Biblical Answer

The Problem of Suffering: A Biblical Perspective

When we experience suffering, it's natural to wonder why God allowed it to happen. Perhaps we've even blamed God for our pain, thinking that He should have intervened to prevent it. But the Bible teaches us that God is not responsible for our sin, but rather, He allows us to experience the consequences of our actions. In the story of Judas Iscariot, we see an example of how God allows us to make choices that lead to suffering. Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, but He didn't stop it from happening. Instead, He allowed it to fulfill the Scriptures, demonstrating His sovereignty over all things.

The Sovereignty of God

The Bible teaches us that God is sovereign over all creation, including our lives. He knows what we will do before we even do it (Acts 4:28). This means that God is not bound by our actions, but rather, He works all things together for good, even the bad things we do (Romans 8:28). When we sin, we may experience the consequences of our actions, but God is not responsible for our sin. He is not a God who is forced to ignore our actions, but rather, He is a God who is gracious and merciful, who forgives us when we repent and turn to Him.

The Purpose of Suffering

So why does God allow suffering? The Bible teaches us that suffering can be a means of drawing us closer to God, of teaching us to trust in Him, and of demonstrating His power and glory. When we suffer, we are forced to confront our own sin and our need for forgiveness. We are reminded that we are not our own, but rather, we are God's children, who are loved and forgiven by Him. As we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we are reminded that God is with us, even in our darkest moments, and that He will carry us through to the other side. As the Psalmist says, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). May we learn to trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even in the midst of suffering. May we see that our suffering is not a punishment from God, but rather, an opportunity for us to experience His love and forgiveness. May we be drawn closer to God, and may we learn to see our suffering as a means of growing in our faith and trust in Him. I pray that this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I will do my best to answer them.