Suffering is always a hard thing to explain.
Many people wonder, ‘how can I believe in a God that just sits by and lets bad things happen?’ But the Bible tells us God doesn’t just sit back.
God grieves
When suffering occurs, God grieves. The Bible shows us this in how Jesus reacted to his friend’s death Lazarus.
In John chapter 11 you can read about how the death of Lazarus affects Jesus. Upon seeing the mourners of Lazarus, Jesus weeps. He cries. God is actually crying here. The amazing thing is that Jesus has come to bring Lazarus back from the dead, but he is so deeply moved by the sight of people mourning for the loss of a loved one that he also weeps. This is God’s emotional response to his love for all of us.
God will fix suffering
The second thing God is doing about suffering is that he has set a day where he will end all suffering. This day is known as Judgement Day or Jesus’ second coming.
When Jesus died on the cross 2000 years ago, he experienced terrible suffering so that we may be forgiven of all the times we have rebelled against God and each other.
Jesus rose from the dead and is now seated on God’s throne in heaven. As such, Jesus is in a position to end all of our suffering and will do so when he returns to Earth.
Why wait?
So why then hasn’t Jesus just come down and ended all suffering now? Well, the answer lies in what that would mean for you and me.
When Jesus returns he will judge everyone. A Christian will be judged innocent because they will be judged on the basis on what Jesus did (lived the perfect life) as they have put their trust in him.
On the other hand, those who don’t trust in Christ will be judged on the basis of what they have done in their life. And the Bible tells us that no one has been perfect (except Jesus), and as such all will be judged guilty.
In the end, Jesus has not returned yet because he is waiting for as many people as possible to become Christians so they may be forgiven. So while we wait for his return, pray that many more will come to know Christ, and go out and tell them the good news!
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9)
Edited from a Q&A.