It’s one of the hardest questions in life—and one nearly everyone asks at some point: Why do bad things happen to good people? Whether it’s watching a child suffer, facing a devastating loss, or seeing injustice win, our hearts cry out for answers. If God is good and powerful, why does He allow pain?
This isn’t just a philosophical puzzle—it’s a deeply personal question. And while the Bible doesn’t give us every answer we might want, it does give us hope, truth, and a God who meets us in the middle of our suffering.
1. Addressing the Age-Old Question
This question has been asked for centuries—from ancient philosophers to hurting friends at hospital bedsides. Even people of deep faith wrestle with it. In fact, the Bible doesn’t shy away from this question—Job, David, Habakkuk, and even Jesus cried out with versions of it: “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).
Asking why isn’t a sign of weak faith—it’s part of an honest relationship with God. The real issue is where we take our questions. Scripture invites us to bring them to God, not away from Him.
2. Biblical Perspectives
The Bible offers several key insights to help us understand the problem of suffering:
We live in a fallen world. When sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, brokenness entered with it—bringing disease, injustice, and death (Romans 5:12). We experience the consequences of that fall daily.
Suffering is not always punishment. The book of Job shows that even the most righteous can suffer deeply. Jesus Himself lived a perfect life yet was rejected, tortured, and killed.
God is near to the brokenhearted. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God is not distant in suffering—He draws close.
Suffering can shape us. Romans 5:3–5 says that suffering produces endurance, character, and hope. God uses pain, not as punishment, but as a tool to form us.
The Bible doesn’t minimize suffering—but it does frame it within a much bigger story.
3. God’s Sovereignty and Goodness
One of the hardest tensions to hold is that God is both sovereign (in control) and good (loving). If He’s in control, why doesn’t He stop bad things? If He’s good, why does He allow pain?
Scripture assures us that God is both, even when we don’t understand how it all fits. Isaiah 55:8–9 says His thoughts are higher than ours. There’s mystery we may never fully grasp this side of eternity.
But here’s what we do know:
God doesn’t cause evil—but He can redeem it.
He allows freedom, and with it, the reality of sin—but He never stops working for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).
The cross is the clearest proof: God used the greatest evil (the death of Jesus) to bring about the greatest good (our salvation).
Even when we can’t trace His hand, we can trust His heart.
4. How to Walk with Others in Suffering
When people are suffering, they don’t need a theological lecture—they need presence, empathy, and love.
Listen before speaking. Let people express their pain and doubts without rushing to fix them.
Acknowledge the mystery. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know why this is happening, but I’m here with you.”
Reflect God’s comfort. Be a vessel of His compassion, peace, and kindness.
Pray and stay. Sometimes the greatest ministry is simply showing up, staying present, and lifting them up in prayer.
Romans 12:15 calls us to “weep with those who weep.” Don’t underestimate the power of your quiet, faithful presence.
5. Hope
The greatest hope Christians have is not the absence of suffering—it’s that suffering is not the end of the story.
God will one day make all things right. Revelation 21:4 promises a day when He will wipe every tear and death will be no more.
Jesus suffered with us and for us. We do not worship a distant God, but a Saviour who knows our pain firsthand.
Nothing is wasted. God uses even pain to draw us closer, shape our character, and accomplish His purposes.
Eternal hope transforms present pain. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
This doesn’t mean our pain isn’t real—it means it’s not permanent.
