Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?
Some call it faith's knockout punch. The ultimate argument against God. The question that ends every defense of Christianity: If God is loving and all-powerful, why do children die of cancer? Why do tsunamis wipe out villages? Why do good people suffer? Today, we're discovering why this strongest argument against God might actually point us toward Him.
Welcome back to Word for Word. I'm Austin Duncan.
Look, I'm not going to pretend this is easy. This question—this haunting, heart-wrenching question about why God allows suffering—has stopped more people at the door of faith than perhaps any other. And here's the thing: it should. It should make us wrestle. It should make us think. Because if we can glibly answer "Why do children die of cancer?" or "Why do good people suffer?" with some neat theological formula, we've missed something profound about both God and humanity.
Christian philosopher William Lane Craig—and this is a guy who's dedicated his life to defending the faith—admits something striking: "The problem of evil is certainly the greatest obstacle to belief in the existence of God. When I ponder both the extent and depth of suffering in the world… I find it hard to believe that God exists." Think about that. One of Christianity's greatest defenders says he finds it hard to believe when he contemplates suffering. So if you're struggling with this question right now—if you've lain awake wondering where God is in your pain, or if you've watched someone you love suffer and questioned everything you thought you believed—you're not alone. You're in good company.
You're asking the right questions.
But here's what I want to explore with you today: What if this "ultimate objection" to God's existence actually ends up pointing us toward Him rather than away? What if, in wrestling with this question honestly, we discover something profound about both divine love and human freedom? Let’s get grounded in Scripture before we dive in. Romans 8:28 and 38-39 say this: "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... For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Notice what Paul doesn't say here. He doesn't say "all things are good." He says God works in all things for good. There's a massive difference. Paul's not denying the reality of evil and suffering. He's asserting that even in the midst of it—even in death, demonic opposition, present tragedy, and future uncertainty—God's love remains unbreakable, and He's actively working toward redemption.
That's our anchor point today. Not a quick fix. Not a Band-Aid. But an anchor.
Understanding Where Evil Comes From
So let's start at the beginning: If God is good and powerful, how did evil even get here?
Here's what Christianity teaches, and I think it's both beautiful and sobering: God gave us the most dangerous gift in the universe—the gift of choice.
C.S. Lewis, who was once an atheist before becoming one of Christianity's most beloved voices, explained it this way: "God created things which had free will... If a thing is free to be good it's also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having."
Think about it like this: Imagine I programmed a robot to say "I love you" every morning. Would that mean anything? Would that warm your heart? Of course not—because you'd know it had no choice. The robot's "love" would be as meaningful as my coffee maker brewing coffee. It's just following its programming.
Real love—the kind that matters, the kind that moves us to tears, the kind that makes us human—requires the freedom to choose. And here's the thing: the same freedom that makes love possible also makes hate possible. The same freedom that allows us to be heroically good also allows us to be horrifically evil.
As Lewis put it, "A world of automata—of creatures that worked like machines—would hardly be worth creating." God could have made us robots. He could have forced us to love Him, forced us to be good, forced us to live in perfect harmony. But that wouldn't be love. That would be programming.
So God took a risk. He created beings—angels first, then humans—with genuine freedom. And some of those beings chose rebellion over obedience. They chose self over others. They chose evil over good.
The Human Factor
Now, here's something we need to understand: A huge portion—maybe even most—of the suffering in our world is directly caused by human choices.
War. Murder. Abuse. Betrayal. Oppression. Neglect. Greed that leads to poverty. Drunk driving that kills families. The Holocaust. Slavery. Human trafficking. School shootings.
God doesn't will these evils. He doesn't sit in heaven orchestrating tragedies. These are the result of human beings misusing the gift of freedom. As one biblical scholar put it: "Human actions often exacerbate suffering. War, violence, injustices, and oppression are not divine acts; they are human deeds."
And before we get too comfortable pointing fingers at the obvious monsters of history, let's remember what Jesus said: "No one is good—except God alone" (Mark 10:18). The Bible teaches that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
Does that mean every person is as evil as possible? No. Does it mean we can't recognize real goodness in people? Of course not. But it means we're all morally compromised. We've all made choices—big or small—that have caused pain to others.
