Why Does God Permit Suffering and Evil?
Pastor Joseph Clark — August 11, 2026
“Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man?
— Friedrich Nietzsche
“All thinking men are atheists.”
— Ernest Hemingway
“There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point…”
— Richard Dawkins
One of the most frequently asked questions of pastors is this: If God is all-powerful, merciful, and loving, why does He permit so much suffering and evil? If God is good, why doesn't He simply stop it?
It is an important question, and Christians should not be afraid to confront it.
My answer may not satisfy everyone, because Christianity does not teach that we are entitled to understand every purpose of God. Scripture says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God” (Deuteronomy 29:29). We know what God has revealed; we do not know everything He has withheld.
We must also distinguish between what God causes and what God permits. God is sovereign over His creation, but Scripture does not teach that God is the author of sin. James tells us:
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
— James 1:13
So why does God permit suffering?
The answer begins with this: Suffering has a purpose within God's redemptive plan.
That does not mean that suffering itself is good. Evil is evil. Death is an enemy. Sin is rebellion against God. Scripture never asks us to call evil good or pretend that tragedy does not hurt.
Rather, Christianity teaches something far more profound:
God is so sovereign that He can take even suffering, tragedy, injustice, and evil and use them to accomplish His purposes.
The greatest example is the cross of Jesus Christ.
Human beings intended the crucifixion for evil. Yet God used the cross to accomplish the redemption of sinners.
Peter declared:
“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
— Acts 2:23
The cross therefore gives us the foundation for understanding suffering. God does not need evil to be good, but He can sovereignly use what is evil to accomplish what is good.
1. God can use suffering for an eternal purpose.
Paul writes:
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:17
Paul does not say that suffering is pleasant or insignificant. He calls his troubles “light and momentary” only when compared with the immeasurable weight of eternal glory.
Cancer, grief, betrayal, violence, injustice, poverty, persecution, and death are very real. Christianity never asks us to pretend otherwise.
But Scripture teaches that God can take even terrible circumstances and use them for purposes that reach beyond this temporary life.
That is part of God's redemptive plan.
God is concerned not merely with making our earthly lives comfortable. He is preparing us for eternity.
Think of the thickness of a Bible. If that represented eternity, our earthly existence and worldly suffering is so short and fleeting, it would be like a single page.
That does not make suffering pleasant.
It puts suffering into an eternal perspective.
2. Suffering exposes the reality and consequences of sin.
The Bible does not present this world as the paradise God originally intended. Sin entered God's creation through human rebellion, and its consequences spread throughout humanity.
Romans 5:12 says:
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”
We also contribute to suffering ourselves. Human greed, hatred, selfishness, violence, lust, pride, corruption, and injustice have consequences.
Scripture describes Satan as the ruler of this present fallen order. “The whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), while Paul calls Satan “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Yet Satan is not God's equal. Satan operates only within the limits God permits.
The book of Job makes this remarkably clear.
Job suffered terribly, yet God remained sovereign. Job did not understand the reason for his suffering, but he ultimately came to a deeper knowledge of God. In the middle of his suffering, he declared:
“I know that my redeemer lives.”
— Job 19:25
We may never know whether a particular hardship is a test, a consequence of human sin, an attack of the enemy, or simply the result of living in a fallen world.
But we do know this:
God can redeem it.
3. God can use suffering to bring people to repentance.
Consider the words of Jesus in Luke 13. Some people had been killed by Pilate, and others had died when a tower collapsed. Jesus specifically rejected the idea that these people were necessarily worse sinners than everyone else.
Then He said:
“But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
— Luke 13:3
Jesus did not use tragedy to give a philosophical explanation. He used it to confront humanity with the reality of eternity.
Suffering reminds us that this world is temporary. Death is real. Eternity is real. Judgment is real. Salvation is real.
Sometimes suffering causes a person to ask questions that prosperity never would:
Where is God? What is the meaning of life? What happens when I die? Am I ready to meet my Creator?
