07/14/2026
I don’t know why God allows some suffering that He could stop. I wish I did. The Bible doesn’t answer every ‘why,’ but it does show us who God is. He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). He grieves with those who grieve. Jesus Himself wept at the death of His friend Lazarus, even knowing He would raise him. That tells me God is not indifferent to our pain.
We live in a world that is broken by sin, where disease, accidents, and death are realities that were never part of God’s original design. Sometimes God heals, and sometimes He gives the strength to endure what seems impossible. I don’t believe He asks us to pretend the pain isn’t real. He invites us to bring our questions, our anger, and our tears to Him.
One day, God promises to make all things new and wipe away every tear. Until then, we often have to trust His character when we cannot understand His ways. That isn’t easy, especially when the hurt is so deep.
The “why” is one of the oldest and hardest questions people have asked. It’s a question found throughout the Bible itself. People like Job, David, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and even Jesus cried out asking why God seemed silent in the face of overwhelming suffering.
There isn’t a single answer that removes the pain, but Scripture offers several perspectives.
First, the Bible does not teach that believers will never face more than they can handle. A common saying comes from a misunderstanding of 1 Corinthians 10:13, which is about temptation, not suffering. In fact, Paul wrote that he was “under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure” (2 Corinthians 1:8). He admitted there were times he felt completely overwhelmed.
Second, we live in a world that has been affected by sin and brokenness. Disease, death, natural disasters, and evil were never God’s original design. The Bible teaches that creation itself is “groaning” as it waits for redemption (Romans 8:22-23). Many of the tragedies we experience are the result of living in a fallen world rather than God’s desire for us.
Third, God often intervenes differently than we hope. Sometimes He heals. Sometimes He changes circumstances. Sometimes He gives people the strength to endure what they never imagined they could survive. Paul pleaded three times for God to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” but God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). That wasn’t the answer Paul wanted, but it was the answer he received.
Fourth, Christianity teaches that God is not distant from suffering. Jesus entered it Himself. He experienced betrayal, grief, physical pain, and death. When Lazarus died, even though Jesus knew He would raise him, He still wept. That tells us God is not indifferent to human pain.
Finally, the Bible points to a future hope. Revelation promises a day when God will wipe away every tear, and there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. That future doesn’t erase today’s grief, but it says suffering will not have the final word.
Have mustard seed faith and put all your trust in Jesus.