Some of our suffering is the direct consequence of our own poor choices. Some is the result of others' evil choices. But much of the pain in our world can be traced back to the same source: human beings abusing their freedom.
God allows this not because He enjoys it, but because forcing us to be good would eliminate the very thing that makes us human—our ability to choose.
When Nature Itself Seems Cruel
"Okay," you might say, "I get that humans cause a lot of suffering. But what about natural disasters? Earthquakes? Tsunamis? Cancer? Genetic diseases? A child born with a disability? These aren't caused by human choice."
This is where we need to understand what Christianity calls "the Fall."
When the first humans rebelled against God, it didn't just break the relationship between humanity and God. It fractured everything. Creation itself became disordered. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:20-22 that "the creation was subjected to frustration" and is now "in bondage to decay," groaning like a woman in labor pains.
Think of it like this: Imagine a finely tuned watch. Every gear perfectly calibrated. But then someone opens it up and shakes it. The gears don't break completely, but they're no longer in perfect harmony. Things start to wear down. The watch still functions, but not as perfectly as designed.
That's our world. God designed natural laws for good—water to sustain life, tectonic plates that recycle nutrients and build continents, viruses and bacteria (yes, many are beneficial), gravity, cellular reproduction. But in a fallen world, those same natural systems can produce suffering. Water drowns. Earthquakes destroy. Cells mutate into cancer. Bacteria cause disease.
This isn't God's original design. It's the consequence of living in a creation that's been knocked off-kilter by human rebellion.
The Cosmic Battle
There's one more piece to this puzzle, and it's one we often overlook in our modern skepticism: spiritual warfare.
The Bible makes it clear that there are intelligent spiritual beings—angels and demons—and that some of these beings chose rebellion. Satan, the devil, is described as "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31) and the Apostle John writes that "the whole world lies in the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19).
Now, this doesn't mean Satan is equal to God—he's not. He's a created being with limited power. But it does mean there's a genuine spiritual conflict happening. Evil isn't just about bad human choices; there's an active Enemy working to oppose God's purposes and harm God's people.
Look at the story of Job. A good man, a righteous man, suffers horrifically—and the book reveals it's because Satan was granted permission (within limits) to test him. While mysterious, it suggests that some suffering may involve spiritual attacks.
Here's what we know: God, in His sovereignty, has chosen for a time to permit other wills to operate in this universe—human wills and demonic wills. Not every tragedy is God's direct will. Much of it comes from the abuse of creaturely freedom, whether human or angelic.
But—and this is crucial—God remains sovereign. He sets limits. He works even evil for good. And He promises that evil's reign is temporary.
C.S. Lewis described it like this: We live in "enemy-occupied territory." There's a war on. And God is in the process of winning that war decisively.
How God Responds to Suffering
So if all this evil exists because God gave us freedom and because creation is fallen and because there's a cosmic battle—the natural question is: "Why doesn't God just end it all right now? Why does He let it continue?"
This is where we need to understand four crucial truths about how God responds to evil and suffering.
1. God Entered Our Suffering
First, and perhaps most importantly: God didn't stay distant from our pain. He stepped into it.
This is what makes Christianity unique among world religions. Our God has wounds.
Jesus Christ—God the Son—became human. He experienced hunger, exhaustion, grief, rejection, betrayal, physical torture, and execution. Isaiah called Him "a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3). The Gospel of John records the shortest verse in the Bible: "Jesus wept" (John 11:35).
Think about that. God cries.
Theologian John Stott wrote something that I find both stunning and comforting: "I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross... In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?... But He laid aside His immunity to pain. He entered our world of flesh and blood, tears and death. He suffered for us. Our sufferings become more manageable in the light of His... Not a god has wounds, but Thou alone."
Only Christianity claims that God has scars.
When we cry out in agony, "God, where are you?!", we're crying to One who can answer, "I'm right here with you. I know what it's like. I've felt it too."
