Biblical Answer

The Problem of Suffering: A Biblical Perspective

The question of why God allows suffering is a complex and deeply personal issue that has puzzled people for centuries. From a biblical perspective, the existence of suffering in the world is not a contradiction to the existence of a loving God. In fact, the Bible teaches that God is not a distant deity who watches suffering from a safe distance, but rather He is a God who inhabits our suffering (Isaiah 53:3). The prophet Isaiah calls the Messiah, Jesus Christ, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). Jesus Himself underwent incomprehensible suffering for us, and He did so because He loves us so much (John 3:16).

The Role of Suffering in Our Relationship with God

Suffering is not an obstacle to our relationship with God, but rather it is an opportunity for us to find Him in the midst of our pain. The Bible teaches that the goal of our existence is to have a relationship with God, and finding Him in our suffering is the point (Romans 8:28). Suffering that appears pointless within our limited framework may be seen to have been justly permitted by God within His wider framework. God may have to allow a great deal of suffering along the way in order to achieve His purposes. In other words, God has good reasons for the suffering we experience, even if we cannot discern them.

The Sovereignty of God

The Bible teaches that God is sovereign over all creation, and He is not bound by the limitations of human freedom. God's options are not restricted by human freedom, and He may have to allow suffering in order to bring about a greater good. Nevertheless, God has good reasons for the suffering we experience, even if we cannot discern them. The Bible teaches that God is a God of justice and righteousness, and He will ultimately bring an end to suffering and evil in this world (Revelation 21:4). Until then, we can trust that God is working all things together for our good, even in the midst of suffering (Romans 8:28). In the words of the Bible, "God, I don't know what you are doing, but you do, and that is enough." (Habakkuk 1:13). Turning to God and trusting Him with the mysteries of suffering is the answer to the problem of suffering.