Why the Merciful God Allows Suffering


            God made mankind so that He could bestow blessings upon them. However, God’s wisdom decreed that in order for this good to be complete we must suffer because much like a man who has never been hungry and therefore cannot appreciate food, we cannot understand the Creator’s light without being exposed to the darkness. Since without understanding there can be no appreciation and thereby a complete and fulfilling happiness, suffering is of necessity in attaining eternal life. Therefore, God lets His children suffer and this is proof of His tremendous love for us! “For the Lord disciplines him whom He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives. . . . He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness” (Hebrews 12:6, 10; cf. Proverbs 13:24 ).

            As Christians, we are considered “children of God . . . and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him” (Romans 8:16 , 17). Only if we suffer with Him, are we “made worthy of the Kingdom of God ” (2 Thessalonians 1:5). As the “Body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27 ), only if we bear our “cross daily” are we considered worthy and therefore a Christian before God (see Matthew 10:38 ; Luke 9:23 ). “For one is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly. . . . to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:19 , 21). Thus, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27 ).            

           God lets His children suffer “for the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God . . .” (1 Peter 4:17 ). Just like Job who sinned before God by keeping the company of immoral men (see Job 34:7, 8; Psalms 15:4;1 Corinthians 15:33 , 34; 2 Corinthians 6:14 -18) and was requited for it, we too must suffer some of the consequences of our sins. “For according to the work of a man He will requite him, and according to his ways He will make it befall him” (Job 34:11, 12; cf. Romans 2:6).            

           The Holy Bible tells us that “through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God ” (Acts 14:22 ). Thus, some believers in Christ Jesus who will enjoy eternal life suffer for the sake of Christ for sometimes, Christians must “share in suffering for the Gospel in the Power of God” (2 Timothy 1:8). During these times our suffering is for the sake of others, for their “comfort and salvation” (2 Corinthians 1:6). Thus, the apostle Paul wrote, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine” (Philippians 1:29, 30).                      

           Christians are expected to suffer so that they “may be tested” (Revelations 2:10 ; cf. 1 Peter 4:12, 13), and “so that the genuineness of [their] faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6). All these trials and tribulations are actually blessings for they “make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead . . .“ (2 Corinthians 1:9). Only during these times of testing may we grow in our Faith because then we can actually see that God is faithful and understand that His Word is true for He always provides “the way of escape, that [we] may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Truly, the ways of our God are perfect: “This God – His way is perfect; the promise of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him” (Psalms 18:30 ). God’s Word tells us that He “works for those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 64:4), but these are merely empty words if He doesn’t show us His immense love for us by testing us and subsequently proving Himself faithful by rescuing us from all evil (see Job 5:17-24).  Thus, all sufferings are wonderful heaven-sent opportunities to perfect ourselves as Jesus, our Lord, was made “perfect through suffering” (Hebrews 2:10 ; cf. Philippians 3:12 ; Matthew 5:48 ; 19:16 -24).            

           As human beings we may choose to suffer for what’s worthless in this age or we may choose to suffer for the Kingdom of Heaven . As a Christian, “if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. For it is better to suffer for doing right, if that should be God’s will, than for doing wrong” (1 Peter 3:14, 17). Since everything apart from God is worthless and actual poison to the soul, but, in contrast, the fulfilling delights of the Kingdom of Heaven are everlasting, it is, by far, much better to offer “spiritual sacrifices” (1 Peter 2:5) and endure though we “hunger . . . thirst . . . are ill-clad . . . and homeless” (1 Corinthians 4:11; cf. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27). We may also rest assured that the omniscient God will not test us beyond our capacity (1 Corinthians 10:13 ). He is a “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction . . . For we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). On the day of trouble, the merciful God whose paths are “steadfast love and faithfulness for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies” (Psalms 25:10), will hide us “in His shelter” (Psalms 27:5). For we “can do all things in Him who strengthens . . .” (Philippians 4:13 ).

           Let us then “as an example of suffering and patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord” (James 5:10 ). Let us rejoice like the forefathers of the Christian Church rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (Acts 5:41 ). Let us suffer “the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that [we] may gain Christ and be found in Him . . .” (Philippians 3:8, 9). Let us also, “rejoice in so far as [we] share Christ’s sufferings, that [we] may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13 ). For the sacred word of God promises us that, “after [we] have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called [us] to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish, and strengthen [us]” (1 Peter 5:10 ).