But the cross is more than just God sympathizing with us. It's God doing something about evil. At the cross, Jesus took on the evil of the world—our sin and its consequences—to defeat it. Through His death and resurrection, evil's ultimate power was broken.
And here's something profound: The worst thing that ever happened—humanity killing the Son of God—resulted in the best thing that ever happened—the salvation of the world.
R.C. Sproul Jr. once said, with a bit of dark humor, "Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once...and He volunteered."
If God could bring the greatest good out of the worst evil, can He not also bring good out of our suffering?
2. God Uses Pain for Purpose
Now, I need to be really careful here because this can sound cold if not said right. But here's a truth we need to grapple with: God can bring good out of evil. Not that the evil itself is good—evil is always evil—but that God is a master at turning tragedies into triumphs.
Romans 5:3-4 says, "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." James 1:2-4 teaches that "trials test our faith and produce endurance and maturity."
I know, I know—when you're in the middle of suffering, the last thing you want to hear is "God's building your character." And honestly, if someone says that to you in the immediate aftermath of tragedy, they need to learn when to be quiet.
But given time—sometimes years—many people can look back and see how hardship shaped them in ways prosperity never could. How it taught them compassion. How it deepened their faith. How it showed them what really matters in life. How it broke their pride and taught them dependence on God.
There's a woman named Joni Eareckson Tada who became a quadriplegic as a teenager after a diving accident. She went through deep depression and despair, questioning everything about God. But decades later, she's become an international advocate for people with disabilities and a radiant witness of God's grace.
She often shares something a friend told her early on: "God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves."
Think about that. God hated what happened to her. He wasn't up in heaven gleefully planning her accident. But He permitted it—and then used it to accomplish something beautiful: a heart refined like gold, a ministry that's touched millions, a life that radiates Christ in a unique way.
The same pattern shows up throughout Scripture. Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely imprisoned, forgotten—only to rise to power and save thousands of lives. He told his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20).
Some of the greatest goods—courage, sacrificial love, forgiveness, compassion—can only exist in a world where evil and suffering are possible. You can't forgive someone who hasn't wronged you. You can't show courage if there's no danger. You can't demonstrate sacrificial love if there's no cost.
God never wastes pain. That doesn't make the pain good. But it means even our darkest moments can become part of a larger story of redemption.
3. God Promises Ultimate Justice
Here's something else we need to understand: This world, in its current broken state, is not the end of the story.
One of the biggest objections people raise is the lack of justice in this life. Evil people prosper. Innocent people suffer. Where's the fairness in that?
Christianity's answer is: Justice is coming, but not all of it happens now.
The Bible promises that one day, God 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" (Revelation 21:4).
Every wrong will be righted. Every victim will be vindicated. Every evil person who doesn't repent will face perfect justice. Hitler didn't get away with it. Stalin didn't escape. And neither will any unrepentant wrongdoer.
But beyond just ending suffering, God promises to redeem it—to somehow make it right in ways we can't fully comprehend yet. Romans 8:18 says, "Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
2 Corinthians 4:17 calls our "light and momentary troubles" (and Paul had been beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and left for dead—so he's not minimizing pain) the means of "achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
Think of it like a woman in labor. The pain is real. It's intense. It's overwhelming in the moment. But when she holds her newborn, the joy eclipses the pain. Jesus used this exact analogy (John 16:21-22).
For Christians, heaven isn't just a consolation prize. It's the restoration of all things. The resurrection of Jesus is the proof and firstfruit of this promise.
Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). And what a morning that will be.
4. God Walks With Us Through It
Finally, and perhaps most practically for right now: God doesn't just promise to fix things in the future. He offers His presence now.
One of God's names is Immanuel—"God with us." Jesus promised, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
The Bible is filled with assurances of God's comfort: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted" (Psalm 34:18). "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you" (Isaiah 43:2). "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me" (Psalm 23:4).
Notice that last one. God doesn't always snatch us out of the valley. Often, He walks through it with us. And His presence makes all the difference.
Countless believers have testified that in their lowest moments, they experienced an inexplicable sense of God's comfort. A peace that shouldn't exist given the circumstances. A strength that wasn't their own.
