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The Bible teaches that all of us will have to deal with pain and suffering. We are told man is born to afflictions. They will happen to the righteous, the wicked, and even creation as a whole. Christians are told to expect adversity.

Born: Job 5:6,7; 14:1 // Righteous: Psalm 22:1-2; 12-18; 1 Thessalonians 3:3 // Wicked: Proverbs 10:16; 12:21 // Creation: Romans 8:20-22 // Expect: John 16:33; Acts 14:22

The Bible goes on to point out that even though our afflictions are often severe, they are tempered with mercy and are always less than we deserve. For Christians, afflictions are temporary and comparatively light. Frequently, they terminate in good. Ultimately, they will end in joy and supreme happiness – if not in this world, then in the next. There will even come a time when all evil and suffering will cease to exist.

Severe: Job 16:7-16; Psalm 42:7; 66:12; Jonah 2:3; Revelation 7:14 // Tempered: Psalm 78:38-39; 106:43-46; Isaiah 30:18-21; Lamentations 3:32; Micah 7:7-9; Nahum 1:12 // Less than we deserve: Ezra 9:13; Psalm 103:10 // Temporary: Psalm 30:5; 109:9; Isaiah 54:7,8; John 16:20; 1 Peter 1:6; 5:10 // Light: Acts 20:23,24; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17 // Good: Genesis 50:20; Exodus 1:11-12; Deuteronomy 8:15-16; Jeremiah 24:5-6; Ezekiel 20:37 // End in joy: Psalm 126:5,6; Isaiah 61:2,3; Matthew 5:4; 1 Peter 4:13-14 // Cease: Revelation 21:3-4

But why does God allow pain and suffering to happen at all?

This is easy to answer if you assume there is no God. In this case, you can’t blame Him if there’s no Him. It is easy to answer if you assume God has limited powers. You can’t blame Him if He can’t change things. It is easy to answer if you assume God is evil.

But Christians reject all of these ideas. The Bible clearly teaches that our God is real, God is omnipotent, and God is holy. So if all of this true, then why can’t God just use His infinite powers to carry us to His desired outcome? Why does He make us first go down the long and painful path of life?

The answer to the question of why God permits affliction is an area of philosophy called “theodicy.” It is often an entire course (or even field of study) at leading universities and seminaries. It has been the subject of many journal articles and doctorial dissertations. Obviously, we cannot begin to cover the entire topic on one web page. But we can try to provide a reasonable summary of some of the teachings found in scripture.

Why do the righteous have afflictions?

According to the Bible, God permits pain and suffering to occur for several reasons. Some of them are found directly below. As you examine the list, keep in mind that the affliction happening to you or someone you love may have more than one explanation. Also note that you may never understand all of the causes for an event – or in some cases, even one.

Scripture teaches that some people will spend eternity in the presence of God. This group is commonly referred to by Christians as “saved” or as “saints.” In their case, God uses adversity for these purposes:

  1. To deal with sin – Although not the case in every instance (e.g. a sick baby), frequently our pain and suffering is often the result of our own sin.
    Sin: 2 Samuel 12:14; Job 4:8; 20:11; Psalm 89:30-32; Proverbs 1:31; Isaiah 57:17; Acts 13:10-11

    When we sin, God uses adversity to convince us of our errors. He purifies us by causing us to confess our sins, and He drives us to repent from them. Sometimes, God will discipline us in love by punishing us in order to stop our sin and keep us from departing from Him again. And God will use our afflictions to deter others from committing similar acts.

    2. Convince: Job 36:8,9; Psalm 119:67; Luke 15:16-18 // Purify: Ecclesiastes 7:2,3; Isaiah 1:25,26; 48:10; Jeremiah 9:6,7; Zechariah 13:7-9; Malachi 3:2-3; John 15:2 // Confess: Numbers 21:7; Psalm 32:5; 51:3,5 // Repent: Judges 6:1-6; Psalm 107:4-6, 10-13; Hosea 5:14-15 // Discipline: Hebrews 12:4-11 // Keep: Job 34:31-32; Isaiah 10:20; Ezekiel 14:10-11 // Deter: 2 Samuel 12:9-18; 2 Chronicles 33:10-11

  2. For humbling – God uses adversity to humble us. Unfortunately, we often need to be reminded that He is God and we are merely human.

