Probably the most asked question by both the eternally saved and unsaved is: How can there be an all-powerful, sovereign, good, just, and loving God, when He allows such evil, chaos, pain, and suffering?
It is a big deep tough question. No trite answer will suffice someone suffering in pain. In fact, most do not really want quick answers when it seems “their world” has been turned upside down. Also pain problems are often complex to understand and unwind. Most really just want to know someone cares, is there, will listen, will weep with them, and wants to help them feel better. It is a great time to demonstrate love, empathy, comfort, and compassion.
Probably the most famous sufferer was Job of the Bible. Satan attacked this righteous man killing all of his children, taking away all of his wealth, his health, and even incited his wife to tell him to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9). Job did cry out in pain with questions of God. Amazingly in all this, Job did not falsely accuse God or sin with his lips. I certainly can’t say that amidst all my trials. Job’s three friends were great comforters, tearing their clothes, putting on ashes on their heads, weeping, mourning, and sitting with him seven days and nights without saying a word, “for they saw that his grief was very great” (Job 2:11-13). In this they were great comforters. But then from chapters 3-37 they argued with Job and accused him of sinning and that was their explanation of why he was suffering. Not only were they no comfort, but added to his pain. In chapters 38-41, God questions Job really about the wonders of God’s wisdom, power, purposes, decisions, creation, creatures . . . contrasted with man’s questions or accusations against Him. Job more clearly sees his place in the universe. It is trusting and hoping in such a wise, immense, and almighty God, Whose ways are far above any of God’s creation. Job rightly repents, though righteous, he recognizes he is still a vile sinner deserving far worse than any evil or pain experienced. God rebukes Job’s three miserable comforters of their false accusations. God restores Job and doubly blesses him, even more than He had blessed him previously. God never really answered Job’s question of why such a good just loving God allows evil, suffering, and death.
I think this question is critically important. I think we all struggle with it at times, especially hard and painful times. I think the way we attempt to comfort and answer this may vary from the vantage point and perspective of whether a person is saved or unsaved. So, I think there are three main focus areas when responding to saved, and three to the unsaved. For the saved, I think our response should focus on: 1) Great Purpose, 2) Free Will, and 3) Eternal Benefits. For the unsaved, I think our response should focus on a: 1) Good God, 2) Bad People, and 3) Eternal Gospel. I believe this focus for each provides the most hope and comfort to understand, endure, and miss eternal pain.
So, I’ll try to provide a brief, non-tailored answer for both the eternally saved and unsaved below for your consideration.
Saved: God is good, just, loving, and all-powerful. Trust, pray, and hope in Him. For His eternal glory and to allow us to be free to choose / learn / trust / love / praise better (in His image and not be robots), He works all (even sin, evil, pain, and death) together as the best eternal purposeful plan. His and our eternal glory and loving intimacy is better than our temporary pleasure.
Unsaved: God is God, the only definition of good, holy, and just. You and all choose to sin. Sin produces pain, suffering, death, and hell. The more sin, the more suffering. God loves you, but won’t force you to choose to love Him. God lovingly took on flesh (Jesus Christ) and even when you were an enemy, He paid your penalty for your sin and died and rose in your place. By faith, receive His free gift of eternal life and get His Spirit to live above sin now and be saved, blessed, and glorified with God in heaven forever.
I would love to hear your thoughts, comments, or improvements. My wife said she has a playlist of songs that comfort and remind her of encouraging truths when suffering. May the God of all comfort encourage and sustain you in all your pain.
“15-The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16-The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17-The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18-The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19-Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalms 34:15-19)
Maybe the greatest reason God allows free will and the resulting sin, sickness, sorrow, and death to those He loves is so we will experientially understand the contrast and choice between God vs Satan, Good vs Evil, Pleasure vs Pain, Health vs Sickness, Life vs Death, Omniscience vs Ignorance, Truth vs Lies, Giving vs Stealing, Immortality vs Mortality, Freedom vs Enslavement, Purity vs Debauchery, Light vs Darkness, Omnipotence vs Powerlessness, Love vs Hate, etc. Without an enemy bigger than ourselves, we would never want to acknowledge anyone bigger than us all. We could never see demonstrated the highest unconditional love by this Supreme Being. A love that humbled Himself, took on human flesh, experienced our pains, lived a perfect life, taught many truths, but died and resurrected from the dead to lovely and eternally save us from ourselves and our greatest enemies. These contrasts clearly demonstrate the beauty of God, the desirability of His law morally reflecting His character and restraint of sin, the reasons why He is transcendent above all, why His attributes are perfect, His design is best, and why we should want to be with Him, in His heaven, choosing Him, praising Him, and desiring to be conformed to His image, His glory. It is by this temporary pain that we can choose and experience eternal pleasure. Think about Him and His ways, and read more about them in His love letter, God’s Word…
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