Biblical Answer

As a pastor, I've encountered many who struggle with the concept of God's power in relation to suffering. The question of whether God is all-powerful if he can't stop suffering is a complex one. However, I believe that God's capacity for suffering exceeds ours, just as his knowledge and power do. The Bible teaches that God is sovereign over all things, including our suffering. In fact, the Lord brings death and makes alive, and sends poverty and wealth (1 Sam. 2:6-7, Isa. 45:7).

The idea that God's power is limited by his inability to stop suffering is a misconception. God's power is not diminished by his willingness to share in our suffering. In fact, the Bible teaches that God became a man, taking on our human nature, and suffered and died for our sake (Phil. 2:5-8). This demonstrates God's willingness to identify with us in our suffering and to share in our pain. By doing so, God shows us that he is not distant or uncaring, but rather, he is intimately involved in our lives.

The question of why God allows suffering is a difficult one, but it's not necessarily a reason to doubt God's power. Rather, it's an opportunity to trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even in the midst of suffering. As the Bible says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28). This doesn't mean that God causes suffering, but rather, that he is working all things together for our good, even in the midst of pain and suffering.