“Why would a ‘good’ God allow suffering?”

I’ve been asked this question quite a few times over the last 6 months. With senseless terrorist attacks sinking hooks of fear deep into many, the overall state of the world economy, and the general anxiety over the future of our nation, it’s easy to see why this question would be something mulled over at times. But sometimes the question is directed at moments much more localized, toward personal hardships and private pain.

So, why would a good God allow suffering?

Epicurus tackled this idea many years ago in ancient Greece:

“Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot;
Or He can, but does not want to;
Or He cannot and does not want to.
If He wants to, but cannot, He is impotent.
If He can, but does not want to, He is wicked.
But if God both can and wants to abolish evil,
Then how come evil is in the world?”

(By the way, Epicurus’ name is attached to a certain school of thought: Epicureanism. Simply stated, for an Epicurean, pain and pleasure were indicators of what was bad and good. They believed that entire point of philosophy was to live a life that was happy and peaceful and without any fear or discomfort.)

So, how do I answer when someone asks that question?

Though I may be oversimplifying for the sake of space, some use suffering as a "reason" to disbelieve in God, while others wonder what God is doing when He allows for suffering.

First, I've been told by some, “Suffering proves there is no God.”

My response is always the same: “Why, what’s wrong with suffering?”

Usually the person isn’t very happy with that question, and I get a passionate response along the lines of: “Suffering is bad, unfair, and wrong. A good God wouldn’t allow it!”

And there’s the problem with that thinking. If I think suffering is bad, unfair, wrong, unjust, cruel, or any other thing that carries with it a value judgment, and I also hold to the assertion that God does not exist, then from where does that idea of bad, unfair, wrong, unjust or cruel arise? (And where do we get the idea of a "good" God?)

If there’s no God, and if truth is determined only by the culture in which we live, then there are no absolutes that transcend culture and time. There’s no objective standard. If that’s the case, then morality is relative too…and the notion of right and wrong…and good and bad…Quite simply, without a God, there’s no real "fair" or "unfair."

Let me give you an example…I had an Anthropology professor in college who, in the first half of a lesson, taught how life and culture are subject to evolutionary processes, and in the next portion of the lesson she talked about how everyone should have equal rights, no matter their status, education, IQ, physical traits, or abilities. I had to wonder why that might be the case. Those two ideas can’t coexist (at least not in any sensible way). If evolution is true, then there is no fair and unfair; one must use whatever means necessary to survive. So get faster and more fit because there’s no fair and unfair, only “good for me” and “too bad for you.”

Yet we know that there is a thing called unfairness…and cruelty... and suffering.

The recognition of suffering points to a standard, something perfect…God.

And it underlines an important point: Things are not as they should be…

And then some believe in God, but still struggle with the reality of suffering in the world. I keep returning to the big idea that has helped me most through times of suffering: Suffering points toward a restoration.

But what of the end of suffering then? What’s the point? Does it end? And what do I mean by a restoration?

Let's see...

Vance Havner once said, “Adam and Eve bit the apple and our teeth still ache.”

We’re born into a sinful world. We live in a sinful world with all the things that sin brings with it. But there’s more to come…and better things…

Matt. 19:28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Do you see what Jesus is saying? He says that He is the One who will set all things right, make all things over, and bring His justice upon the earth. He’s the way. He will restore creation…

Is. 65:17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

Acts 3:19-21 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

II Pet. 3:11-13 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Rev. 21:1-5 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 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."
Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

But He not only will restore the physical world, but He restores us. He is the resurrection. He brings the dead to life…He is the new birth.

II Cor. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

II Cor. 5:1-5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Our mortality, and all the suffering with it, will be “swallowed up by life” that Christ offers.

So what do we make of it all…that the universe and all who are His will be restored to a perfect state, yet we experience suffering here and now?

Rom. 8:18-25 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

We wait for Him to return and restore us…A word from Mr. Lewis:

“They say of some temporal suffering, ‘No future bliss can make up for it,’ not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory.” --C. S. Lewis

We groan, yes, but we point to Christ. The world is sinful, we are born into sin, and each and every one of us is offered an opportunity for repentance. He can restore us, and then use us to bring the message of the hope found in Him to the world that needs restoration by His power.

The people of former rebellion can be the people of future restoration by sharing the hope that is within us with a world in need of restoration for the glory of God. We are not perfect, so we should be able to easily share and relate to those who do not know God, yet being in a struggle with the flesh, we long greatly for the redemption offered by Christ.

So, when it comes to suffering and restoration, I always think of my childhood…

When I was small, sometimes I would get a cut or a scratch or skin my knee. The result would be a band-aid…and then a popsicle or a bit of candy to placate the tears. A consolation for the pain I endured; “Poor little guy. Here, have something sweet.”

I often thought of Heaven as being that: a long struggle here, a consolation offered on the “other side,” as it were. God leans down and says, “Poor little one, you’ve been through so much, here, have something that will take your mind off that.”

But that’s not restoration…

The future restoration of which the Bible speaks may be more akin to not a bandage and a confection, but a brand-new knee, with new skin, that never ages, or experiences hurt, and that is completely beyond any kind of skin that anyone could ever image…perfect. But not just a knee, but a new body and a total being without the desire to sin (try to wrap your brain about that).

Heaven is not a popsicle…it’s a new knee. That’s our hope.

John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”