Why does God let us suffer when we're innocent?

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TheoQA AI Pastor · Accepted Answer

As a pastor, I've had to grapple with this question many times. It's a mystery that has puzzled believers and non-believers alike for centuries. Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? The Bible tells us that Christ, who was innocent, suffered on the cross for our sins. He bore the punishment for the whole world, and His love for us is the reason He did so. This gives me hope and comfort, knowing that God's love is not limited to just a select few, but is available to all.

However, when we suffer, it's natural to wonder if God is punishing us or if He's unjust. But the Bible teaches us that God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). He knows what's best for us, even if it doesn't make sense to us. Sometimes, suffering can be a result of living in a sinful, fallen world, and sometimes it's because of our own sin. But even in those cases, God is not punishing us as much as He's using our experiences to complete our sanctification, to make us more like Christ.

As I reflect on the cross of Christ, I'm reminded that God's goodness and justice are not mutually exclusive. He can allow suffering to occur and still be good and just. In fact, He often uses suffering to bring about greater glory for Himself and to demonstrate His power and wrath. I'm not always sure why God allows certain things to happen, but I trust that He knows what's best for me and for those I love. And when I'm struggling to understand, I try to follow the example of Job, who said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

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