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Question 29.
If God is loving, why does he allow suffering?

When God created man and woman, he gave them a wonderful gift. That gift was a free will. God could have made us like puppets who have no choice than to do what their creator directed. But God’s love for us is so great that he made us with a free will and he will never, under any circumstances, take that away from us. God wants us to be free to choose to love him.

God also created man and woman to live forever. If they had not disobeyed God, Adam and Eve would have never grown old and died. He gave them a world that was perfect. No pain, sorrow, suffering, hate, war, violence, sickness, or death. All of these are a result of their sin.

When Adam and Eve chose to rebel, sin and all its consequences entered the world. As long as there are people who are choosing to sin, there will be sickness, disease, suffering, and death. God hates sin and all it brings with it. All that is evil and bad in the world is not his fault. The fault belongs to us.

God warned man not to disobey, and told him there would be terrible consequences if he did. God could have washed his hands of the whole human race when Adam and Eve ignored him and chose to sin. But he didn’t. He loves us and cares about our suffering. The cross of Jesus is historical evidence of God’s involvement in our pain (Isaiah 53:3-5). God is no passive spectator to our pain; he suffers with us.

God became a man to pay for our wrong choices! Incredible! Jesus defeated our sin on the cross, and one day soon will be coming back in power and glory. If you want to live with him in a place where there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4), then let your hurts and sorrows drive you to Jesus for salvation.

God is a good and loving Father who involves himself in our lives. He knows and understands our hurt. God will take us in his arms and comfort us if we will let him.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the suffering of Christ flows into our lives, so also through Christ our comforts overflows" (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

ISAIAH 61:3-5 And provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

REVELATION 21:4 "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."

2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles. So that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.