Christians and non-believers often ask why is there so much pain and suffering in the world if God is all powerful and all loving. This is a Biblical paradox.

A common reply from pastors and Christians: “We will not understand pain and suffering in this world until we get to heaven” (Isaiah 55:8-9) While this true, the Bible gives more answers than this simple reply.

One of God’s purposes in creating mankind was to magnify the expression of His love. (John 17:20–26, 1 Corinthians 13) God created us with 100% free will, as only with 100% free will can there be great love. God didn’t create us to robotically obey, love, and please him. A robot cannot show love. God created us to experience and express strong love. With 100% free will, humans are free to love, but also to do evil. To reduce evil would also reduce love. (Rev. 3:20, John 3:16). (John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends)

There is rejoicing in heaven when one person turns to God of their own free will. God receives great joy when just one person turns and loves Him out of their own free will. (Luke 15:7-10). This was God's plan from the start, before time was created (Titus 1:2). Jesus Christ overcame death and evil through His death and resurrection (Hebrews 2:14-15, Colossians 2:15). Earth is God's training program for mankind (1 Peter 1:10-12). Tribulations - trials develop character (Romans 5:3-5). Tribulation and evil are temporary (Romans 8:17-18). Those who do wrong usually suffer more. (Galatians 6:7) Suffering helps us to make better choices (James 1:4-5).

God made this universe for the conquest of evil. (1 John 3:8, Genesis 3:14-15) While evil is present in this universe, God has provided a way to enter a New Creation, which will have no evil or suffering. (John 3:16 and Revelation 3:20) The Bible describes a realm, the New Creation, where God and humans will dwell together. This dwelling place will have very different laws of physics. There will be no pain, no death, no decay, grief, no remorse, no shame and no suffering (Rev 21).

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:17-18

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

A critical distinctive of the Biblical creation accounts compared to all other creation scenarios is the promise of a New Creation that will some day replace the present creation. The New Creation goes beyond paradise restored (Earth fixed). It is a radically and gloriously different creation governed by different laws and framed by different dimensions of space and time: no pain, no suffering, no tears, no death, prefect relationships and more. (Rev 21, Rev 3:20)

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” Philippians 1:21 (Death is not evil!)

“Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24b (One of the prizes is the New Creation)

(“Acts of God” are sometimes mixed with human evil-suffering, but should be addressed separately See Natural Evil Page)