    3. Humble: Deuteronomy 8:3,16; 2 Chronicles 7:13-14; Lamentations 3:19-20; 2 Corinthians 12:7

  3. For seeking – God uses pain and suffering to turn us to Him in prayer.

    4. Turn: Deuteronomy 4:30-31; Judges 4:3; Nehemiah 1:8-9; Psalm 78:34; Isaiah 10:20-21; Jeremiah 31:18; Lamentations 2:17-19; Hosea 2:6-7, 5:14-15; Jonah 2:1

  4. For revealing – God uses afflictions to reveal Himself to us. Sometimes they can promote His glory. They can also exhibit His power and faithfulness.

    5. Glory: John 9:1-3 11:3,4; 21:18-19; 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 // Power: Psalm 34:19-20; 2 Corinthians 4:8-11

  5. For testing – God uses afflictions as a test so we can discover ourselves. This way, He enables us to exhibit our sincerity, our faith and obedience, and our patience.

    6. Test: Deuteronomy 8:2; Job 2:1-6; Isaiah 48:10 // Sincerity: Job 23:10; Psalm 66:10; Proverbs 17:3 // Obedience: Genesis 22:1,2; Hebrews 11:17; Exodus 15:23-25; Deuteronomy 8:2,16; 1 Peter 1:7; Revelation 2:10 // Patience: Psalm 40:1; Romans 5:3; James 1:3; 1 Peter 2:20

  6. For teaching – God uses adversity to teach us His will, and patience, and to cause us to rely on His grace.

    7. Will: Psalm 119:71,75; Isaiah 26:9; Micah 6:9 // Patience: Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-4 // Reliance: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

  7. For advancing – God uses affliction to help in building His kingdom. Sometimes it aids in furthering the gospel. Sometimes it renders us fruitful in good works.

    8. Furtherance: Acts 8:3,4; 11:19-21; Philippians 1:12; 2 Timothy 2:9,10; 4:16-17 // Works: John 15:2; Hebrews 12:10-11

Now, with these ideas in mind, let’s return to the Bible and look at some of the many examples recorded there. A few of them include:

  1. Joseph – Genesis 39:11-23; Psalm 105:17-19
  2. The Israelites in Egypt – Exodus 1:8-14
  3. The poor – Nehemiah 5:1-5; Amos 2:6-7
  4. Job – Job 1:20-22, 2:7-13
  5. David – 2 Samuel 12:15-23; Psalm 22:1-18
  6. Daniel – Daniel 6:16-17
  7. Daniel’s friends – Daniel 3:13-23
  8. John the Baptist – Matthew 14:8-11
  9. Jesus – Luke 23:26-56
  10. The Apostles – 1 Corinthians 4:9-13; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10
  11. Paul – Acts 14:19, 20:22-24, 21:13; 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 12
  12. The early Christians – 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15; 1Peter 2:19-21; Hebrews 10:33-34; Revelation 2:9-10

When you look at these passages, you will find something interesting – the more God uses somebody to further His Kingdom, the greater and the more unjust their afflictions. And note that God did not spare His own Son. Jesus was without sin, and yet He suffered an especially cruel and humiliating death at the hands of man.

So what does all this mean? Well, the bottom line for the saved is that God is using afflictions to “refine” us into something that is much better – in exactly the same way that we refine ore into pure gold and silver. Therefore, as Christians, we are taught that afflictions exhibit the love and faithfulness of God. That is why He tells us to “have joy” while undergoing them.

Refine: Micah 3:3 // Exhibit: Deuteronomy 8:5; Psalm 119:75; Proverbs 3:12; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:6-7; Revelation 3:19 // Joy: Job 5:17; James 5:11

Why do the wicked have afflictions?

Scripture also teaches that some people will spend eternity separated from God, in agony and torment, in a place called hell. This group is commonly referred to by Christians as “lost.” In their case, pain and suffering are sometimes inflicted for the same reasons as the saved. For example, God judicially sends afflictions to evil ones to humble them, as punishment and so they may serve as an example.