That's the Holy Spirit, called the Comforter, ministering to hurting hearts.
And often, God's presence is mediated through His people—the church, friends, family. When someone sits with you in silence, cries with you, prays for you, that's God showing up through them.
God meets us in our pain. He doesn't always remove it immediately, but He never leaves us alone in it.
Clearing Up Misconceptions
Before we move to application, I need to address some common misunderstandings about God and suffering, because these can actually make the problem worse.
Misconception #1: Good People Shouldn't Suffer
Here's the thing: The very question "Why do bad things happen to good people?" contains a problematic assumption.
Who are these "good people" we're talking about?
If we're honest, the Bible teaches that by God's perfect standard, none of us are truly good. "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10). "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Jesus Himself said, "No one is good—except God alone" (Mark 10:18).
Now, before you think I'm being harsh, hear me: This doesn't mean God wants anyone to suffer. It doesn't mean we deserve every bad thing that happens. It doesn't mean some people suffer more because they're worse sinners.
Jesus explicitly rejected that idea when His disciples assumed a man's blindness was due to his or his parents' sin. Jesus said, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned" (John 9:3).
But theologically, we need to understand that because of the Fall, all human life exists in a state where suffering is part of the package. The godliest people sometimes suffer the most. Look at Job. Look at Paul. Look at Jesus Himself—the only truly good person, and He suffered more than anyone.
Suffering is not distributed based on personal righteousness. Rain falls on the just and unjust alike (Matthew 5:45).
So we need to drop the idea that God "owes" us a pain-free life because we're "good people." None of us is earning that through our goodness.
Misconception #2: God is a Cosmic Puppet Master
Some people think God's sovereignty means He's directly causing every tragedy, pulling strings like a cosmic puppet master.
That's not the biblical picture.
Yes, God is sovereign. Yes, He's ultimately in control of history. But the Bible also teaches that God does not author evil (James 1:13) and that He does not tempt anyone to sin.
There's a profound interplay between God's sovereignty and human responsibility. God can permit things He hates for a time because He can bring a greater good from them. But that's very different from saying God forces someone to murder, or programs natural disasters to kill children.
Think of it like an author writing a story with free characters. The author allows characters to make evil choices in the narrative, but ultimately weaves it into a meaningful plot and ensures justice by the end. The characters are still responsible for their actions.
Similarly, God can be sovereign without eliminating human agency.
Lamentations 3:33 says beautifully, "He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone." God's heart is not to cause pain. When He allows pain, it's with a larger redemptive purpose, not a sadistic whim.
God's heart hurts with ours. He's not gleefully orchestrating tragedies. He's weeping with us while working all things toward ultimate good.
Misconception #3: Pain is Pointless
From a secular perspective, suffering really is meaningless—just bad luck in a random universe.
But Christianity strongly rejects that view. Every tear has potential purpose in God's economy. No experience, however painful, is wasted when placed in God's hands.
Now, does that mean we always know the specific reason for a particular trial? No. Often we don't—and that's okay. There's mystery in God's providence. "The secret things belong to the Lord" (Deuteronomy 29:29).
But we trust that God has a purpose, even when we can't see it. And sometimes, given time and healing, we do begin to see redemptive threads.
How many support groups are led by people who went through the same trauma they're now helping others navigate? How many ministries were born from someone's suffering? How much character growth, compassion, and wisdom comes through hardship?
God never wastes a hurt. He repurposes every pain for good in ways we often can't see until later.
Misconception #4: There are Simple Answers
Finally, beware of simplistic explanations.
Sometimes well-meaning Christians offer trite clichés to hurting people: "Everything happens for a reason." "God needed another angel." "You just need more faith."
While possibly containing kernels of truth, these can be deeply hurtful and even theologically wrong.
The book of Job is instructive here. Job's friends sat with him in silence for seven days—that was good. The trouble came when they started talking and offering simplistic explanations for his suffering. God later rebuked them for it (Job 42:7).
Sometimes the most honest answer is: "I don't fully understand, but I know God is good. Let's hold onto Him together."
