Is God responsible for all suffering?

We’ve all, at some point in our life, suffered or seen someone else suffering (maybe you are suffering right now). Today, the entire world seems to be undergoing an accelerated increase in the suffering we can see around us. It’s a depressing reality that our world and the people who share it, often suffer for no reason; it’s unjust and can rightly make someone question the integrity of God and His words in the Bible.

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. That scripture couldn’t be more true for many people right now. Disease, wars, famine, depression, the loss of loved ones, and other trials, can have a massively negative impact on our daily lives.

If God does really exist, why has He, for thousands of years until now, permitted this horrible situation? That is a question often asked by many who are preached to; many believers question this too. A question often asked is this: Who wants to believe in, and worship, a God who can allow such terrible things to happen, especially when children are involved?

Before we answer this question, we must first look at what went wrong to see where these problems originate; and to learn if it really is God who is responsible for the suffering, or if it’s indeed the fault of someone else.

God created the first humans: Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Our Creator is a loving God, not wanting anyone to suffer. Before placing the first two humans on earth, He had designed and created a beautiful home for them (and for everyone that would follow), in which they could live for eternity (see our article on why scientists say we should never die). God named the paradise He created Eden. It was a beautiful place where both Adam and Eve could enjoy an environment that we can only dream about in our completely different world today. There was no pollution of any kind, the food was plentiful (and likely tasted amazing compared to what we eat today); there was nothing wrong in any aspect of life in Eden. Everything was perfect, and until Satan tempted Eve by placing doubt about God’s guidance in her mind; in turn she placed doubt into the mind of her husband, Adam. If you read the entire account in Genesis Chapter 3, it’s clear that from that point on, nothing would be the same again for the entire human race.

It was when Adam and Eve sinned that they both inherited death: Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—). From that point on they would age and later die. Their chance to live forever was gone, all because they had been fooled by Satan. It is him that has caused, and still causes today, all suffering.

Surely God can easily destroy Satan in the blink of an eye? Yes, that is true, God can do anything, except lie: Hebrews 6:18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. For now God has allowed Satan to rule for a reason. When the time is right, He will step in and remove Satan. When He does this, afterwards, all those who are on His side will live forever in a paradise. This will become our new home, a place were nobody will ever suffer again, and they will live forever in peace, reunited with loved ones they have lost in our present system: Revelation 21:4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” This is a promise from God, and as already mentioned in this article, He cannot lie.

Some might argue that Revelation 21:4 is a long way off, and that God has a lot to answer for in the meantime. Well, that is a good argument and it’s not surprising many would think this way. Remember though, it was Satan who tricked the first two humans ever to walk on earth; both were perfect, and likely each one had an extremely high IQ.

When Satan caused sin to enter into the world, God promised a ransom sacrifice to pay the debt of our sinful nature; his promise was to send his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. For now, what we need to understand is that from the point of the ‘fall’ in Eden (the time from when Adam and Eve sinned), God has stood back and allowed humans to rule themselves; under the influence of Satan.

He has stood aside and allowed Satan to rule (for a short time) to prove that without God and his Son as our exclusive rulers, there is no way humans can ever manage to direct their lives alone: Jeremiah 10:23 O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. If we can’t even direct our own steps without God, then how can we ever expect to live in a world controlled by His enemy, Satan.

We are imperfect, tempted by Satan daily, and have been given free will to make good or bad decisions. God would never cause the suffering we see around us, and can experience: James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

God does say that for humans the suffering is only temporary and light when we realise what He has promised later on: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

In the near future, when God returns, every knee shall bow. After that time humans will no longer have the world governments that Satan is manipulating. Instead, we will have God and His son ruling the entire world, and Their Kingdom (Government), will never be removed from power and will exist forever. When that Kingdom comes, Satan won’t have any power to cause the suffering we see today.

For those who live in that future, they will enjoy paradise conditions similar (maybe even better) to those enjoyed in Eden by the first human male and female. They will never get old and die, and death, described in the scriptures as the last enemy will be destroyed: 1st Corinthians 15: 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. In our new world there will be no more wars, disease, famines, and all other types of suffering we see today: Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

The promise of such wonderful things that lie ahead for those who side with God should surely make anyone want to know more about His words in the Bible. In our present world system, we have a book that contains all the answers to life; studying the scriptures can bring peace and comfort, as well as a hope for the future.

If you’d like to know more about a Bible study, feel welcome to get in touch.

mark@truthministry.co.uk