And ultimately, those questions can lead us to Jesus Christ.
God can use suffering as an instrument that turns a person's heart toward Him.
4. Free will has consequences.
God created human beings capable of genuine love, obedience, rebellion, and choice.
Love without choice is meaningless.
God could have created humanity like robots programmed to say, “I love You,” every hour. But programmed affection is not love.
I can program my phone to tell me it loves me every hour. That does not compare with hearing my child freely say, “Dad, I love you.”
God gave humanity meaningful freedom. But meaningful freedom necessarily carries consequences.
If God prevented every sinful action before it happened, human freedom would cease to have meaningful consequences.
We cannot simultaneously demand genuine human freedom and demand that God prevent every consequence of human choices.
Much of the suffering in this world is the direct or indirect consequence of human sin.
5. Suffering can become part of our sanctification.
The Christian life was never promised to be painless.
Peter writes:
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
— 1 Peter 5:10
Paul says:
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
Jesus Himself said:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— John 16:33
Christianity does not promise escape from every hardship. It promises that Christ will be with us through it.
We are called to carry our cross, follow Christ, persevere under trial, and allow God to shape us through circumstances we cannot control.
James writes:
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
— James 1:12
Suffering can therefore become part of God's sanctifying work in us.
It can teach perseverance.
It can expose what is in our hearts.
It can strip away pride.
It can deepen our dependence upon God.
It can produce compassion for others who suffer.
And it can make us long more deeply for the day when Christ will finally make all things new.
6. Without suffering, we would have little understanding of the seriousness of eternity.
This is a difficult point, but it must be considered.
If humanity lived forever in a world without death, pain, consequence, or hardship, we could easily become convinced that this temporary world was all that mattered.
But Christianity teaches that this life is not the end.
There is salvation and there is judgment. There is heaven and there is hell. There is eternal life and eternal separation from God.
The suffering and brokenness of this world remind us that something is profoundly wrong with creation—and that we need redemption.
The Gospel announces that God has not abandoned us to that brokenness.
He entered it.
7. God did not merely watch suffering from heaven—He entered our suffering through Jesus Christ.
This may be the most important answer of all.
God did not respond to human suffering by remaining distant from it.
Jesus Christ suffered.
He was betrayed, falsely accused, mocked, beaten, humiliated, crucified, and killed. He experienced rejection, physical agony, injustice, and death.
And then He rose again.
The cross demonstrates that God can bring the greatest good out of the greatest evil.
The crucifixion was humanity's greatest act of evil against the Son of God, yet God used it as the means of redemption.
That is the heart of the Gospel.
God redeems.
He redeems sinners.
He redeems broken lives.
He redeems suffering.
He redeems tragedy.
And ultimately, He will redeem creation itself.
The Christian therefore does not worship a God who says, “I have no idea what suffering feels like.”
We worship a Savior who can say, “I have been there.”
I Understand That Suffering Hurts
I do not write this as someone who has never suffered.
I have experienced betrayal, divorce, sin, self-loathing, false accusations, slander, threats, persecution for my faith, serious family crises, illness among people I love, and the tragic deaths of friends. Others have suffered far more than I have. I have not experienced every form of grief, and I would never pretend otherwise.
I do not claim to be an expert on suffering.
But I know the One who is.
And the answer I offer is not ultimately my own philosophy. It is the testimony of Scripture.
For those who say, “I don't expect special treatment. I simply want to live a good life without hurting anyone or being hurt myself,” my answer is this:
Stay faithful. Walk with Christ. Keep going.
You may not understand everything God is doing. Job didn't. Joseph didn't. The disciples didn't understand the cross.
But God's purposes were greater than what they could see.
From Crisis to Opportunity
Suffering can become a defining moment.
The question is not always, “Why did this happen to me?”
Sometimes the better question is:
“Lord, what will You do with what has happened to me?”
We cannot control everything that happens to us. But, by the grace of God, we can choose how we respond.
We can become bitter—or we can become faithful.
