Where Is God in All This Pain?
Christianity’s Response to Suffering, Evil, and the Problem of Pain
Introduction
The question of suffering has haunted every generation. Philosophers call it the “problem of evil,” but for most people, it is not abstract. It is deeply personal. When a child dies of cancer, or a school shooting devastates a community, or a parent buries their son, people cry out: “If God is loving and powerful, why didn’t He stop this?” For many, this question becomes a spiritual roadblock, causing either quiet doubt or outright rejection of faith. It has even plagued me in various seasons, wondering why God allowed or did what He did. And yet, Christianity does not ignore or trivialize this tension. On the contrary, the biblical narrative confronts it head-on—with raw honesty, theological coherence, and deep compassion. Far from offering platitudes, the Christian faith offers a Savior who enters the suffering, a purpose that redeems it, and a future that promises to end it.
The Origins of Suffering in the Christian Narrative
According to the biblical witness, suffering was not part of God’s original design. Genesis 1–2 describes creation as “very good” (Gen. 1:31)—a world marked by harmony between God, humanity, and nature. There was no death, no disease, and no alienation. Yet this peace was disrupted when Adam and Eve rejected God’s authority in Genesis 3, choosing autonomy over trust. This act—often referred to as “the Fall”—fractured every dimension of human existence: spiritual, relational, emotional, and environmental. As Paul later writes, “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people” (Rom. 5:12). In other words, suffering is not a divine invention; it is the downstream effect of human rebellion in a world that now groans under the weight of sin (Rom. 8:22). Christian theologians like Cornelius Plantinga have called this disruption “not the way it’s supposed to be”—a world that is good but marred by human misuse of freedom.
God’s Proximity in Human Pain
Christianity offers not merely a diagnosis of the problem but a God who steps into it. In the incarnation, God takes on flesh and enters the mess of a broken world (John 1:14). Jesus does not remain distant from human suffering; He experiences it firsthand. He is “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). In John 11, when Jesus encounters the death of His friend Lazarus, He does not immediately fix the situation—though He could. Instead, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). This is a profound theological moment. The Son of God weeps at death’s intrusion, affirming both its tragedy and the depth of His compassion. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses” (Heb. 4:15). God does not merely tolerate our pain; He shares it. This is the unique claim of Christianity: that in Jesus Christ, God suffers with and for humanity.
Redemption Without Minimization
Though the Bible never promises an end to suffering in this life, it does promise that suffering is not meaningless. Romans 8:28 declares, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” This does not mean that all things are good—Paul is not naive—but that even the worst experiences can be woven into a redemptive story. Theological voices such as Jürgen Moltmann have emphasized that Christian hope is not built on escapism but on the God who enters history to transform suffering from within. God does not waste pain. Instead, He uses it to refine character (Rom. 5:3–5), deepen dependence, and prepare believers for eternal glory (2 Cor. 4:17). Just as broken glass can become stained glass in the hands of an artist, so too can suffering become beauty in the hands of God.
The Christian Hope: A World Made New
The Bible’s final vision is not merely one of personal salvation but of cosmic restoration. Revelation 21:4 offers this promise: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” This is not escapism; it is eschatological realism. The Christian hope is not that suffering will be justified in this life, but that it will be answered in the next—through resurrection, judgment, and renewal. Christ’s resurrection is the firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:20), the guarantee that suffering will not have the last word. As N. T. Wright explains, “The resurrection is not just God’s response to the death of Jesus; it is the beginning of new creation.” In a world filled with unanswered questions, Christianity’s most profound claim is not that suffering is solved but that it is being undone.
Implications for Today
Believers are called not only to affirm these truths intellectually but to embody them practically. First, Christians must cultivate honesty before God. The psalms of lament teach us that God welcomes our grief, confusion, and even anger (see Psalm 13, 42, 88). Second, Christians are invited to anchor themselves in God’s character—His goodness, faithfulness, and presence—especially when circumstances seem to contradict those truths. Third, we are to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2), becoming the hands and feet of Christ to those who suffer. Finally, suffering can cultivate compassion. As Paul writes, God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble” (2 Cor. 1:4). Pain, when stewarded faithfully, can become a ministry.
Conclusion
The Christian story does not avoid suffering. It faces it, mourns it, redeems it, and ultimately defeats it. While the “why” questions may linger, Christianity invites us into a deeper “who”—a Savior who bleeds, weeps, and resurrects. Suffering is not the end of the story. In Christ, even our deepest wounds are not wasted. God is still present. He is still good. And He is not finished.