Biblical Answer

The Mystery of Suffering and the Sovereignty of God

The question of why God allows bad things to happen in the world is a complex and challenging one. On the one hand, we want to believe that God is all-powerful and all-good, but on the other hand, we see suffering and evil all around us. This tension can lead to feelings of frustration, anger, and even doubt about the existence of God. However, the Bible teaches us that God is sovereign over all creation, and that He has good reasons for everything He does, even if we cannot understand them (Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:11).

The Nature of Faith

Faith is not just about believing certain propositions, but about trusting in God's goodness and sovereignty, even when we don't understand what He is doing. It means believing that God is working out His divine plan, even when it seems like evil is triumphing. This kind of faith is not based on evidence or logic, but on the realization that God is great and all-sufficient, and that He has suffered on account of evil (Isa. 53:3-5). We must be careful not to lower our view of God by expecting to understand why He permits suffering, but instead, we must raise our faith to trust that He is working everything out for our good (Rom. 8:28).

The Cost of Faith

Faith is not cheap, and it requires us to trust God even when we don't understand what He is doing. It means believing that every experience of life, including suffering, can become an occasion of blessing (Rom. 8:28). However, this requires us to let go of our expectation to understand why God would permit evil, and instead, to trust that He is working out His divine plan. This can be a difficult and costly thing to do, but it is the only way to truly experience the freedom and joy that comes from living by faith. As the Bible says, "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who have been called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28). We must learn to trust that God is working everything out for our good, even when we don't understand what He is doing. This requires us to have faith in His sovereignty and goodness, even when it seems like evil is triumphing. This is the kind of faith that will allow us to experience the joy and freedom that comes from living by faith.