Why Does God Allow Suffering? Trusting Him Through Trials

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had days when I wondered why life is so hard. Maybe you’ve been there, too—when the pain, the loss, or the struggle feels like too much to bear. And in those moments, a dangerous thought creeps in: Why does God allow suffering?

It’s a fair question. After all, we believe in an all-powerful, all-loving God. Yet, suffering—whether it’s sickness, financial hardship, betrayal, or the loss of a loved one—is unavoidable. Some of it comes from the natural consequences of a fallen world. Some of it is inflicted by others. And sometimes, God even allows Satan a certain degree of power to bring suffering into our lives. But here’s the truth: God has not abandoned us, and our suffering is never meaningless.

Let’s break this down biblically so we can make sense of suffering—and, more importantly, learn how to endure it without losing faith in the One who holds our future.

Why Do We Suffer? The Brokenness of Creation

The world we live in is not the world God originally designed. In the beginning, there was no suffering, no death, no disease—only peace and perfect communion with God. But that changed in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve rebelled. Their sin didn’t just affect them; it cursed the entire world.

The Curse of Sin and Its Consequences

When Adam and Eve disobeyed, God declared:

“Cursed is the ground because of you; With hard labor you shall eat from it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you… By the sweat of your face You shall eat bread, Until you return to the ground.” (Genesis 3:17-19)

From that moment on, suffering became part of human life. The world was no longer in perfect harmony. Thorns, disease, natural disasters, and even death entered the picture. And guess what? We inherited this brokenness. Paul explains it plainly:

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12)

Creation itself is groaning under this curse. That’s why we see sickness, accidents, and tragedies that seem to strike without warning. But take note—this was not God’s original design. He didn’t create suffering; sin did.

Why Does God Allow Suffering? Not All Suffering is a Punishment

This is where people get tripped up. We see someone suffering and immediately wonder, What did they do to deserve this? But Jesus refutes that kind of thinking.

In John 9, His disciples saw a blind man and asked:

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” (John 9:2)

Jesus shut that down immediately:

“It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3)

Not all suffering is a direct punishment. Sometimes, it’s just the reality of living in a world infected by sin. And sometimes, God allows it for His greater purposes—purposes we may not understand until eternity.

When God Allows Satan to Afflict Us

Now, here’s a truth we don’t like to think about: Sometimes, God allows Satan to bring suffering into our lives. That might sound unsettling, but Scripture gives us several examples of this happening—not as a sign of God’s neglect, but as a means to accomplish His will.

Job: Suffering as a Test of Faith

If anyone knew suffering, it was Job. He was a righteous man, faithful to God. But one day, Satan came before the Lord and said:

“Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a fence around him and his house? But reach out with Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face.” (Job 1:9-11)

And God allowed it.

Job lost his wealth, his children, and even his health. He was covered in painful boils. His wife told him to “Curse God and die.” (Job 2:9). His friends accused him of hidden sin. But through it all, Job refused to turn his back on God.

In the end, God restored Job double what he had lost. But the greater takeaway isn’t just Job’s blessing—it’s the reality that God was sovereign over Job’s suffering from the beginning. Satan could only act within the limits God had set. And in the end, Job’s suffering refined his faith.

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh

Even Paul, the great apostle, suffered greatly. He described a mysterious “thorn in the flesh” that tormented him:

“To keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!” (2 Corinthians 12:7)

Paul begged God to remove it. But God’s answer?

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

God didn’t remove Paul’s suffering. Instead, He used it to keep Paul humble and dependent on Him.

Sometimes, God doesn’t take away our suffering because it’s doing something in us that comfort never could.

How to Endure Suffering Without Losing Trust in God

So, if suffering is unavoidable, how do we endure it without losing our faith? Here’s the key: we need to shift our perspective from temporary pain to eternal purpose.

Remember That God is With You

• “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God.” (Isaiah 41:10)
• “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

Your pain is not proof of God’s absence. It’s a reason to draw near to Him.

Trust God Even When You Don’t Understand

• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
• “Though the fig tree should not blossom, And there be no fruit on the vines…Yet I will triumph in the Lord.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Even when life makes no sense, we can trust the One who sees the full picture.

Keep an Eternal Perspective

• “For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)
• “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

Suffering is temporary. Eternity is forever.

The Hope of Future Restoration

One day, all suffering will end. God has promised it.

• “And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.” (Revelation 21:4)

Our hope is not in a trouble-free life here—it’s in eternal joy with Christ.

Suffering Will Happen – But There is a Purpose

Suffering is part of life. But it is not meaningless, and it is not a sign that God has abandoned us. The Bible shows us that suffering comes from a fallen world, the attacks of Satan, and even God’s refining process.

But through it all, God is still in control. He is still good. And He is still working all things for the good of those who love Him.

So, my friend, don’t lose heart. Trust Him—even when it hurts. Because the day is coming when every tear will be wiped away.

Do you have questions? I’m here to help, so let me know what troubles you about God. Do you prefer videos to reading?  Check out my YouTube channel.

Would you like to know about the biblical doctrine of election? Check out my free pamphlet Chosen by Grace.

Blessings in Christ,
Wally