Here is a transcript of the forthcoming video and podcast on the problem of suffering. The FAITH in FIVE series provides very brief answers to common questions about the Christian faith. For a more comprehensive discussion of the problem of suffering, refer to my book, “Finding God When He Seems To Be Hiding”.
FAITH IN FIVE: The Problem of Suffering
The problem of suffering is one of the most common arguments against the existence of God. The classic argument goes as follows: if God is all-powerful, he could prevent suffering; if he is all-good, then he would surely want to prevent it; yet suffering undeniably exists—therefore, God doesn’t! On the surface it presents as a compelling argument, but the problem is that it assumes that God could not possibly have morally sufficient reasons for allowing suffering. But this is an assumption that can’t be logically maintained.
No Inherent Contradiction
To demonstrate a true contradiction between the existence of both God and suffering, you would need to show that the existence of God and the existence of suffering are logically incompatible—like a square circle. But they just aren’t. It’s entirely coherent to propose that God, who is both omnipotent and loving, permits suffering for reasons consistent with His nature and purposes.
Human Freedom and the Inevitability of Suffering
One of the most important considerations in this discussion is the role of human freedom. A world in which God grants genuine free will is a world in which moral evil becomes possible, even inevitable. If human beings are truly free, they must have the capacity to choose both good and evil. To eliminate all suffering caused by human actions would require God to override or eliminate that freedom. But a world without free will would also be a world without love, moral responsibility, or meaningful relationships. As many philosophers have argued, including Alvin Plantinga, the existence of free creatures who can love and choose the good is a greater good that justifies the possibility—even the inevitability—of moral evil. Thus, suffering is not a contradiction of God’s goodness, but a consequence of a greater good that God has willed.
The Ontological Antecedent of Suffering
From a biblical perspective, suffering also has an ontological origin. It is not intrinsic to creation as God originally made it but is the result of a historical rupture—what is commonly referred to as “the Fall.” In Genesis 3, human rebellion introduces disorder, decay, and death into the world. The Apostle Paul reflects on this in Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” Suffering, then, is not part of God’s original design, but a corruption of it. This provides a coherent explanation for why a good God would preside over a world that now contains suffering: the world is not as it was meant to be.
The Remedial Role of Suffering
Yet suffering is not merely punitive or arbitrary; it can also serve a remedial purpose. Scripture repeatedly affirms that God uses suffering to shape character, deepen faith, and refine the human soul. James 1:2–4 exhorts believers: “Count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” Similarly, Romans 5:3–5 speaks of suffering producing endurance, character, and hope. While this does not trivialise suffering, it situates it within a framework of divine purpose. What appears meaningless in isolation may be profoundly meaningful within a broader narrative.
The Eschatological Dimension to Suffering
There is also an eschatological dimension to suffering. In many cases, suffering serves to awaken spiritual awareness and draw individuals toward God. C.S. Lewis famously wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures… but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” While not all suffering leads to repentance, it often functions as a catalyst for existential reflection, prompting individuals to seek ultimate meaning and reconciliation with God. In this sense, suffering can play a role in God’s redemptive purposes.
The Context of God’s Unseen Interventions
Another consideration is the context of God’s unseen interventions. We are simply not in a position to assess the full extent of God’s activity in limiting suffering. For every instance of pain we observe, there may be countless instances in which suffering is prevented, limited or redirected by divine intervention—unseen and unrecorded. Who knows how often God DOES intervene to prevent or limit suffering in our world but we aren’t aware of it because the potential suffering never eventuates. Our perspective is inherently limited. The absence of visible intervention in some cases does not infer the absence of intervention in all.
Suffering and the Cross
Finally, any Christian response to suffering must be centred on the cross. The Christian God is not distant or indifferent; He enters into human suffering. In the person of Christ, God experiences betrayal, injustice, physical agony, and death. The cross stands as the ultimate demonstration that God is both willing and able to confront suffering—not merely by alleviating it, but by transforming it. Through the resurrection, suffering and death are not the final word. As Revelation 21:4 promises, a day is coming when “He will wipe away every tear… and death shall be no more.”
Conclusion
The existence of suffering does not logically contradict the existence of God. Rather, when viewed through the lenses of free will, the Fall, divine purpose, and ultimate redemption, suffering can be understood as part of a larger, coherent framework. Christianity does not offer a simplistic answer to suffering—but it does offer a profound and hopeful one: that suffering is neither meaningless nor final, and that in Christ, it is ultimately overcome.