We don't need to defend God by having all the answers. We need to point people to a God who is trustworthy even when we don't understand everything.
Finding Hope in the Midst of Suffering
So here we are. We've talked about where evil comes from, how God responds, and what misconceptions to avoid. Now the pressing question: How do we actually cope when suffering hits?
How do we find hope when we're in the valley?
1. Develop an Eternal Perspective
Paul could call his numerous sufferings "light and momentary" (2 Corinthians 4:17) not because they were objectively easy—he was beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, left for dead—but because he weighed them on the scales of eternity.
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed" (Romans 8:18).
Think of it this way: Imagine enduring a difficult year, but knowing at the end you'll receive complete healing, perfect joy, and reunion with every loved one. You'd get through that year with more hope because you know what's coming.
For Christians, what's coming is even greater: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard" what God has prepared (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Cultivate this perspective. Meditate on verses about heaven and Christ's return. Read Revelation 21-22 and let that vision fill you with longing. Remember that this world is not our home; we're just passing through.
This isn't escapism. It's hope grounded in God's promise. And it radically changes how we face hardship.
2. Embrace God's Present Comfort
While eternal perspective points us forward, God also offers comfort now.
Turn your anxiety into prayer (Philippians 4:6-7). Pour out your raw emotions to God—anger, confusion, sorrow. He can handle it. The Psalms are full of such honest prayers.
Read Scripture. Let biblical promises anchor your soul: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted" (Psalm 34:18). "Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
Worship, even when you don't feel like it. Paul and Silas sang hymns in prison at midnight. Worship shifts our focus from our circumstances to God's character.
In the presence of God, there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11)—not always happiness, but deep, sustaining joy even in hardship.
3. Cling to Future Promises
Remind yourself regularly of what God has promised:
Justice will be served. Every evil will be judged (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
Your body will be resurrected, free from pain and disability (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
You'll be reunited with loved ones in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
God will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4).
These aren't wishful thinking. They're certain because Christ's resurrection guarantees them.
Hope is an anchor for the soul (Hebrews 6:19). Drop that anchor deep into God's promises.
4. Lean on Community
God never meant for you to suffer alone.
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).
Reach out to trusted friends, family, or a support group. Be vulnerable about your struggle. Let people help you—practically and emotionally.
Community provides empathy, encouragement, practical help, and prayer cover. When you can't hope for yourself, others can hope for you.
Two are better than one, for if either falls, one can lift the other up (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Don't try to walk through this alone.
What You Can Do Right Now
Let’s get practical for a moment about how to apply all this—both when you're suffering and when someone you love is hurting.
If You're Suffering
First, give yourself permission to grieve. Being a Christian doesn't mean you have to fake being okay. Jesus wept. David lamented. Job mourned. It's okay to feel the pain.
Second, anchor yourself in truth. When emotions are all over the place, remind yourself of who God is. Read Psalm 42:11 where the psalmist preaches to his own soul: "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Put your hope in God."
Recite truths even if you don't feel them: "God loves me. Christ died for me. This is not the end of my story."
Third, take small steps of faith. Keep praying, even if it feels like your prayers hit the ceiling. Keep reading Scripture, even if it's hard to concentrate. Keep showing up to worship, even if you feel numb.
These are acts of trust that honor God and keep you connected.
Fourth, practice gratitude. Even in the worst circumstances, thank God for small mercies. This isn't toxic positivity; it's a faith discipline that opens your eyes to God's presence.
Finally, when you're ready, use your pain to help others. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says God "comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive."
Your experience uniquely equips you to help someone else going through something similar.
If Someone You Love is Suffering
First, just be present. Often, what a hurting person needs most is someone to sit with them. Mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15). Your presence says "You're not alone."
Second, choose your words carefully. Avoid platitudes like "Everything happens for a reason" or "They're in a better place" (even if true, timing matters). Instead, validate their feelings: "I can't imagine how painful this is for you."
Ask open-ended questions: "What's the hardest part right now?" But don't push if they don't want to talk.
