What Is God's Answer to Evil, Suffering, and Death?

"If you could kick the person responsible for most of your troubles in the backside, you wouldn't be able to sit down for two weeks!"   -Bits and Pieces, December 1990

Jesus said in John 16:33 that in this life, there will be trouble. But why? Why these side effects? Why is there suffering and evil and pain? That “why” question goes back thousands of years. It was asked in the Old Testament by Job and the writers of the Psalms, and it was especially relevant during the 20th century, where we witnessed two World Wars, the Holocaust, devastating famines in Africa, the killing fields of Cambodia, the emergence of AIDS, the genocide in Rwanda, the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo, and so on up to the present. Why all of this if there’s a loving and powerful God? Why do bad things happen to good people?

In a USA survey,  people were asked what question they’d ask if they could only ask God one thing. The Number One response was: “Why is there suffering in the world?” If you've never asked why our world is infected with pain, suffering and evil, you will when they strike you with full force, or come to a loved one. And I really wish I could stand in the shoes of God and completely answer the question, but obviously I can’t.

First Corinthians 13:12 says that on this side of heaven, we only see things dimly, because we can’t understand everything from our finite perspective. However, one thing is very clear: God is not the creator of evil and suffering. This answers the question you hear so often: “Why didn't God merely create a world where suffering and evil didn't exist?” The answer is: He did. Genesis 1:31 says: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

But if God is not the author of pain or evil or death, where did they come from? Well, God decided to give human beings free will, which is necessary if we are to be able to express love to God and to each other. Real love must involve a choice. Unfortunately, we humans have abused our free will by rejecting God and walking away from Him. And that has resulted in the introduction of two kinds of evil into the world: “moral evil” and “natural evil.” 

Moral evil is the immorality and pain and suffering that comes because we choose to be selfish, arrogant, uncaring, hateful, and abusive. And Romans 3:23 says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Some have estimated that 95 percent of the world’s suffering results from the sin of ourselves or others. For example, people look at a famine and wonder where God is, but the world produces enough food for each person to have 3,000 calories a day. It’s our own irresponsibility and self-centeredness that prevents people from getting fed.

In other words: look at your hand. You can choose to use that hand to hold a gun and shoot someone, or you can use it to feed hungry people. It’s your choice. But it’s unfair to shoot someone and then blame God for the existence of evil and suffering. Like that old cartoon said: “We have seen the enemy, and he is us.”

The second kind of evil is called “natural evil” — these are things like earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes that cause suffering. But these, too, are the result of sin being allowed into the world. As one author explained: “When we humans told God to shove off, He partially honored our request. Nature began to revolt. The earth was cursed. Genetic breakdown and disease began. Pain and death became part of the human experience.”

Genesis 3:18 says it’s because of sin that nature was corrupted and “thorns and thistles” entered the world. Romans 8:22 says, “For we know that up to the present time all of creation groans with pain like the pain of childbirth.” Nature longs for redemption to come and for things to be set right. That’s the source of disorder and chaos.

Let me clarify this: God did not create evil, suffering and death! Now, it’s true that He did create the potential for evil to enter the world, because that was the only way to create the potential for genuine goodness and love. But it was human beings, in our free will, who brought that potential evil into reality.

Some people ask, “Couldn't God have foreseen all of this?” And no doubt He did. But look at it this way: many of you are parents. Even before you had children, couldn't you foresee that there was the very real possibility they may suffer disappointment or pain or heartache in life, or that they might even hurt you and walk away from you? Of course — but you still had kids. Why? Because you knew there was also the potential for tremendous joy and deep love and great meaning.

And it’s the same with God. He knew we’d rebel against Him, but He also knew many people would choose to follow Him and spend eternity in heaven with Him — and that it was all worth it for that, even though it would cost His own Son great pain to achieve their redemption.

When the storms of life hit us hard, He offers us the two very things we need when we’re hurting: peace to deal with our present, and courage to deal with our future. You see, God’s ultimate answer to suffering isn't an explanation; it’s the incarnation.

Suffering is a personal problem; it demands a personal response. And God isn't some distant, detached, and disinterested deity; He entered into our world and into our pain. We are not alone in our suffering. As one philosopher said, "Jesus is there, sitting beside us in the lowest places of our lives."

Scripture: Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 5:10; Revelation 21:4; John 16:33;  Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 34:19; Jeremiah 29:11

Prayer: Dear Father, please give me the wisdom to know that the best success comes after being disappointed. Amen

Have a blessed day,

Patti