Why Does God Allow Suffering? Part 1: The Spiritual Realm

by Russ Schmidt

This one question is not only the most asked question by skeptics, but it’s also the one question that keeps people from looking to God as their source of refuge. It keeps them from committing because the question doesn’t come with a satisfying answer. Most answers that are given, really don’t get to the heart of the matter because those giving the answers don’t get it themselves. 

That’s not an insult to anyone who doesn’t really know the answer because most people who call themselves Christians can’t answer this question adequately. Even I myself, for years really couldn’t answer this question. I would stumble over my words in trying to make sense of it, but really didn’t know how, so I just tried to avoid the topic.

And why is that? Because we’re dealing with the spirit realm. It’s a dimension of creation that’s outside the parameters of the physical world we are living in. The spirit realm that’s all around us, is much more real than we think. But, because we are carnal physical beings, we can’t taste, touch, smell, hear, or see it with our own physical senses, and because we can’t, it is difficult at best for us to comprehend, let alone explain.

Then on top of that, we try and fathom the wisdom of God and the depth of His love, while trying to understand His purpose with creation. We are told in the Bible that God is love, yet we see so much pain and suffering in the world. How do you justify the two? Well, the answer to that, although complex, is really pretty simple when you understand the true nature of God and His plan for mankind.

The Bible, which is the number one selling book of all-time with an estimated 5 billion copies sold, and describes the complete plan of God that starts right off in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis. In this chapter, God lays out the first six days of creation. In chapter two, He caps off creation week with the establishment of the very first Sabbath rest. 

Although a detailed explanation of the significance of this week is for another study, creation week is an overall blueprint or a type and shadow of what God’s plan was to encompass. Even the short descriptions of each day and the order in which they fall, have prophetic undertones that are significant in God’s overall plan. 

The remainder of the Bible is full of many true stories that are types and shadows prophesying things that are going to occur throughout history. In other words, the stories we read of the ancient men and women of the Bible often times represents a significant event that is to come in the future.

It’s probably a poor analogy, but I liken it to a saying used in the investment world when it comes to trading the Stock Market and studying stock chart history. The saying goes, “History doesn’t necessarily repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes.” Meaning that in studying these historical stock charts, you can base your investment decisions on past history documented in those charts. Why? Because we humans are creatures of habit; we’re very predictable. Since humans are predictable and they are the ones moving the markets, that means the markets are predictable.

The same could be said for the types and shadows of the Bible. They may not happen exactly the way it occurred in the historical record of the Bible, but when you begin to see the similarities of historical biblical events to events that have occurred later in history, it’s hard to deny their relationship and how it impacts God’s overall plan. And when this happens over and over and rhymes with the prophecies of the Bible, you can’t deny the fingerprints of God on these events.

King Solomon, in the Book of Ecclesiastes, writes this in chapter 1, verse 9, “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” Solomon wrote this book toward the end of his reign as king. We know that because he gives an account of all his experiences throughout his life. He tasted all the pleasures of life, yet nothing satisfied him. 

But, here in verse 9, he gives us insight of what he noticed, as far as history repeating itself, “That which has been is what will be.” This aspect of his life’s experience was so impactful to him that he mentions it again in chapter 3, and verse 15, “That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been.”

Nothing happens by coincidence in the Bible; everything is calculated by God and documented by man through inspiration of God. There are so many types and shadows, and prophetic pronouncements throughout scripture. And what’s really mind-boggling is that many have pointed to events that have already occurred and are in our history books.

When it comes to fulfilled prophecy, there is no other book that can even come close. But I say all this in order to assure credibility of the Bible’s written word and the plan of God that is woven throughout its pages like a beautifully designed tapestry.

Now, I must say, it is not a cut and dry plan. What I mean by that is that it isn’t simply stated, yet you can certainly come to a conclusive understanding of it by studying the complete text. I mentioned at the beginning, it’s complex, yet simple once understood. It’s complex in the aspect of deciphering the information we need to begin to see the picture it’s creating. 

Similar to a jigsaw puzzle, how at first when finding matching pieces, we don’t necessarily see the image, but with each additional piece we put in place, the image becomes more and more visible. 

God has placed this jigsaw puzzle throughout His word because He wants each one of us to seek it out. I’m honored that you are reading this, and I hope it stimulates you in doing your own study of the Bible. Just as the apostle Paul said, don’t just take my word for it, search the scriptures daily to prove what I’m saying is true. Who knows, maybe you will come out with a little different perspective that even makes the puzzle come clearer. The only way to do that is to seek God with all your heart by putting Him first and studying His word, the Bible.

Just like a brand-new car comes with an owner’s that has instructions on how to maintain the vehicle in order to maximize its longevity. But, how many people, who buy a new car, actually read the manual? Not many. Then when things don’t go well, they blame the vehicle manufacturer, when it was the fault of the owner for not following the instruction manual.

We can say the same for life. Studying the Bible won’t keep you from the trials of life, but it certainly can help you avoid many of them, or in the case of the unavoidable ones, the wisdom and knowledge the Bible provides can help you manage your way through those trials, knowing you are not alone in your journey. And God promises wisdom and understanding to those who do seek Him.

One last thing on the Bible that’s important to understand before I get to answering the question proposed by the title of this article. You need to understand that the stories within the pages of the Bible, that often seem hard to believe as fact, are in fact, true stories that God orchestrated, with each being a piece of a grand puzzle for us to put together.

They are not fables or allegories just meant to offer up moral values, as some seem to believe. They are real life events, some being supernatural events all designed for us to interpret. So, why does God make it so difficult to understand?

That’s another important “why” question that requires an in-depth explanation, but simply put here in a nutshell by stating; God wants you to seek Him with all you heart and mind. Jeremiah 29:13 reads, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” And herein lies the basis for understanding the question posed by this article, why does God allow suffering? 

The answer to that question is a two-word answer; He doesn’t! I know, I know, you are thinking all this I just read for that answer? Remember what I told you, the answer is simple, yet complex. Let’s start from the beginning. The story of Adam and Eve is a story that many believe is an allegory or fable, if you will. 

To those who just see things on a surface level, it’s much easier to comprehend an evolutionary process whereby we evolved over many millions or billions of years into the human beings we are today, than to believe God took dust from the ground and instantly created a man. Then taking a rib from that man and creating a woman. When in reality, there isn’t a shred of evidence that supports evolution.

Yet, when you ask the tough questions regarding the creation and evolutionary process, you begin to see things differently and realize that it takes more faith to believe that than it is to believe in a supernatural creator, God.

When you diligently seek God with all your heart and begin to see the wonders of the Bible that can only come to pass from a supernatural author, you can’t help but believe those things which we can’t comprehend.

You also need to believe that the spiritual realm is very real and involved in our everyday lives. Understanding all this is important in understanding how it all started and what went wrong.

My reasoning for saying all that I have up to this point, is that I’m hopeful that I have impressed upon you the importance of seeking God with all your heart as scripture says. When you do, answers to these questions will come to you, even if it does come from something you are reading, listening to, or watching. You may think, well, I didn’t get it from God, I got this understanding through someone else. But who’s to say that God didn’t lead you in that direction to wherever you got certain understanding?

However, this shouldn’t preempt you from doing your own due diligence in reading the Bible, and studying it for confirmation. As far as my understanding of this question, I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anyone else explain it like I am about to. This is something that I’ve just developed over my years of study God’s word. I do believe it is through the Holy Spirit that I’ve come to understand this.