We can turn away from God—or we can run toward Him.
We can allow suffering to destroy us—or we can allow God to use it to deepen our faith, strengthen our character, increase our compassion, and sanctify our lives.
That is why suffering can become an opportunity.
Not because suffering itself is good.
But because God is good, and God can bring good out of what is not good.
Romans 8:28 gives us this extraordinary promise:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Notice that Scripture does not say that all things are good.
It says God works in all things for good.
That distinction matters.
The Christian response to suffering is therefore not denial, despair, or rebellion. It is faith.
We remain steadfast. We help those who are suffering. We practice mercy. We refuse to create unnecessary suffering for others. We forgive. We pray. We persevere.
And above all, we look to Christ.
He suffered.
He died.
He rose again.
And because He lives, suffering and death do not have the final word.
Why, Then, Does God Permit Suffering and Evil?
1. God can use suffering for an eternal purpose.
2. Suffering exposes the reality and consequences of sin.
3. God can use suffering to bring people to repentance and salvation.
4. Human freedom carries real consequences.
5. Suffering can become part of our sanctification.
6. Suffering reminds us that this life is temporary and eternity is real.
7. God entered our suffering through Jesus Christ and ultimately defeated sin and death through His cross and resurrection.
There is one truth that holds all seven points together:
Suffering has a purpose in God's redemptive plan.
We may not understand every reason God permits a particular tragedy. We should never presume to know God's specific purpose in another person's suffering.
But we can know that suffering is not beyond His sovereignty.
The cross proves it.
The empty tomb proves it.
And the promise of Scripture proves that one day God will finally and completely deal with everything that causes suffering.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”
— Revelation 21:4
Until that day, we remain faithful.
We suffer with hope.
We serve with compassion.
We persevere with courage.
And we keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus Christ—the One who suffered for us, died for us, rose again for us, and promises that one day “the former things have passed away.”
Christ wins.
And in Christ, suffering is not the end of the story.
Why Does God Permit Suffering and Evil?
Pastor Joseph Clark — August 11, 2026
“Is man merely a mistake of God's? Or God merely a mistake of man?
— Friedrich Nietzsche
“All thinking men are atheists.”
— Ernest Hemingway
“There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point…”
— Richard Dawkins
One of the most frequently asked questions of pastors is this: If God is all-powerful, merciful, and loving, why does He permit so much suffering and evil? If God is good, why doesn't He simply stop it?
It is an important question, and Christians should not be afraid to confront it.
My answer may not satisfy everyone, because Christianity does not teach that we are entitled to understand every purpose of God. Scripture says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God” (Deuteronomy 29:29). We know what God has revealed; we do not know everything He has withheld.
We must also distinguish between what God causes and what God permits. God is sovereign over His creation, but Scripture does not teach that God is the author of sin. James tells us:
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
— James 1:13
So why does God permit suffering?
The answer begins with this: Suffering has a purpose within God's redemptive plan.
That does not mean that suffering itself is good. Evil is evil. Death is an enemy. Sin is rebellion against God. Scripture never asks us to call evil good or pretend that tragedy does not hurt.
Rather, Christianity teaches something far more profound:
God is so sovereign that He can take even suffering, tragedy, injustice, and evil and use them to accomplish His purposes.
The greatest example is the cross of Jesus Christ.
Human beings intended the crucifixion for evil. Yet God used the cross to accomplish the redemption of sinners.
Peter declared:
“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
— Acts 2:23
The cross therefore gives us the foundation for understanding suffering. God does not need evil to be good, but He can sovereignly use what is evil to accomplish what is good.
1. God can use suffering for an eternal purpose.
Paul writes:
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:17
Paul does not say that suffering is pleasant or insignificant. He calls his troubles “light and momentary” only when compared with the immeasurable weight of eternal glory.
Cancer, grief, betrayal, violence, injustice, poverty, persecution, and death are very real. Christianity never asks us to pretend otherwise.
