Why Does God Allow Pain & Suffering?

Suffering transcends all class, race, ethnicity, culture, privilege. The

wealthiest, most successful man on earth

could lose his only daughter in a car wreck

this afternoon.

There is no corner untouched by grief, no

demographic, no alliance. If you haven’t suffered, just live longer. The point is, there is no formula for suffering.

There is no one answer. There is no pat

explanation. We don’t always get the answer to

WHY this side of heaven.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE MYSTERY OF PAIN & SUFFERING

Now we see a blurred image in

a mirror. Then we will see very clearly. Now my

knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete

knowledge as God has complete knowledge of

me. (1 Corinthians 13:12 – God’s Word)

Jonah

Joseph

Job

Jesus

HOW GOD “FRAMES” PAIN & SUFFERING

HUMAN FREEDOM

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW

PAIN & SUFFERING?

God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image,

reflecting our nature . . . GOD commanded, “You can

eat from any tree in the garden, except from the

Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.

Don’t eat from it. The moment you eat from that

tree, you’re dead.” . . .

When the Woman saw that the tree looked good and

realized what she would get out of it,

she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her

husband, and he ate. (Genesis 1:26, 2:16-17, 3:6 – The Message)

Maybe you don’t want to serve the LORD. You must

choose for yourselves today. Today you must decide who

you will serve . . .

You must choose for yourselves. But as for me

and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

(Joshua 24:15 – Easy To Read Version)

Love is the highest value in the universe. And when God

decided to create human beings, he wanted us to

experience love.

But to give us the ability to love, God had to give us free

will to decide whether to love or not to love. Why?

Because love always involves a choice.

If we were programmed to say,

“I love you,” it wouldn’t really be real love. So in

order for us to experience love, God bestowed on us

free will.

But unfortunately, we humans have abused our free will by rejecting God

and walking away from Him. And that has resulted in the introduction of evil, pain and

suffering into the world. (Lee Strobel)

HUMAN FREEDOM DIVINE PURPOSE

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW

PAIN & SUFFERING?

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 . . . (Romans 8:28 – New Living

Translation)

Be glad about this, even though it may now be

necessary for you to be sad for a while because

of the many kinds of trials you suffer. Their purpose is to prove that your faith is

genuine.

Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than

gold, must also be tested, so that it

may endure.

Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the

Day when Jesus Christ is revealed.

(1 Peter 1:6-7 – Good News Bible)

For I know what plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord. Plans for well-being,

not for bad things; so that you can have hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11 – Complete Jewish

Bible)

HUMAN FREEDOM DIVINE PURPOSE

GLORIOUS FUTURE

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW

PAIN & SUFFERING?

God isn’t late with his promise

as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on

account of you,

holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving

everyone space and time to change.

(2 Peter 3:9 – The Message)

These little troubles are getting us ready for an

eternal glory that will make all our

troubles seem like nothing. (2 Corinthians 4:17 – Contemporary English

Version)

I consider our present sufferings insignificant

compared to the glory that will soon be

revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 – God’s Word)

HUMAN FREEDOM DIVINE PURPOSEUN

COND

ITIO

NAL

LOVE

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW

PAIN & SUFFERING?

GLORIOUS FUTURE

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves

us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with

death?

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours

through Christ, who loved us.

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor

demons,

neither our fears for today nor our worries about

tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s

love. (Romans 8:35, 37-38 – New Living Translation)

God did not create evil and suffering and death.

God did create the "potential" for evil to come

into the world but it was the only way to create the

potential for genuine

goodness and genuine love. Isn't there the

potential that your own children could cause you disappointment, tragedy

and pain? But you still had them! Why?

Because you knew there was also potential for

great joy and love and meaning. As

did God! He knew we'd rebel,

but He knew there would be those who freely chose

to follow Him, freely choose to take up his offer of eternal salvation. And it would be worth it to God -

-

even though he would have

to give up his own son in great pain and suffering to achieve the redemption.

(Lee Strobel)

Let’s Pray