How to Understand Why God Allows Suffering
A philosopher from Paris once commented, "God is dead. Marx is dead. And I don’t feel so good myself." His attitude illustrates the pessimism rampant in our culture today.
If there really is a God, people wonder, why has He allowed so much suffering in the world? Many a Christian honestly struggles with that same question. Only by turning to the Bible can we begin to understand the problem of suffering.
The first type of suffering results from natural disasters such as volcanoes, earthquakes, large storms, horrible cancers, and massive pandemics. The Bible says that both bad things and good things happen to both the righteous and the unrighteous [Matthew 5:45].
In a day of pessimism and suffering we can say with the psalmist, "The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" [Psalm 118:6].
The Lord Himself, as the great Sufferer, is our comfort and hope in troubled times.
He said, “In the world you will have troubles, but cheer up, I have overcome the world.” And He would remind us, “I live in you.”
So when you’re under pressure, don’t forget this wonderful truth: Christ lives in me, Christ lives in me. Therefore, I am a temple of God. You can face anything with that reminder.
“The Lord Himself, as the great Sufferer, is our comfort and hope in troubled times.”
Psalm 118:6
“The LORD is with me. I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?”