Does God really allow suffering?

A compassionate look at pain, healing, and God’s heart

There are moments in life that leave us speechless—when we lose someone we love, when illness lingers with no clear cause, or when tragedy hits without warning. In those moments, we often find ourselves asking the deeper questions: Where is God in this? Why would He let this happen? Is He punishing me? Or the one we hear most often: If God is good, why is there so much suffering?

It’s a fair question. In fact, it’s one many sincere believers and curious seekers have wrestled with. But sometimes that question comes with a quiet assumption underneath it—that maybe God is behind our pain. That maybe He’s allowing or even causing it as part of some mysterious plan. And that assumption can lead us further from peace, rather than toward it.

But is that really what the Bible teaches?

God is not the author of pain

Scripture describes God in terms of light, goodness, and perfect love. There is no hint of darkness in Him—no cruelty, no hidden agenda.

“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” —1 John 1:5
“Every good and perfect gift is from above…” —James 1:17

Still, it’s not uncommon for someone in pain to be told, “God allowed it for a reason.” Imagine a grieving mother hearing those words after losing her child. Rather than comfort, that explanation can lead to quiet resentment, as if God stood by and watched, unmoved. But the truth is far more hopeful. God is not the one who breaks hearts—He is the one who binds them.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” —Psalm 147:3

Suffering came through a broken world—not through God’s design

When God created the world, it was good. Whole. Uncorrupted. But with human freedom came the possibility of rebellion—and that rebellion opened the door to everything God never intended: sin, death, decay, and suffering.

“Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin...” —Romans 5:12
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” —John 10:10

Pain isn’t part of God’s character. It’s the result of sin in the world and the influence of evil. Jesus referred to a woman who had suffered for years and said she had been bound by Satan—not disciplined by God.

“This woman… whom Satan has bound for eighteen years…” —Luke 13:16

Behind much of the suffering we see—whether through temptation, deception, disease, or destruction—is the work of Satan, whose purpose is to distort and destroy what God has made. Jesus did not shy away from naming the source: He called Satan a liar, a thief, and a murderer from the beginning. But He also came to break his power.

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” —1 John 3:8

So much of what we see as “God allowing suffering” is actually the fallout of human choice, spiritual darkness, and a broken creation still longing to be restored.

Jesus never brought pain—He came to remove it

There’s a beautiful clarity in the Gospels: every person who came to Jesus for healing received it. Not once did He turn someone away. Not once did He say, “It’s not God’s will to heal you.” His actions tell us something essential about God’s heart.

“He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil…” —Acts 10:38
“By His stripes we are healed.” —Isaiah 53:5
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” —John 14:9

If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. He came to restore what sin and darkness destroyed. His compassion wasn’t random—it was a revelation of God’s will.

Evil spirits cause many forms of pain

The Gospels make it clear that not all suffering is physical in origin. Jesus often encountered people who were tormented in body, mind, or emotion—but the root cause was spiritual. He didn’t heal them with words of comfort or medicine. He cast out evil spirits, and when the spirits left, so did the symptoms.

“He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.” —Matthew 8:16
“When the demon was cast out, the mute spoke.” —Matthew 9:33

This wasn’t symbolic—it was real. A person oppressed by spiritual forces could not speak, think clearly, or live freely. But when Jesus delivered them, peace returned.

We need to be honest: some suffering is demonic in nature. Not everything is emotional. Not everything is circumstantial. There is real spiritual torment in this world, and Jesus came to confront it. And He still does.

Not all suffering is persecution—but some is

Believers are not promised an easy life. Following Jesus means walking upstream in a world that often pushes against truth. There will be hardship, opposition, even persecution—but none of it comes from the heart of God.

“All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” —2 Timothy 3:12
“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer…” —Revelation 2:10
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” —Psalm 34:19

There’s a difference between suffering for Christ and suffering from Christ. He may walk with us through pain, but He never causes it to teach us a lesson.

Broken systems and ignorance bring suffering too

Sometimes suffering is less about personal choices and more about the world we live in—broken governments, generational poverty, poor leadership, or lack of wisdom. These aren’t spiritual punishments—they’re the tragic results of a world that’s lost its way.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” —Hosea 4:6
“The ruin of the poor is their poverty.” —Proverbs 10:15
“Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees…” —Isaiah 10:1

God does not want people to starve, struggle, or suffer because of injustice. He desires truth, wisdom, and compassion—and He calls us to be part of the solution.

Only Jesus’ suffering redeems

Some believe that their personal pain is their “cross to bear.” But Jesus made it clear: only His suffering could redeem. While God may use hardship to grow us, pain itself isn’t redemptive. Jesus already bore the full weight of suffering so we wouldn’t have to.

“Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust...” —1 Peter 3:18
“He has appeared… to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” —Hebrews 9:26

God doesn’t need our pain—He desires our healing.

Why “God allows suffering” can lead us astray

When we believe God is behind our suffering, it can quietly unravel our trust. We stop praying for healing. We grow numb to injustice. We accept torment we were meant to resist. And worse—we begin to question the very character of God.

“You thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you…” —Psalm 50:21
“God is not the author of confusion but of peace…” —1 Corinthians 14:33

God is not the one harming us. He is the one calling us home, healing our wounds, and restoring what’s been lost.

What to do when you’re hurting

If you’re in a season of pain right now—physically, emotionally, spiritually—know this: God is not distant from your suffering. He is near. And He is not the one who brought this pain into your life—He is the one who wants to bring you out of it.

Ask Jesus to show you what’s behind your pain—whether it’s spiritual, emotional, or circumstantial. Invite Him into the healing process. Reach out for wise counsel. Stand firm in the truth that you are not forgotten, and you are not being punished. You are deeply loved.

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” —James 4:7
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted…” —Psalm 34:18

God wants your freedom, not your suffering

God is not divided. He doesn’t cause pain and then offer healing as an afterthought. He is always moving toward restoration.

He heals.
He restores.
He delivers.
And He sent Jesus to destroy every work of darkness.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying...” —Revelation 21:4

If you’re suffering today, know that Jesus came not to explain your pain—but to end it.

🎧 New to faith or exploring spiritual questions? Press play to listen instead—we’d love to walk this journey with you, one step at a time.

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