the earth, "Who heals all thy diseases" as well as "forgives all thine iniquities." This is not so now, as it will be in the coming day, when healing and forgiveness will go together. True He does heal now at times, but still He allows sickness to affect His people. Then the healing will not only be wholly, but connected also with forgiveness. Some people think the grand thing is to have faith in God's power. He has only to speak, and the worst disease can be healed easily; but He is training us. Sometimes sickness is sent as a preventive, sometimes as a corrective; we ought to have faith in His love as well as in His power, and in His wisdom too. Have faith in God, not simply in His power. Here Job shines. Perhaps we have not thought adequately of his sufferings — "though he slay me yet will I trust in him."
Verses
- Job 1:6–226And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah; and Satan came also among them. 7And Jehovah said to Satan, Whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8And Jehovah said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and abstaineth from evil? 9And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is spread abroad in the land. 11But put forth thy hand now and touch all that he hath, [and see] if he will not curse thee to thy face! 12And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy hand; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah. 13And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn. 14And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them; 15and [they of] Sheba fell [upon them] and took them, and the servants have they smitten with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee. 16While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee. 17While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels and took them, and the servants have they smitten with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee. 18While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn; 19and behold, there came a great wind from over the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they died; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee. 20And Job rose up, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshipped; 21and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah! 22In all this Job sinned not, nor ascribed anything unseemly to God.