Biblical Answer

Understanding God's Sovereignty in Suffering

When we experience suffering, even when we're doing the right thing, it can be challenging to understand why God allows it. The Bible teaches us that God is sovereign over all creation, including the universe and everything in it (Psalm 103:19). This means that He has the power and authority to govern and sustain all things, including the circumstances of our lives. However, this does not mean that we can always understand the reasons behind God's decisions. In fact, the Bible warns us that we may never fully comprehend God's ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The Mystery of Suffering

The Bible acknowledges that suffering can be a result of living in a sinful, fallen world (Romans 8:22). Sometimes, God disciplines us for our good, but in all cases, we are assured that God works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). This means that even in the midst of suffering, we can trust that God is working out His purposes for us. However, this does not mean that we can always see the good that comes out of suffering. In fact, the Bible teaches us that sometimes suffering seems pointless and unnecessary to us (Psalm 73:16-17). But this is where our trust in God's sovereignty comes in. We can trust that God is working out His purposes, even when we don't understand why.

Trust in God's Goodness

When we're going through suffering, it's easy to ask, "Why, God?" But the Bible teaches us that God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). We can't reduce God to human terms and subject Him to our moral judgment (Job 38:1-7). Instead, we must trust that God is good and loving, even when we don't understand why He allows suffering. We can trust that He is working out His purposes, even when we can't see the good that comes out of it. As the Bible says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). When we're going through suffering, we can trust that God is with us, and that He will work out His purposes for our good.