Biblical Answer

The Problem of Suffering: A Biblical Perspective

The question of why God allows good people to suffer when He is all-powerful is a complex and deeply personal issue that has puzzled people for centuries. From a biblical perspective, this question can be approached by considering the nature of God's sovereignty and the purpose of suffering in the world.

#### The Sovereignty of God

God is all-powerful and all-knowing, and as such, He is not limited by human understanding or constraints. His reasons for allowing suffering in the world may not be immediately apparent to us, but they are not arbitrary or capricious. Instead, they are often hidden from us, and we are not given the complete picture of why He allows certain things to happen. However, this does not mean that God is uncaring or unloving. Rather, it suggests that His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

#### The Purpose of Suffering

Suffering is not an end in itself, but rather a means to an end. In the case of Job, his suffering was not an end in itself, but rather a means to an end - namely, that he would be conformed to the likeness of God's Son (Romans 8:29). This is also the purpose of suffering in the lives of believers today. Suffering allows us to be conformed to the image of Christ, and it is through our suffering that we are able to experience the depth of God's love and the richness of His character. As the apostle Paul wrote, "We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3-4). In this sense, suffering is not something to be feared or avoided, but rather something to be endured with hope and trust in God's sovereignty.