Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Have you ever gone through something so bad or dealt with something so painful that it made you ask the question “why is this happening to me?” In John chapter 9 beginning at verse 1 we read of Jesus passing by a man who was blind from his birth. This man had been dealing with this infirmity for his entire life. Maybe at some point in his life the question entered his mind: “why me?” In verse 2 the disciples wanted to know what caused this man to be born blind, so they asked Jesus: “who sinned, this man or his parents?” By asking Jesus this question the disciples were inferring one of two things: either this man sinned in the womb as an unborn baby, or he inherited the sins of his parents (nevertheless sin was the cause of this man’s suffering). The Scriptures prove both of these inferences to be false (see Deuteronomy 1:39 and Ezekiel 18:20). We could say that the disciples were being ignorant or absurd, but before we conclude that thought, let us think about how many of us today (even in the Lord’s Church) still hold fast to this erroneous idea that if someone is suffering then they must have done something wrong. The disciples were guilty of a “Job’s friend” type of theology (see Job - the entire book). They assumed that there was something sinful about the conception of the blind man or the lives of his parents, or that he must have sinned in the womb. One of the main reasons this type of theology is so popular is because oftentimes when we assign blame for our misfortunes, it offers us the false hope that if we are “good enough,” then nothing “bad” should ever happen to us. It is both wrong and extremely dangerous to conclude that every instance of suffering springs immediately from a particular act of sin. While sinning does cause one to suffer (James 1:15 and Romans 6:23), suffering does not always indicate that one has sinned (Luke 13:1-5). I mean just think about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who suffered the horrific death of the cross (1 Peter 3:18), yet He didn’t commit a single sin (1 Peter 2:22 and Hebrews 4:15).

In verse 3 of John chapter 9 Jesus answers their question: “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” The word manifest in this verse is the greek word φανερόω (pho-nay-raw-oh), meaning “to reveal, to make visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, or to make known by teaching.” This implies two things: if we allow Him to, God can use our suffering to teach us and to show us who He is and what He is able to do. Has the thought ever occurred to you that God could use our suffering to bring Him glory (1 Peter 4:16)? It is ironic to me that the disciples had full sight but could not clearly see what Jesus was doing while He was here on earth (John 9:4). By healing this blind man (John 9:6-11) Jesus taught the disciples an important lesson: that even in our suffering God can be glorified! Many of us today need to learn and apply this same lesson. The healing of the blind man also teaches us that God can use our suffering to reveal Himself to us. If you have ever lost a job it is easier for you to see how much of a provider God is; if you have ever been critically ill it is easier for you to see how much of a healer God is; and if you have ever lost a loved one it is easier for you to see how much of a comforter God is. Our suffering should help us to see God more clearly.

It is also wrong to conclude that God permits every instance of suffering because He intends to miraculously relieve it. It is also a mistake to conclude that God made this man blind from birth so that Jesus could give him sight. Only God knows why people are born with infirmities and only God can turn those infirmities into something that will bring good to His people and glory to His name (Romans 8:28). The question for us is not why does God allow suffering, but what will we allow Him to do with our suffering? If God is glorified, either by us or in us, then our suffering is not in vain (1 Peter 5:10).

Challenge: The next time you are going through some suffering, instead of asking “Why me?” try asking “How can God be glorified in the midst of my suffering?”

Tobias Hatchett