How Can God Allow Such Evil and Suffering in the World?

There is so much violence today; wars, disease, natural disasters, so why does God allow all this suffering in the world?

Afflictions are Good

You must not give up on your Lord; He knows your suffering …

There is so much violence today; wars, disease, natural disasters, so why does God allow all this suffering in the world? Contrary to what the world desires, and that is to avoid suffering at all costs, God says it’s actually good for us. The Psalmist wrote, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Psalm 119:71). That’s called learning the hard way. Our troubles and afflictions can keep us out of trouble, again, as the Psalmist wrote, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word” (Psalm 119:67). Suffering is allowed by God but only for our good (Rom 8:28). God’s Word doesn’t keep us out of suffering, but suffering can help us seek His Word and that’ keeps us out of sin.

Good for Evil

Joseph, the son of Jacob, is an excellent example of God using evil for good. Even though they wanted to kill Joseph, they sold him for profit and later (Gen 37:27), even though Joseph was innocent, he was thrown into prison and basically forgotten about. But he was not forgotten by God. Time and again, the Scriptures say, “and the Lord was with Joseph” (Gen 39:2, 21). In the happy ending, Joseph tells his brothers that “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Gen 50:20). Joseph didn’t deny they had evil intentions, but Joseph knew that God can use evil for good. The evil and suffering in the world today is no exception. John 3:16 is the strongest evidence we have that God can use evil for God; not that He is the author of it, but He uses all things for His good and ours. Good is so good that He disciplines us when we need it (Heb 12:6), and that doesn’t feel comfortable at the time, but we know it yields spiritual fruit.

Humble Us

God is not caught off guard by all the troubles in the world. He’s never had a moment where He said, “I didn’t know that.” What He allows is for His ultimate purpose, and we can trust that. We might not trust what’s going on in the world, but God’s not up in heaven, wringing His hands with worry. Every single thing that is happening in the world today is every single thing that God is laying down through time and history for His precise purposes. One example is, if suffering brings people to an end of themselves, and their trouble bring them to their knees, then God may use their brokenness to humble them or break them and bring them to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Many people are saved when they run out of options in life and they hit rock bottom and can go no further. When they get knocked down into the dust, there’s only one way to look…and that’s up (Matt 11:28-30).

The Fall

We must go all the way back to the beginning to discover why there is evil and suffering in the world (Gen 3). It was not God’s original choice. God was not the author of evil but man. The suffering, evil and troubles of the world today are a result of mankind wanting to choose for themselves, good and evil, and we know that the ways of man are not the ways of God (Isaiah 55:8). The earth was cursed and it still is. Even the earth itself is undergoing upheaval due to all sorts of world-wide catastrophes and natural disasters…and all, as a result of sin.

Perfecting by Pain

Next to Jesus Christ, I would say that Job knew more about pain than just about anyone. Job’s body and mind were wracked with pain and suffering (Job 30:17), and he experienced the great hardship of losing all of his children all in one day (Job 1:13). He would also lose all of his wealth (Job 1), yet God used this to humble him and make him see that he was being self-righteous. God used that suffering to bring about Job’s repentance. Eventually God restored twice to Job than that which he had had before (Job 42:10), including ten more children (Job 42:13)! Through all of Job’s suffering and the loss of respect from his wife, his wealth, his health, his friends, and his children, he came out better than he had been before all of this started. God used Job’s suffering to open his eyes and to give us an example of how God can use evil and suffering for much good.

Conclusion

If you dread evil and suffering, then think about your eternal state after death (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus’ appearance (Rev 20:12-15) when He comes to judge humanity. If you’ve repented and trusted in Christ, then He is your Savior, but if not, He will be your Judge someday, so you are in real danger of hell fire. Like everyone, you are one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Why Affliction and Suffering Are Part of God’s Plan

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: End Times, God, Suffering, Violence