But Scripture teaches that God can take even terrible circumstances and use them for purposes that reach beyond this temporary life.
That is part of God's redemptive plan.
God is concerned not merely with making our earthly lives comfortable. He is preparing us for eternity.
Think of the thickness of a Bible. If that represented eternity, our earthly existence and worldly suffering is so short and fleeting, it would be like a single page.
That does not make suffering pleasant.
It puts suffering into an eternal perspective.
2. Suffering exposes the reality and consequences of sin.
The Bible does not present this world as the paradise God originally intended. Sin entered God's creation through human rebellion, and its consequences spread throughout humanity.
Romans 5:12 says:
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”
We also contribute to suffering ourselves. Human greed, hatred, selfishness, violence, lust, pride, corruption, and injustice have consequences.
Scripture describes Satan as the ruler of this present fallen order. “The whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), while Paul calls Satan “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Yet Satan is not God's equal. Satan operates only within the limits God permits.
The book of Job makes this remarkably clear.
Job suffered terribly, yet God remained sovereign. Job did not understand the reason for his suffering, but he ultimately came to a deeper knowledge of God. In the middle of his suffering, he declared:
“I know that my redeemer lives.”
— Job 19:25
We may never know whether a particular hardship is a test, a consequence of human sin, an attack of the enemy, or simply the result of living in a fallen world.
But we do know this:
God can redeem it.
3. God can use suffering to bring people to repentance.
Consider the words of Jesus in Luke 13. Some people had been killed by Pilate, and others had died when a tower collapsed. Jesus specifically rejected the idea that these people were necessarily worse sinners than everyone else.
Then He said:
“But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
— Luke 13:3
Jesus did not use tragedy to give a philosophical explanation. He used it to confront humanity with the reality of eternity.
Suffering reminds us that this world is temporary. Death is real. Eternity is real. Judgment is real. Salvation is real.
Sometimes suffering causes a person to ask questions that prosperity never would:
Where is God? What is the meaning of life? What happens when I die? Am I ready to meet my Creator?
And ultimately, those questions can lead us to Jesus Christ.
God can use suffering as an instrument that turns a person's heart toward Him.
4. Free will has consequences.
God created human beings capable of genuine love, obedience, rebellion, and choice.
Love without choice is meaningless.
God could have created humanity like robots programmed to say, “I love You,” every hour. But programmed affection is not love.
I can program my phone to tell me it loves me every hour. That does not compare with hearing my child freely say, “Dad, I love you.”
God gave humanity meaningful freedom. But meaningful freedom necessarily carries consequences.
If God prevented every sinful action before it happened, human freedom would cease to have meaningful consequences.
We cannot simultaneously demand genuine human freedom and demand that God prevent every consequence of human choices.
Much of the suffering in this world is the direct or indirect consequence of human sin.
5. Suffering can become part of our sanctification.
The Christian life was never promised to be painless.
Peter writes:
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
— 1 Peter 5:10
Paul says:
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
Jesus Himself said:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— John 16:33
Christianity does not promise escape from every hardship. It promises that Christ will be with us through it.
We are called to carry our cross, follow Christ, persevere under trial, and allow God to shape us through circumstances we cannot control.
James writes:
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
— James 1:12
Suffering can therefore become part of God's sanctifying work in us.
It can teach perseverance.
It can expose what is in our hearts.
It can strip away pride.
It can deepen our dependence upon God.
It can produce compassion for others who suffer.
And it can make us long more deeply for the day when Christ will finally make all things new.
6. Without suffering, we would have little understanding of the seriousness of eternity.
This is a difficult point, but it must be considered.
If humanity lived forever in a world without death, pain, consequence, or hardship, we could easily become convinced that this temporary world was all that mattered.
But Christianity teaches that this life is not the end.
There is salvation and there is judgment. There is heaven and there is hell. There is eternal life and eternal separation from God.
The suffering and brokenness of this world remind us that something is profoundly wrong with creation—and that we need redemption.
