Why Is There Suffering and Evil in the World?
Suffering and God – A Contradiction?
War, disease, injustice, personal tragedies – few questions trouble people more than this: If God is good, why does he allow all of this to happen?
This question isn’t just theoretical. It hits us in our daily lives, in our fears, in our losses and doubts. Many people lose their faith in God right here – or surprisingly, some find it precisely within this tension.
The Bible doesn’t dodge the question of suffering. On the contrary: It takes it seriously, describes the reality of a broken world, and reveals surprising perspectives that can offer hope even in the darkest of times.
Free Will – The Prerequisite for Real Love
A key to understanding suffering lies in free will. God did not create humans as robots programmed to automatically love and obey Him. Love that isn’t freely chosen isn’t real love—it would be forced and therefore meaningless.
This is why God gave humanity the ability to choose for or against Him. However, this freedom also brings with it the potential to inflict suffering on one another, to choose hate over love, or to ignore God’s ways.
In other words: Without the freedom to say “no,” our “yes” to God would have no value. God wanted a genuine relationship, not a shackled obligation. Yet, this very freedom, which is the foundation for love, has also created the fertile ground for suffering and evil.
Jesus on the Cross – A Look at Suffering and Hope
Suffering, pain, and injustice affect every one of us. But in these moments, Christians can look to Jesus on the cross. There, they see someone who Himself experienced deep suffering, who understands human weakness and pain, and yet offers love and forgiveness.
The cross thus becomes a mirror: It shows that God does not ignore our suffering but instead shares in it and understands it. At the same time, it is a promise: Through Jesus, people receive hope that suffering does not have the final word. Those who look to Him receive the assurance of life in communion with God—a life that transcends the difficulties of this world.
This perspective changes the way we view pain and injustice. It assures us that we are not alone, that our suffering is seen, and that there is a future full of hope—even when we don’t have all the answers to why.
Conclusion: Suffering, Compassion, and Hope
Suffering and evil are a reality in our world—and they are not God’s original will. Rather, they are the consequence of the free will God gave humanity and the world’s choice to turn away from Him. Free will makes genuine love and true responsibility possible—but it also carries the potential for pain and injustice.
At the same time, God shows His compassion in every moment of suffering. Jesus Himself suffered, wept for Lazarus, and walked alongside people in their pain. He knows what it feels like when grief and injustice weigh heavily on life.
And yet, a hope is revealed that extends beyond this life. Through what Jesus accomplished on the cross for the world, there is a perspective that offers comfort, meaning, and a future beyond suffering. On the next page, we will see how the Gospel communicates this hope in concrete terms and what makes the Christian faith so unique.

What Makes the Christian Faith So Unique?
Many religions are about rules and human effort. The gospel is about grace—God’s unconditional love that we don’t have to earn, but only receive. This message doesn’t just change our view of God; it transforms our hearts from the inside out.