Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Suffering is all around us, experienced by people of all religions, countries, genders and ages. All experience it and even the most faithful amongst us will at some point ask God in perplexion why He allows suffering. And when they ask it will be with exclamation and even accusation, along with their sorrow - for sorrow is real, suffering is real and impacts upon everyone. If God is in control and is Almighty why does He allow it to continue?!

The Bible gives us several points to consider, that together help to answer the question, but cannot do so fully: -

God's intention was not suffering (top)

The first is that suffering was not God's intention for the human race, though He knew it would come. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden lived without suffering or pain. God knew in creating the world however, everything that would happen - including the arrival of sin and suffering - He knew this because He knows everything.

Suffering came as a result of man (top)

The second is that suffering came as a result of man - not of God. Genesis tells us that Adam and Eve were in the perfect world, where all their needs were met and there was no suffering, and then, against God's instructions, they ate the fruit of the tree. This is what happened next:

...the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

...

To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."

And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Genesis 3:9-19 (ESV)

This makes it clear that the potential for suffering in the world, and the existence of pain in the world is a result of man disobeying God. Adam and Eve willfully disobeyed God and brought sin into the world. Suffering is the result of sin Romans 6:23), and so suffering comes from man and woman - not God. We are all descended from them and have inherited their sinful nature and world - we are sinners too and live in a world tainted by sin. Therefore we must expect suffering.

Sometimes suffering comes as the direct result of further human disobedience (for example, drunk driving may cause an accident, marital unfaithfulness will cause pain, sexual abuse will cause pain) - quite obviously this pain is the direct result of human sin (and yet we often blame God still!). But there remains that suffering often comes simply because this world has become a place of pain - disease, death, natural disasters, accidents and evil, would not happen were it not for man disobeying God.

There is also room for suffering to ease. Imagine if the whole world started obeying God, there would still be sickness, famine etc but the "man-inflicted" suffering would end: if everyone lived either in either a celebate or monogamous relationship all of their lives (as God intended) that would be the end of all sexually transmitted diseases! If no one drank too much alchohol and obeyed the laws of the land as God directs, there would be significantly less road accidents. If all shared the wealth a bit more and "loved their neighbour as themselves" there would be significantly less poverty and starvation, less spread of disease and homelessness. I could continue on.

God currently acts to limit suffering (top)

The third is that God does act to limit suffering, and the suffering that he does not end, is used for the ultimate good. This may be very hard to accept, especially when we see the tragic occur, such as the young killed or evil seem to prevail. But consider that in a world with so much potential for evil, we should be thankful that there is not more of it! God does act in the world to limit suffering - either through the charitable acts of his servants (Christians), or through his control over circumstance and the world, God makes things better than they would be if He weren't here. There are three ways God continues to act to limit suffering: -

He has told us how to live to limit suffering. Consider all the pain and suffering that has come from the effects of sexually transmitted diseases. God has made it clear that he intends and desires for us to live in monogamous, committed relationships. If we had obeyed this always, STDs by definition would never have existed. If we all began to obey this rule now, STDs would be all but wiped out within a generation. That is to me the most obvious example of God telling us better ways to live that will limit suffering. In addition to that he has told us to love each other, to share with each other. We have the means to do so - but we choose not to. God has provided the way, but as a race we have ignored him and brought suffering upon ourselves - well, suffering upon others.
He acts through circumstance and the world. The Bible has example after example of God positively acting in the world through circumstance or miracle to make things better.
The Bible also tells us that when painful things happen, God still uses them to produce good. This is often the hardest to see, and I often feel like I can't see the hidden ways in which the world is better because of a terrible thing that happened, but ultimately God's word tells us that it is so.

God has acted to end suffering (top)

The fourth is that God entered into our suffering by sending Christ to suffer and die in our place. Though he was perfect and lived with God in heaven, He came to earth and experienced great suffering on our behalf, which he did not deserve (1 Peter 2:24). His friends betrayed him, God "forsook" him on the cross and he died the painful and slow death of a criminal, hung on a cross.

God has promised that Christ will return, and when this happens this world of pain will end. Those who chose the way of Christ will live in peace forever (read more about this here); those who do not will go to a place where suffering continues - and isn't limited by God. The years of suffering on this earth must occur in order that we can see the problem of sin and find its solution in Christ. Would we see clearly our need for a Saviour if the world was not fallen around us? If the suffering we see weren't there to point to the horrors of Hell, would anyone be afraid of it? So we must persevere in this world of pain in order that we may enjoy the world to come.