The sources explain that while suffering is difficult, it does not disprove the existence of a good and all-powerful God. Instead, they provide several reasons why God allows pain and suffering to exist:
The Gift of Free Will
God did not create humans to be like robots that are programmed to behave in a specific way; instead, He gave us the freedom to make our own choices. Because God is love, He allows humans to decide whether to obey or disobey Him. This freedom means that humans can choose actions that result in pain for themselves or others.
The Consequences of Sin
The sources trace the origin of suffering back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve chose to use their free will to disobey God, and their sin brought “pain, suffering, disease, and death into the world”. Much of the suffering experienced today is either a direct result of our own wrong decisions or the wrong decisions of others. For example, if someone chooses to drink and drive and causes an accident, the resulting suffering is the fault of the person who made the choice, not God.
The Consistency of Natural Laws
God established a world governed by constant natural laws, such as gravity and momentum. These laws are necessary for a predictable environment where we can live and learn, but they apply to everyone equally, regardless of whether they are a believer or an unbeliever. This means that accidents, like a tower falling, occur because of these physical laws rather than as a specific punishment for sin.
The Helpful Nature of Pain
The sources argue that pain actually serves as a vital warning system. Without the ability to feel pain, humans would not know if they were being burned or if they had a medical emergency like appendicitis or a heart attack. Additionally, suffering can lead to spiritual growth, helping people develop patience and a deeper trust in God.
Lessons from the Story of Job
The biblical story of Job is used to show that God may have purposes for suffering that He does not immediately explain. Job suffered immense loss but continued to trust God, serving as an example of patience and endurance for billions of people over thousands of years. The sources suggest that God’s ways are always best, even when humans do not understand them.
An Eternal Perspective
Finally, the sources emphasize that earthly suffering is temporary. For a Christian, the pain experienced in this life is described as “small” when compared to the eternal joy promised in heaven. Just as a parent allows a doctor to give a baby a shot to prevent a worse disease, God may allow short-term pain for a greater eternal purpose. The sources conclude that God loves humanity deeply, which He proved by allowing His own Son, Jesus, to suffer on the cross to show the way to eternal life.