Part 1: A Personal Perspective - Why is there Evil and Suffering in My Life?
The question of evil and suffering is one that we all wrestle with in different ways. Some of us may be suffering personally or witnessing the suffering of someone close to us. This brings us to the very emotional question of how a good God could allow it. Others may be on a philosophical journey, trying to make sense of the world in light of the evil around us. This is more of an intellectual question of the compatibility of God’s goodness and the existence of evil. Whatever your reason for asking, I hope to point to the goodness of God, not just in spite of evil, but also in the face of it.
If you are asking this question, it is likely that you have particular situations of evil and suffering in mind. This is not merely a philosophical exercise, but it hits closer to home, affecting you and your loved ones. Well, in talking about particular situations, there is no all-encompassing answer.
The Story of Joseph - Good from Evil
Sometimes we might be able to see the greater purpose in suffering, as in the case of Joseph (Genesis 37-50). Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused of attempted rape by his master’s wife, and sent to prison; all the while serving God faithfully. This certainly looks like a case of bad things happening to a good person, so why would God allow it? Well, during his time in his master’s house and in prison, he gained experience in being over other servants and prisoners, respectively. It is this experience that served him well when the Egyptian pharaoh himself not only released Joseph from prison, but made him the highest official next to the pharaoh in Egypt. His appointment led to Egypt and the surrounding nations surviving a severe famine, so much so that Joseph himself said that God had sent him to Egypt to preserve life (Genesis 45:5, 50:20).
The Story of Job - When the Righteous Suffer
That being said, sometimes we don’t clearly see the reasons for suffering, as in the case of Job (Job 1-42). Like Joseph, Job served God faithfully, but suffered personal illness, loss of his wealth, and the deaths of those close to him. Though the beginning of the book indicates that these events were orchestrated by Satan, we are not told why God allows them, and Job is not even told that it was Satan’s initiative.
The Story of Jesus - Suffering for Us
Though we don’t always know the reason for any given example of suffering, the ultimate example of unjust suffering is instructive. Jesus, the Son of God, lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22), so if there was anyone who didn’t deserve to suffer, it would be Him. In spite of this, He chose to suffer and die to serve God’s greater purpose, and because of that suffering and death, He could offer eternal life to all who believe in Him (Mark 14:36; John 10:10-11, 18, 27-29; 1 Peter 2:21-25). The Bible says that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory to come (Romans 8:18), and that in the time to come, there will be no more evil and suffering (Revelation 21:3-4, 27).
Though we may not have all the answers, we have enough to trust that God is good and that whatever suffering we have to endure in our brief life on this earth, it pales in comparison to eternal life with God in the new heaven and earth. I encourage you to take some time to read and reflect on the scriptures and stories I have mentioned.
