Last week we discussed the problem of evil. We explained how evil could potentially arise from an all-powerful, all-loving, and righteous God, through his perfect creation of free-will. Still, a closely related issue is the problem of suffering. How could a loving God allow so much suffering in the world? Why does He permit the innocent to suffer?
Just as God Himself did not create anything evil, He does not directly cause anyone to suffer. The scripture clearly portrays Satan as the instigator of suffering within the world. Satan obviously took an active role in Job’s suffering (Job 2:7). Paul referred to his thorn in the flesh as a “messenger of Satan” (2 Cor 12:7). And Peter tells us that Jesus went about “healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38).
Who gave Satan the power to inflict such suffering upon God’s creation? The Bible talks about Satan as the “ruler” or “god” of this world (John 12:31; 2 Cor 4:4). Who put him in such a position of authority? This certainly was not part of God’s design in the beginning. All was perfect and good in the garden (Gen 1:31). [1]
Who was made “ruler” of this world at the dawn of creation? Remember that in the beginning God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth” (Gen 1:26). In the beginning God gave man this position of authority. If that position has now been yielded over to Satan, whose fault is it?
Was it not man’s sin that first introduced suffering and death into the world? (Gen 3:17-19). By being loyal to the bidding of Satan instead of the command of God, we forfeited our position of authority over to the devil. Thus all suffering is either the consequence of our own sins, someone else’s sins, or the consequence of being born into a world stained by sin.
Yet, why does God allow the innocent to suffer? I don’t fully know. But if there is anything the book of Job teaches us, it is that all suffering has a purpose in God’s plan whether we can see it or not. In some cases that purpose will be shown to us later down the road of life (Gen 50:20; John 9:1-3). But whether we receive an answer in this life or not, we must learn to trust Him as Job did.
A small child may feel that a doctor is malevolent for sticking them with a needle. Yet that pain has a much greater purpose the child cannot see. The doctor knows that despite the child’s protests, the shot is exactly what the child needs to be healthy and strong. God always has our greatest spiritual good in mind. Yet, at times this may require times of intense suffering or sorrow that we are unable to comprehend.
God has not left us entirely in the dark, however. His word reveals to us the great power suffering can afford us. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).
Suffering is often our greatest opportunity to grow spiritually and bring glory to God. Think about all the greatest men and women of faith within the Bible. Noah, Joseph, Daniel, Job, Paul, Jesus. What do we remember about them? How they remained faithful in times of great trial. If you take out the stories about the suffering and difficulty they went through, what would be left?
Finally, suffering is a temporary road toward an eternal home. As horrendous as our grief and pain may seem now, it will all be eclipsed by the glories of heaven. In Rom 8:18-22, Paul compares the suffering of this life to childbirth. As painful as childbirth is, how many mothers upon holding their child for the first time would say it wasn’t worth it? The joys of eternal life will chase every troubling thought of this temporary existence from our minds. If anything the sorrows of this life will not taint the glories of heaven, but make them that much sweeter.
[1] A later article will address the question of Satan’s origin and corruption.