Why does God let people suffer?
This is a question I feel prevents in many people a passionate belief in God.
If God does exist, why does He permit the terrible things that take place to
people every day? As an all powerful God, surely He could step in right now
and put an end to all pain, both physical and emotional, as well as the
harshness of natural disasters which wreak random havoc around the
world? And what about wide spread sickness, which does not discriminate in
its ruthless infliction of suffering, affecting even the youngest of children?
Surely God could step in for just a moment to prevent a car crash which will
wipe out an entire family in only a moment? Surely He could seamlessly
correct the cells in young cancer patient's body?
Some common yet unsatisfying answers include "God has a reason for
everything", "God is in control", or even asserting that it is "beyond our
understanding."
While no amount of knowledge will ever calm the consuming suffering that
comes with loss, I think that the Bible does offer a clear cut answer as to
why God is permitting this at present.
Why God Allows Suffering
To understand why God permits suffering, we must begin in the Garden of
Eden. As Genesis describes, Adam and Eve were given free will and
succumb to the temptation of biting into the forbidden fruit, and henceforth
cursing the entire human race. Their choice meant that all of their offspring
would suffer the fate of having a sinful nature from the moment of existence.
Throughout history we have seen this sinful nature, this flaw in the human
condition, manifest itself violently. The daily news provides more then
enough examples of the devastation that our imperfect nature brings upon
ourselves. Like the first two humans in existence, all others have been
given the gift of free will. God is no dictator, and has given us free will to act
as we like. We are not forced to love Him or act in His ways, and God does
not once claim to take personal revenge against sinners.
Instead He provides us with guidance in His word: The Bible. In it He
outlines His desire for our living standards and why they lead to good
consequences as opposed to the way sin leads to bad. Yet he does not
force His standards upon us. The positive consequences of living the way
He chose for us can only be gained if we actually make the choice
ourselves.
As inherited sinners, we must all suffer death. In fact, the natural
consequences of sin is permanent death, and separation from God.
"For the wages of sin is death"
Romans 6:23
For a person who believes in God and chooses to want to live by His
standard: God provides them what they wish for and what they have faith
in- eternity in His company, with perfect sinless bodies and the inability to
sin. This is not by force, as those who choose this have done just that-
chosen to be under these perfect conditions.
However, for any person which chooses to reject God, His gift of grace and
also His way of life, would God not be a dictator for saving them? If a person
whole heartedly uses His freewill to reject God, it would be against that
persons free will to give him eternal life praising and loving and spending
time with God. And so, each person will eventually get exactly what they
choose, exactly what they believe in.
"According to your faith will it be done to you"
Matthew 9:29
Those who choose to act in sin must also suffer the consequences of sin.
The moral laws of the Bible are there for one reason: To protect us from
terrible pitfalls and to make us happier. In fact, many people's common
problems or sources of unhappiness or lack of peace in life can be traced
back to disobeying one of the ten commandments or indulging in one of the
seven deadly sins. Over time, if people were to look back on their
lives, they may see those choices as leading to long term problems and
much suffering.
Yet not all suffering is self inflicted, or seemingly a direct cause of our sinful
nature. For example, a bush fire that devastates a community, a hurricane
that ends lives, sickness and disease which run rampant through the world
and destroy millions including the apparently innocent and faithful.
Why do bad things happen to those who are apparently innocent?
As the Bible states, the answer is that none are innocent; "for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23).
Due to our sinful nature being inherited, we all have the deficiency the
moment we are conceived, for we are coming from that which is already
flawed. All who live are sinners, and are therefore imperfect and prone
to sickness, disease, death and simple "unforeseen occurrence" or, bad
luck. Trying to rationalize bad luck or misfortune as "Part of God's plan",
despite being a comforting thought, is not supported by the Bible. In fact,
the Bible outlines the reason we are vulnerable to chance encounters with
pain and death: because we deserve so as sinners.
Pure chance, or being in the wrong place at the wrong time, can be all it
takes for us to suffer a terrible tragedy. What is import to remember is that
God mourns more then we do when terrible things happen.. He loves us
and He did not wish this for us, He feels sorrow that we have
dominated ourselves to injury in such horrific ways.
In our normal state, what we deserve is death with no reprisal, the price of
our sin...
But, God loves us so much, He is so passionate about us, that He has
instead taken the sacrifice for us.
Imagine that: Despite the fact that we have disgracefully turned our back on
God, His love has not failed.
Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life, something no human has the potential
to do. Then, he suffered a terrible death despite the fact that as a non
sinner he did not deserve it. He did this to take the punishment for our sins!
This is how much he loves us. This is how much the thought of spending
forever without us pains him!
The humble side of God is often overlooked in place of the easier thoughts
of blame for our own self inflicted injuries.
In truth we should be eternally grateful of God's love and sacrifice, and in
remembering how much each of us mean to Him, surely we should
understand why living for Him and leading a good example of a Godly life is
so valuable to Him.
And when bad things happen, remember: "the Lord gave and the Lord has
taken away; let the Lord's name be praised" Job 1:21, God permits both
good and bad as consequences of our actions and sinful nature, but He is
to be praised despite either, and that no matter how bad things get for us,
in the end, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes" Revelation 21:4.
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