Judicially sent: Job 21:17; Psalm 107:17; Jeremiah 30:15 // Humble: 1 Kings 21:27 // Example: Psalm 64:7-9; Zephaniah 3:6-7; 1 Corinthians 10:5-11; 2 Peter 2:6

Sometimes God sends adversity because these people fail to repent from their sins. Sometimes, it is as punishment to their persecution of persons who serve God.

Impenitence: Proverbs 1:30-31; Ezekiel 24:13; Amos 4:6-12; Zechariah 7:11-12; Revelation 2:21-22 // Punishment: Deuteronomy 30:7; Psalm 55:19; Zechariah 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:6

The pain and suffering inflicted on evil persons are often sudden, are continual, and are frequently multiplied.

Sudden: Psalm 73:10; Proverbs 6:15; Isaiah 30:13; Revelation 18:10 // Continual: Job 15:20; Ecclesiastes 2:23; Isaiah 32:10 // Multiplied: Deuteronomy 31:17; Job 20:12-18; Psalm 32:10

The reactions of the wicked to their afflictions vary. Sometimes they recoil in slavish fear. Frequently, they are hardened. Almost always, the suffering does not convert them to God.

Fear: Job 15:24; Psalm 73:19; Jeremiah 49:3-5 // Harden: Nehemiah 9:28-29; Jeremiah 5:3 // Ineffectual for conversion: Exodus 9:30; Isaiah 9:13; Jeremiah 2:30; Haggai 2:17

Nevertheless, God is always glorified in the afflictions of the wicked.

Glorified: Exodus 14:4; Ezekiel 38:22-23

What is God’s relationship to pain and suffering?

Ok, so God has lots of reasons for allowing pain and suffering to exist. But where does He fit into the picture with respect to our afflictions. Does He just turn the devil loose and let him run his course? Does He just sit on His throne and watch what happens? Or is God actively involved somehow? Again, the Bible provides answers.

According to scripture, God is involved in adversity in four ways. He:

  1. Controls – God is always in control of our afflictions. He appoints, dispenses according to His will, regulates, and determines the continuance of adversity.

    2. In control: Job 1:6-12; Romans 8:38-39 // Appoints: 2 Kings 6:33; Job 5:6,17; Psalm 66:11; Amos 3:6; Micah 6:9 // Dispenses: Job 11:10; Isaiah 10:15; 45:7 // Regulates: Psalm 80:5; Isaiah 9:1; Jeremiah 46:28 // Continuance: Genesis 15:13,14; Numbers 14:33; Isaiah 10:25; Jeremiah 29:10

  2. Shares – Like any parent who loves their child, God shares our pain and suffering.

    3. Shares: Isaiah 53:2-9; Isaiah 63:9

  3. Sustains – God is with all believers in their times of pain and suffering. As such, he supports and protects us, serves as our refuge and strength, and comforts us.

    4. With: Psalm 23:4; Psalm 46:5,7,11; Isaiah 43:2; John 14:18 // Supports: 2 Timothy 4:17; Hebrews 2:18 // Preserve: Psalm 34:20; Isaiah 63:9; Luke 21:18 // Refuge: Psalm 25:4; 27:5-6; 16:1,8; Psalm 46:1; Isaiah 25:4; Jeremiah 16:19; Nahum 1:7 // Comforts: Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 61:2; Jeremiah 31:13; Zechariah 1:17; 2 Corinthians 1:4-5; Matthew 5:4; 11:28-30; Luke 7:13; John 14:1; 16:33; 2 Corinthians 1:4-5

  4. Delivers – Scripture promises that God will deliver us from some afflictions. He causes good to ultimately triumph, and God will end pain at Christ’s return.

    Deliver: Psalm 34:4,19; Proverbs 12:13; Jeremiah 39:17-18; Rev. 3:10 // Good triumphs: Psalm 49:13-15, 73:16-20; Romans 8:28 // Ends: 2 Thessalonians 1:4-7; Revelation 21:1-4

Hopefully, by now you can see that our Lord has some good reasons for allowing adversity to happen and He controls the process. Now, you need to know how to handle afflictions in your own life and how you can help others when they are going through hardship. To find our what our Bible says about these things, click here.

 


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