Why Suffering? A Biblical Response to the Problem of Evil

# Why Suffering? This is perhaps the most common objection to the Christian faith: **If God is all-powerful and all-good, why does evil exist?** It's a fair question. And Scripture doesn't shy away from it. ## The Logical Problem Skeptics frame it this way: 1. If God is omnipotent, He can prevent evil 2. If God is omnibenevolent, He wants to prevent evil 3. Evil exists 4. Therefore, God is either not omnipotent, not good, or does not exist But this framework makes a critical error — it assumes **prevention of all suffering is the highest good**. ## The Biblical Framework Scripture teaches that God can use suffering for purposes we do not yet see: > "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." — Romans 8:28 ## Free Will and Moral Responsibility God gave humanity genuine choice. Love that is forced is not love. A world with real moral agents must include the possibility of moral failure. ## The Cross as the Answer God did not remove suffering — He entered into it. The cross is God's definitive answer to the problem of evil. He took evil upon Himself.