The Mystery of Evil and Suffering: Finding Comfort and Learning from Pain

The Mystery of Evil and Suffering

“It really doesn’t make sense and feels like it can’t be true.”

These were the words of a friend who had just received the news of another suicide. It was a Christian whose faith was authentic and vibrant, yet he succumbed to an incomprehensible darkness and incommunicable despair. At the moment of his decision, the pain seemed unbearable, and he couldn't find a reason to live.

My friend was reeling, blindsided by a tragedy that defies explanation. This is what we call "the problem of evil," which tries to reconcile how evil and suffering exist in a world ruled by an almighty, all-good, all-knowing God. But calling it a "problem" hardly begins to describe our experiences of it in this fallen world.

As Christians, we know that we live in a world that is broken and marred by sin. The Bible tells us that sin entered the world through Adam's disobedience, and since then, humans have been plagued by the effects of sin. We see it all around us: wars, famine, disease, natural disasters, and the list goes on.

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

One of the most challenging questions Christians face is why a good and loving God would allow suffering in the world He created. We know that God is all-powerful and could stop the suffering if He wanted to, so why doesn't He?

The truth is that we may never fully understand why God allows suffering, but we can trust that He has a reason, and it's for our ultimate good. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

This verse tells us that God works all things together for our good, not just some things, but all things. We may not see how our present suffering could be for our good, but this verse assures us that God has a plan for our lives, and our suffering is not wasted.

It's essential to remember that God sees the bigger picture. We only see the present moment, but God sees the past, present, and future. He knows what's best for us and how our suffering fits into His plan for our lives.

Another essential thing to remember is that God doesn't cause suffering; sin and the effects of sin cause it. God allows it because He has given us freedom of choice. He will not force us to follow Him or obey Him.

God's Comfort in Suffering

Although we may never fully understand why God allows suffering, we can trust that He is with us in our pain. The Bible tells us that God is "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3). He is not distant or aloof but is intimately acquainted with our pain.

Psalm 34:18 says, "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." When we are hurting, God is near to us, and He offers us comfort and hope.

We can also find comfort in the fact that Jesus suffered for us. He knows what it's like to experience pain, rejection, and betrayal. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus "has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin." Jesus understands our pain and is with us in our suffering.

In John 16:33, Jesus tells us, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." We can find comfort in knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and that one day, He will make all things right.

What Can We Learn From Suffering?

Although suffering is difficult and painful, we can learn valuable lessons from it. Suffering can teach us humility, patience, and dependence on God. It can also deepen our faith and bring us closer to God.

James 1:2-4 tells us, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." This verse tells us that suffering can produce perseverance and maturity in our faith.

We see this exemplified in the life of Job. He suffered greatly, losing his children, his wealth, and his health. Despite his suffering, he remained faithful to God and trusted in His plan for his life. In the end, God restored Job's fortunes and blessed him even more than before.

The apostle Paul is another example of someone who learned valuable lessons through suffering. He endured beatings, imprisonment, and shipwrecks for the sake of the gospel. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, he writes, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Paul learned that through his weakness, God's power was made perfect. He embraced his weaknesses and difficulties and found strength in Christ.

Conclusion

In this fallen world, we will experience suffering and pain. We may never fully understand why God allows it, but we can trust that He has a reason and that He is with us in our pain. We can find comfort in the fact that Jesus suffered for us and that one day, He will make all things right.

Suffering can teach us valuable lessons and produce perseverance and maturity in our faith. We can embrace our weaknesses and difficulties and find strength in Christ.

As we face suffering in our lives, let us remember the words of Romans 8:18, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." One day, our suffering will be over, and we will be with Him forever.