Biblical Answer

The Reality of Suffering

The question of why God allows suffering when we're doing everything right is a complex and challenging one. On the surface, it seems unjust and even cruel that God would permit suffering to occur, especially when we're living a life that we believe is pleasing to Him. However, the Bible teaches us that suffering is a natural part of living in a sinful, fallen world (Romans 8:22-23). It's also possible that God is disciplining us for our own good (Hebrews 12:10-11), or that He's allowing us to suffer so that we can experience His presence and comfort in a deeper way (Psalm 119:71).

The Purpose of Suffering

But why does God allow suffering to occur in the first place? One possible reason is that it allows us to experience His grace and comfort in a way that we wouldn't otherwise. If we were always comfortable and happy, we might become complacent and forget about our need for God. Suffering can be a catalyst for spiritual growth and maturity (Romans 5:3-5). Additionally, the Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example to follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). By suffering, we can identify with Christ and experience the joy of the Lord in the midst of pain (Job 6:10).

A Theology of Suffering

A faulty theology of suffering can lead us to ask God why He's allowing us to suffer when we're doing everything right. This is because we're looking at the situation from a human perspective, rather than a divine one. We need to remember that God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). We need to trust that God is sovereign and that He's working everything out for our good, even when we can't see it (Romans 8:28). By trusting in God's goodness and sovereignty, we can experience the joy of the Lord in the midst of suffering, and we can be assured that He's working everything out for our good.