Third, be patient. Supporting someone in grief is not a one-time event. Check in weeks and months later when everyone else has moved on. Grief has no fixed timeline.
Fourth, provide practical help. Make meals. Help with childcare. Run errands. Clean their house. Be specific in your offers rather than saying "Let me know if you need anything."
Fifth, gently point toward hope when appropriate. As time goes on and you sense openness, you can share comforting Scriptures or remind them of God's promises. But do it humbly, not in a preachy way.
Most importantly, pray for them and with them. Sometimes hearing someone else pray for you lifts a burden like nothing else can.
Going Full Circle
The question "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" doesn't have a simple answer. And anyone who tells you it does is either oversimplifying or hasn't thought deeply enough about it.
But here's what we can say with confidence:
God is good. His character is love, and nothing—not even the presence of evil—changes that. The cross proves it beyond any doubt.
God is sovereign. He's in control of history, even when it doesn't feel like it. He sets limits on evil and will ultimately judge it.
God is present. He hasn't abandoned us in our pain. He walks through the valley with us, offering comfort and strength.
God is working. Even now, even in the darkest circumstances, He's weaving all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
And God will win. Evil's days are numbered. Justice is coming. Redemption is guaranteed.
Now, does this answer every specific "why" about every particular tragedy? No. There's still mystery. There are still things we won't understand until we see Jesus face to face and He wipes away every tear.
But here's what C.S. Lewis realized after wrestling with this question as an atheist: In trying to disprove God based on evil and injustice, he realized his very concept of injustice required a higher moral standard—which ultimately pointed to God.
He wrote: "My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?"
The fact that we call anything evil actually testifies to the existence of an objective good—of God Himself.
In a purely material universe with no God, as Richard Dawkins admits, there would be "no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference." Our very outrage at suffering points beyond the material to a moral order—to a God who is good and who will ultimately right all wrongs.
So what do we do with this?
We trust. Not blindly, but based on the character of God revealed in Jesus Christ. We trust that our Father's heart is good even when His ways are mysterious.
We hope. Not in this world as it currently is, but in the world to come. We hold onto the promise that this is not the end of the story.
We love. We love God by trusting Him. We love others by bearing their burdens. We let our suffering produce compassion and character rather than bitterness.
And we wait. We wait for that day when every knee will bow, every tear will be wiped away, and everything sad will come untrue.
A Personal Word
If you're in a place of deep pain right now, I want you to know something: God sees you. He really does.
Psalm 56:8 says, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle." Not one tear is lost or forgotten by Him.
I can't promise you'll understand why in this life. I can't promise the pain will end tomorrow. I can't give you a formula that makes it all make sense.
But I can point you to a God who loves you so much that He died for you. A God who promises that weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. A God who specializes in bringing resurrection out of crucifixion.
Your pain matters to God. Your questions matter to God. You matter to God.
Don't give up on Him, because He will never give up on you. The presence of suffering is not the absence of God. In fact, He's often closest to us in our pain—weeping with us, holding us, carrying us even when we can't feel it.
There is a path forward—a path through the valley—and at the end, a table overflowing with goodness and mercy (Psalm 23).
Keep walking with the Shepherd. Hope has the final word.
Take heart. Trust Him. And let His love be your strength.
For our discussion this week, I want you to think about these questions:
How has suffering affected your faith journey? Has it pushed you away from God, or driven you deeper into relationship with Him?
What truths or promises of God help you most in difficult times? What verses do you cling to?
When you see someone else suffering, how do you typically respond? What might you do differently after today's discussion?
And here's something I want to leave you with—a quote from Joni Eareckson Tada that has helped so many: "God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves."
That doesn't make the pain good. But it means even our darkest moments can become part of a larger story of redemption.
Next week, we're going to tackle another tough question: "Is religion the root of evil?" We'll look at the historical challenges to faith and see how Christianity actually provides the solution to evil rather than causing it.
Until then, remember: You're not alone. God is with you, and so are we—your brothers and sisters in Christ. Keep walking. Keep trusting. Keep hoping.
The story isn't over yet.
