Pain and suffering press upon every soul. No one escapes their reach. They come uninvited, bringing sorrow, fear, and questions that shake the foundations of faith. If God is good, why does He allow such affliction? If He is sovereign, why does evil still reign?
These are not idle speculations but the cries of wounded hearts. Yet, we are not left to grope in darkness. The Word of God does not avoid these matters. It gives us not only the cause of suffering but the hope that redeems it. It shows us that affliction, though bitter, is not meaningless. For those in Christ, it is a tool in the hand of the Master, shaping them for glory.
The question is not whether we will suffer, but whether we will suffer well. Will we trust God in the fire? Will we see beyond our pain to the eternal purposes of our Lord?
Why Does Pain and Suffering Exist?
The Bible teaches that pain and suffering exist because of humanity’s sin and the fall of creation. However, God uses suffering for His greater purposes, drawing people to Himself and refining their faith. Through Christ, there is hope and ultimate redemption.
The world was not made with suffering. In the beginning, all was good, pure, and without sorrow. But sin entered, and with it came death, disease, and despair.
This is the simple but staggering truth—suffering exists because sin exists. Man rebelled, and creation groans under the weight of that rebellion. Yet even in this, God has not lost control. He permits suffering, not as a reckless tyrant, but as a wise and loving Father. He uses it to awaken, to humble, and to refine.
Though pain and suffering are grievous, they are not purposeless.
The Origin of Pain and Suffering: The Fall of Humanity
Sin Entered Through Adam and Eve
God did not create a world of misery. He made a world of joy. But in Adam, we fell, and in that fall, the world was plunged into sorrow.
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
Adam’s disobedience was not a small thing. It shattered the harmony between God and man. It opened the floodgates of suffering upon every generation that followed.
The Consequences of Sin
Sin did not merely affect the first man and woman—it altered the very nature of life in this world. The Scriptures declare that all mankind inherited the corruption of Adam’s transgression. The fall introduced suffering into every sphere of human existence:
- Pain in Childbirth – “I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children.” (Genesis 3:16)
- Hardship in Labor – “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground.” (Genesis 3:19)
- Separation from God – Sin placed a vast chasm between man and His Creator, leaving mankind in spiritual death and alienation.
The Presence of Evil
Evil exists in two primary forms:
- Moral Evil – Sinful actions of humanity (violence, greed, injustice).
- Natural Evil – Disasters, diseases, and suffering caused by a fallen world.
Sin has marred everything. Yet, even in the midst of suffering, God is not absent. He governs all things, and even the worst affliction is held within His sovereign plan.
Christ’s Redemption: Hope in Suffering
The good news of the Gospel is that God did not abandon humanity to suffer without hope. Through Jesus Christ, He provided a way to overcome sin, pain, and death.
Jesus Entered Our Suffering
God did not remain distant from our pain. He stepped into it. He took on flesh, walked among us, and bore the full weight of our grief.
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3)
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Jesus Conquered Sin and Death
But He did not merely suffer—He triumphed. He broke the power of sin. He bore the curse upon the cross and rose victorious over death.
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
For those in Christ, suffering is no longer the end of the story. It is the road to eternal joy.
Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering?
We may not always understand God’s ways, but His Word gives us glimpses of His purposes.
1. Suffering Reveals the Glory of God
Pain forces us to look beyond this world. It strips away illusions and teaches us to long for heaven.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
2. Suffering Calls Sinners to Repentance
Hardship awakens the soul. Prosperity often makes men forget God, but affliction brings them to their knees.
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
3. Suffering Prepares Believers for Glory
Affliction is not wasted. It refines, purifies, and shapes us for eternity.
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)
How to Endure Pain and Suffering
The Bible offers practical ways to navigate suffering and remain steadfast in faith.
Turn to God in Prayer
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
Trust in God’s Sovereignty
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Find Strength in Christian Community
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
Meditate on God’s Promises
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
The Promise of Total Restoration
The Bible promises a future where suffering will be no more.
A New Heaven and New Earth
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” (Revelation 21:1)
The End of Pain and Death
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.” (Revelation 21:4)
Eternal Joy in God’s Presence
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
Conclusion
Pain and suffering are realities of a fallen world, but they are not without purpose or hope. The Bible explains that suffering originated with sin, but God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ offers renewal now and total restoration in eternity.
How to Respond to Suffering:
- Turn to God in prayer and rely on His strength.
- Trust His greater plan, even when it’s unclear.
- Lean on Christian community for support.
- Hold fast to the hope of eternal joy in Christ.
Through faith in Christ, pain and suffering are not the end of the story—they are the path to glory and eternal life.
