A biblical reflection on pain, purpose, and freewill.
Why is there Suffering?
Suffering is one of the hardest realities of life. It raises questions that echo across generations: Why does God allow so much pain? Yet, if we listen closely, God might turn the question back to us: Why do you allow so much suffering?
Suffering and God’s Design
Suffering was never part of God’s original plan. In Eden, humanity chose disobedience, and the ripple effects of sin and folly have continued ever since. Scripture reminds us that trials are not meaningless—they refine us. Job’s story shows how God can use suffering to strengthen faith, and Paul declares: “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
The Purpose of Suffering (1 Peter 1:6–9)
- Trials test and purify our faith, more precious than gold.
- Refined faith brings praise, honour, and glory when Christ returns.
- Though we haven’t seen Him, we love Him—and rejoice with inexpressible joy.
- The ultimate outcome: salvation of our souls.
- Suffering, then, is not wasted. It shapes us for eternity.
Why Doesn’t God Intervene?
God’s master plan is built on freedom and choice. He values obedience born of love, not compulsion. Freewill means some will rebel—and God allows that choice. If He forced righteousness, we would be robots. If He eliminated rebellion instantly, freewill would vanish, and we would be like slaves!
Instead, He patiently allows both good and evil to exist side by side until His kingdom comes in fullness.
The Constraint Triangle Analogy
Think of the familiar “constraint triangle” in manufacturing: cost, quality, and time—you can only pick two.
You can have low cost and high quality IF you’re willing to wait. Or you may choose low cost and fast service, BUT the quality will suffer. Finally, you can have high quality and fast service, but it will cost a lot!
Similarly, God’s nature—righteousness, justice, mercy, and truth—means He won’t compromise His principles. He too has ‘constraints.’
Since God allows human freewill and does not intervene immediately (allowing life for both good and evil people), the result is that we do not live in a loving community, but one filled with suffering, chaos, and wickedness.
If God did not allow freewill, and was to ensure life for all in a loving community then he would have had to create robots! Or if there was to be freewill in a loving community, then it would require immediate death to the wicked.
So, this side of the Kingdom, with freewill and life for everybody as the choices God has allowed, we see that chaos predominates, and a loving community is out of reach. All that will change when Jesus reigns in righteousness and the earth is filled with God’s glory!
The Importance of Freewill
From the beginning, God gave Adam and Eve a choice (Genesis 2:16–17). Their decision had consequences—for them and all humanity. We all face the same choice: to serve God or not. He will not force us—but our choices will have consequences.
God DID Intervene!
He sent Jesus to break the cycle of sin and death. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). Through Him, suffering finds meaning, and hope shines beyond the pain.
Final Thought
Suffering is not the end of the story. It is the refining fire that prepares us for glory. Freewill makes love possible, and Christ makes salvation certain. One day, the chaos will give way to a kingdom on earth, filled with God’s glory.
Here’s a handout from a class based on this topic.
Here’s a video of a class based on this handout.
The Original Gospel 
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