The Gospel announces that God has not abandoned us to that brokenness.
He entered it.
7. God did not merely watch suffering from heaven—He entered our suffering through Jesus Christ.
This may be the most important answer of all.
God did not respond to human suffering by remaining distant from it.
Jesus Christ suffered.
He was betrayed, falsely accused, mocked, beaten, humiliated, crucified, and killed. He experienced rejection, physical agony, injustice, and death.
And then He rose again.
The cross demonstrates that God can bring the greatest good out of the greatest evil.
The crucifixion was humanity's greatest act of evil against the Son of God, yet God used it as the means of redemption.
That is the heart of the Gospel.
God redeems.
He redeems sinners.
He redeems broken lives.
He redeems suffering.
He redeems tragedy.
And ultimately, He will redeem creation itself.
The Christian therefore does not worship a God who says, “I have no idea what suffering feels like.”
We worship a Savior who can say, “I have been there.”
I Understand That Suffering Hurts
I do not write this as someone who has never suffered.
I have experienced betrayal, divorce, sin, self-loathing, false accusations, slander, threats, persecution for my faith, serious family crises, illness among people I love, and the tragic deaths of friends. Others have suffered far more than I have. I have not experienced every form of grief, and I would never pretend otherwise.
I do not claim to be an expert on suffering.
But I know the One who is.
And the answer I offer is not ultimately my own philosophy. It is the testimony of Scripture.
For those who say, “I don't expect special treatment. I simply want to live a good life without hurting anyone or being hurt myself,” my answer is this:
Stay faithful. Walk with Christ. Keep going.
You may not understand everything God is doing. Job didn't. Joseph didn't. The disciples didn't understand the cross.
But God's purposes were greater than what they could see.
From Crisis to Opportunity
Suffering can become a defining moment.
The question is not always, “Why did this happen to me?”
Sometimes the better question is:
“Lord, what will You do with what has happened to me?”
We cannot control everything that happens to us. But, by the grace of God, we can choose how we respond.
We can become bitter—or we can become faithful.
We can turn away from God—or we can run toward Him.
We can allow suffering to destroy us—or we can allow God to use it to deepen our faith, strengthen our character, increase our compassion, and sanctify our lives.
That is why suffering can become an opportunity.
Not because suffering itself is good.
But because God is good, and God can bring good out of what is not good.
Romans 8:28 gives us this extraordinary promise:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Notice that Scripture does not say that all things are good.
It says God works in all things for good.
That distinction matters.
The Christian response to suffering is therefore not denial, despair, or rebellion. It is faith.
We remain steadfast. We help those who are suffering. We practice mercy. We refuse to create unnecessary suffering for others. We forgive. We pray. We persevere.
And above all, we look to Christ.
He suffered.
He died.
He rose again.
And because He lives, suffering and death do not have the final word.
Why, Then, Does God Permit Suffering and Evil?
1. God can use suffering for an eternal purpose.
2. Suffering exposes the reality and consequences of sin.
3. God can use suffering to bring people to repentance and salvation.
4. Human freedom carries real consequences.
5. Suffering can become part of our sanctification.
6. Suffering reminds us that this life is temporary and eternity is real.
7. God entered our suffering through Jesus Christ and ultimately defeated sin and death through His cross and resurrection.
There is one truth that holds all seven points together:
Suffering has a purpose in God's redemptive plan.
We may not understand every reason God permits a particular tragedy. We should never presume to know God's specific purpose in another person's suffering.
But we can know that suffering is not beyond His sovereignty.
The cross proves it.
The empty tomb proves it.
And the promise of Scripture proves that one day God will finally and completely deal with everything that causes suffering.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”
— Revelation 21:4
Until that day, we remain faithful.
We suffer with hope.
We serve with compassion.
We persevere with courage.
And we keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus Christ—the One who suffered for us, died for us, rose again for us, and promises that one day “the former things have passed away.”
Christ wins.
And in Christ, suffering is not the end of the story.
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