Few questions cut as deeply as this one: If God is good, why is there so much suffering? For many people, it is the single greatest obstacle to belief in God.

Consider a tragedy that made national headlines: A father took his eighteen-year-old son on his first hunting trip. Mistaking his son for a deer, the father accidentally shot and killed him. Overcome with despair, he then turned the gun on himself.

How could such devastating sorrow happen? Where is God in tragedies like this—or in the countless stories like our daughter’s sudden death last year, or the mass shootings that scar our world?

The problems of evil and suffering have been debated for millennia. The ancient philosopher Epicurus asked, “If God is willing but not able to prevent evil, is He impotent? If He is able but not willing, is He malevolent? If He is both able and willing, why does evil exist?” David Hume popularized this challenge, and many have since echoed it.

For rational thinkers, this problem has been resolved by Christian philosopher Alvin Plantinga, who began by asking simply, “Where is the contradiction?” He then provided a logically possible premise in response—that “God created a world containing evil and He had a good reason for doing so.” Possible reasons that have been offered include Plantinga’s free will defense, Aquinas’ greater goods, or Augustine’s idea that evil is not a “thing” but a privation of good. Regardless, with the rationale that “He had a good reason for doing so,” there is no longer a contradiction with a good and all-powerful God creating a world that contains evil. This insight speaks logically to the rational problem of evil.

But while philosophy may satisfy the mind, it doesn’t always satisfy the heart. The psychological problem of evil—the pain of losing a child to a drunk driver, or burying a spouse too soon, or watching injustice destroy lives—can feel unbearable.

Here, Christianity offers something no other worldview can: a God who suffers with us. Jesus Christ entered our broken world, where He was brutally beaten and tortured to death by crucifixion. He did not remain a distant observer. The Father Himself suffered the loss of His Son. In this way, God demonstrates that He not only understands our suffering but also shares in it.

The Bible does not deny suffering. On the contrary, it predicts it. “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering,” Peter wrote, “as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). Hardship is woven into the fabric of our fallen world. But Scripture also insists that suffering is never meaningless.

Paul writes, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28a). That doesn’t mean hardship is good in itself, but rather that God makes promises that He will mold our sufferings for good purposes—shaping our character (Romans 5:3–5), teaching us to rely on Him (2 Corinthians 1:9), making us more compassionate (2 Corinthians 1:4), or even displaying His glory in ways we could not otherwise see (John 9:3).

Beyond suffering lies another burden: futility. This is the nagging sense that life is meaningless—that our pursuits such as money, status, and success don’t satisfy. But the Bible says futility itself is part of God’s design. Paul explains that creation was “subjected to frustration” by God so that we would discover true meaning only in Him (see Romans 8:20–21).

In other words, the emptiness we feel apart from God is not accidental. It’s intentional. Futility is a chief tool by which God sovereignly draws us to, or back to, Himself.

History offers a vivid example. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon tested every possible source of human fulfillment—wealth, women, wisdom, achievement, power—only to conclude that everything was “meaningless” apart from God. Yet his final conclusion was clear: Only revering God provides lasting joy.

Even suffering itself can be protective. Suffering compels us to seek the God that success makes us think we don’t need. Furthermore, many believers can look back and say, “If God had given me what I thought I wanted, it would have destroyed me.” What had felt like loss in the moment was actually mercy.

The cross of Jesus is the ultimate proof. Out of the greatest evil ever committed—the murder of the sinless Son of God—came the greatest good: salvation for the world. If God can redeem that suffering, He can redeem yours too.

So, does suffering disprove God’s goodness? No—it may actually be one of the strongest reasons to believe. Other worldviews either deny suffering, minimize it, rail against it, or treat it as random. Christianity alone says suffering is real, it matters, and it has purpose. Even when the reasons remain hidden, we can trust a God who has entered into suffering and promises that, one day, He will wipe every tear from our eyes.

Until then, we live with the mystery. But we also live with hope, because we know our pain is not wasted, our trials are not meaningless, and our God is not distant. Jesus wants His followers to know, “I see you. I love you unconditionally. I know what you’re going through. And I am always with you.”

Much love,

Pat

For Reflection and Discussion

1. What has been your worst experience with suffering and evil, and what toll has it taken on you?
2. What are some of the promises of God revealed in Scripture when we face suffering? (See Romans 8:28, Romans 5:3-5, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, and 1 Peter 4:12–13.)
3. What—from this email or your own experiences—helps you reconcile your thoughts about God and your experience with suffering?

Go Deeper

• Watch or listen to the study that corresponds with this email, adapted from Chapter 7 of What If Christianity Is True? Or check out all of the weekly video studies in the series! Each one stands alone. If you’re in Central Florida, I would love for you to join us at the Bible study in person.
• Buy a copy of the book for you and a friend who has honest questions about God and faith, and discuss it together as you go.
• Forward this email to a friend or group of men and talk about the reflection and discussion questions.