If a Good God Exists, Why Is There Evil and Suffering?
The world doesn't merely appear chaotic; it is truly in disarray, with chaos evident in every aspect of life. We're witnessing a proliferation of greed, driving horrific acts like murder, violence, wars, kidnappings, the rape of women and the bullying of children. Corruption is rampant - permeating politics, law enforcement, big pharma, tech companies etc. The human cost is immense - rampant sickness, broken marriages, terrified children, and an overwhelming sense of loneliness and fear. We've just scratched the surface - leaving you wondering if God is in control or has He abandoned His post at the helm?
The question is one of the the most difficult yet frequently asked of Christians. If God is good and all powerful, then why does He allow evil, suffering and injustice in the world? For several people seeking explanations this is not merely a philosophical problem, but a deeply personal one.
The Origin of Evil - The Fall of Man
To understand why evil exists, we must go back to the beginning - specifically to the account of creation and the Fall of man in Genesis. When God created the world, He declared it to be very good (Gen 1:31). He created the Garden of Eden to be Utopia - heaven on earth! There was no death, no suffering, no pain. Humanity, represented by Adam and Eve, lived in perfect harmony with God and with creation.
But God did not create robots. He gave humans the gift of free will - the capacity to love, obey, and trust Him or to rebel. This freedom was necessary for a genuine relationship, because love that is not freely given is not love at all. What if you forced your spouse to love you? Would that be genuine love? No, because genuine love for a spouse requires a choice of free will to say yes to one, and no to all others.
When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 3), sin entered the world. This one act of rebellion, often called the Fall, brought catastrophic consequences - not only for humanity but for all of creation. Romans 5:12 explains, "through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned"
The Fall introduced a ripple effect - guilt, shame, spiritual separation from God, physical death, disease, decay and moral corruption.
What had been a perfect world was now fractured. The human heart, once pure, was now inclined toward selfishness and sin.
The god of This World - Satan
In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the Apostle Paul refers to Satan as the god of this world, who blinds the minds of people. Although God is the Creator of all things, Satan is the god of this world. This doesn't mean that Satan has ultimate authority, but rather that he exercises significant influence over a fallen world system that is opposed to God. If people simply believed the gospel, would repent and acknowledge the need for a Savior and trust Jesus Christ, they would not be in darkness. Rather they would know the truth and the truth would set them free.
When Adam and Eve sinned, they not only broke God's command - they effectively surrendered their delegated authority over the earth to Satan(Luke 4:5-7). The devil, once a high ranking angel who rebelled against God, now acts as the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2), actively working to deceive, destroy and oppose the purposes of God (John 10:10).
The presence of evil in the world, then, is not a reflection of God's failure or impotence, but the result of humanity's rebellion and Satan's influence.
This fallen world is a battleground between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God.
You have to pick which side you want to be on.
So Where is God in the Midst of Evil?
Though Satan has real influence and evil is undeniably present, the Bible is clear - God is still sovereign. He has not abdicated His throne. He permits evil, but He is not the author of it (Psa 103:19, Rom 8:28).
God has a permissive will and a perfect will for all of us, but we choose which one (or none) to follow.
He desires to have a relationship and be one with us Romans 12:2 like the Garden of Eden, but we have free will to choose what we do.
God allows human beings to exercise free will, even when that will leads to suffering.
Yet even in the chaos, God's plan is never derailed. In fact, He offers one of the most profound responses- the cross. God entered into our suffering through Jesus Christ. He did not stay distant - He experienced injustice, pain, betrayal and death. He chose to suffer with us and for us, offering not a philosophical answer alone, but a personal one. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was the greatest act of evil and injustice in human history - God in the flesh, perfect and sinless, murdered by the very people He came to save. And yet, through this act, God brought salvation to the world. Evil did its worst, but it could not thwart God's redemptive plan.
The Hope of the Gospel
This brings us to the heart of the Christian message - the gospel (literally, good news). The world is broken, sin is real, and suffering touches every life. But God has not abandoned His creation. In fact, He entered into it. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth not merely as a teacher or moral example, but as the Savior. He lived a perfect life, one we could never live. He died a sacrificial death on the cross, taking upon Himself the punishment for sin. And He rose again, conquering death and offering eternal life to all who believe.
Through Jesus, the power of sin is broken, and the kingdom of God has broken into the present age. While evil still exists for now, its days are numbered. God promises that evil will not have the final word. Revelation 21:4-5 promises a future where "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Until that day, believers are called to be salt and light (Mat 5:13-14) - to push back against evil, to love sacrificially, to proclaim the good news and to live as citizens of a different kingdom.
Why Doesn't God End Evil Now?
The answer lies in God's mercy and patience. 2 Peter 3:9 explains, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, ... but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
God's delay is not indifference. It's grace.
If God were to eliminate all evil today, He would have to judge all sin - including ours. Let's not kid ourselves, we have all sinned and fallen short. The only good person to have walked the earth is Jesus Christ. But in His mercy, He waits, giving people time to repent and receive salvation.
Jesus is coming again and will judge all evil deeds (Acts 17:31). He warned that the end times would be dark with deception and evil (Matt 24). However, there will be (and is now in process) a great revival of God's power and people turning from darkness to Him (Joel 2:28-32, Zech 10, Rom 8:19). For example the Pulitzer Center reports nearly 35000 people born again every day. A report on provided by the Office of the Commissioner-General for Refugees and Stateless Persons in Belgium says that Christianity is the fastest growing in house churches in Iran. America Magazine reports the same for China as well. And the same is happening in every nation on the earth.
Time is short, so now is the time to choose where you shall spend eternity. We really hope you choose life! (Deut 30:15-20). Only Jesus can break the power of sin that we are born into, and give you life. Jesus came into this world to save people like you and meJohn 3:16.