Why does God allow suffering if He loves us?

 

The Bible shows that God does not enjoy seeing us suffer, even when it’s directly for personal sin (Lamentations 3:33). When the suffering is not directly because of personal sin, we know that He hates injustice, as Isaiah 58 shows that He punishes oppressors.

Sometimes though, He knows that suffering is necessary for a higher purpose. We don’t always know the purpose, as we see from God’s response to Job; we only know that His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). His wisdom is perfect, far more than our limited view (Romans 11:33). His purposes are not simply for physical happiness, but are spiritual and eternal.

Even though there is uncertainty in this life, we can focus on the hope of heaven, and trust His promise to use all things for our good, and know His peace and joy, no matter what we go through. Some suffering is necessary, but we can pray and trust that He will keep us from any unnecessary suffering.

One day, everything that we suffered in this life will be made up for, and will all be worth it.

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

(2 Corinthians 4:16-18)