Why Is There Evil If God Is Good?

Why Is There Sorrow If God Is Good?

Some time ago, I watched a cartoon that made an effort to depict the Christian perspective on pain and suffering. A guy praying to God was the subject of the comic. Next, the guy takes a blow to the head from a rock. Upset, he yells at the sky, demanding to know why he must endure such pain.

The animation then pulls out to see Jesus standing tall above the individual, shielding him from a massive attack. In response, Jesus asks the guy, “Did I miss one?” The message seems to be unmistakable: Jesus shields us from life’s tribulations.

This animation has several flaws. This interpretation of the Bible not only says that Jesus’ authority has limits, but also that he protects us from anything bad or unpleasant. The premise of the cartoon is that religion shields its followers from harm.

This, however, is contrary to what the Bible teaches. Jesus warned his followers that they will face trials in this life (John 16:33). All the lives of the disciples demonstrate this. The Christian faith is never a free pass from adversity.

What does the Bible have to say about pain and anguish? When facing adversity, to what supernatural promises may we cling? Here are three things you should always keep in mind.

God’s love is not negated by suffering.

It’s natural to attribute God’s silence when tragedy strikes on your own inability to cope. Suffering is frequently used as the “cause” why people should not have faith. They ask, in essence, “Why this pain if God is so good?” Believers are not immune to falling into this trap.

Their theology was just as wrong as Job’s. They reasoned that because God allowed Job to suffer, he must have gone against God’s will. The reasoning seemed obvious and reasonable: God was angry with Job, thus Job had to suffer.

Sad to say, many individuals attribute their tribulations in life to a higher power. We even have catchphrases that aim to instill this mindset. Our rallying cry is “Karma is fair” (or “What goes around, comes around”).

Either that, or we use “just deserts” to explain away our pain. These proverbs stem from the belief that every tragedy may be explained as divine retribution.

This falsehood is in direct opposition to the gospel and is a perversion of our religion. Moreover, it totally distorts what Jesus Christ taught about God.

Do you believe these Galileans were greater sinners because they had to go through this?” Jesus asks, addressing this notion. No, I tell you! (Luke 13:2-3). The idea that Jesus’s suffering is proof that God is against him is a falsehood, he says.

The unsettling fact is that our world yearns for atonement on its own behalf. That’s why sometimes we have to zig when we’d rather zag in life. Sometimes bad things happen to us with no explanation and no warning.

However, just because we don’t understand why God allows pain, it doesn’t imply God doesn’t love us.

We can never run out of God’s love. Furthermore, the Bible assures us that nothing in all creation, not even death, can ever separate us from God’s love, as seen in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:39).

So remember that God’s love for you does not change even though you are going through a difficult period. Reality check: God loves you. In spite of your best efforts, I think this is true.

That God is victorious is not negated by suffering.

The path of pain may seem endless. Our faith assures us, however, that God will triumph in the end. We shall triumph against evil.

John’s vision of the end of the world is chronicled in the Book of Revelation. According to the vision, the tree of life “yields its fruit every month, and the tree’s leaves are for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2).

The health and restoration of all of creation is God’s ultimate goal. When God finally puts an end to all evil and suffering, then and only then will salvation be complete.

Obviously, no one knows whether or when this will occur. This final triumph may not occur in our lifetimes, unfortunately. The reality of living in a corrupt and flawed society is that things like these will always be the case. However, this does not invalidate God’s plan to restore the earth.

But what should we do if we really are in pain? We weep. It’s a tragedy, and we cry over it. We shout our justified outrage and hope for the day God’s kingdom to be completely established on Earth.

The truth is that it does not assist us to attempt to provide a reasonable explanation for misery. The only thing God wants us to do while we’re hurting is cry to him.

That is why the books of Job, Psalms, and Lamentations are included in the Bible. When we read these texts, we may safely admit our bafflement and pain. Books also provide us with the vocabulary to articulate our deepest thoughts and feelings.

The Psalmist urges us to shout his anguish to God, “Oh God, do not stay mute!” “O God, do not remain motionless and silent. (Psalm 83:1). These expressions do not undermine our confidence in God’s love and triumph.

The Christian faith holds that everyone will one day face Christ in judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10). At the end of the day, this is a reason to have faith. For this reason, we may boldly cry out to the Lord, knowing that He will ultimately triumph over all evil.

Third, Pain Does Not Disprove God’s Existence

We may never know why horrible things happen to good people, but we do know that the Lord is always with us. Even at the end of time, Jesus says he will be among his followers (Matthew 28:20).

Jesus does not abandon us, and he understands and feels our pain. Jesus knows how difficult life may be at times. He understands how the harshness of life may suddenly strike.

The gospel’s message is straightforward, even if it comes out as clichéd or simplistic: we are never really alone, even in the worst hours of our lives. Just as Jesus cried with Mary and Martha (John 11:35), so too does he stand with us and share our grief.

We may “approach the throne of grace with confidence, with the full knowledge that you will get assistance in your time of need” because of this (Hebrews 4:16). This is a pledge from one who has shown to be reliable and trustworthy.

Is Jesus oblivious to the pain in the world? Jess is here, with us. The crucifixion is evidence that Jesus carries our pains in his own body.

In fact, Jesus goes so far as to go inside the tomb, the site of death, in order to make it the site of new life. What we witness in Christ’s passion is that Jesus is ready to dive into any suffering that comes his way.

It’s true that this would not eliminate all the hardships we face; we could still have to battle illness and emotional anguish. Yet, we know that the Lord is with us always, even in the midst of terrible trials.

To know this reality is a source of solace and health. Whenever pain strikes too close to home, we may bring it to Jesus.

Jesus can take our pain, hear our shouts, and comfort us because of his immense size. And in the middle of all we go through, Jesus provides us his unwavering love. His love is sufficient for every hardship we may face.