It's a question that's followed humanity for thousands of years.

If God is loving, why do children suffer? Why do wars happen? Why does cancer exist? Why do people lose the ones they love? Why do some people seem to endure one hardship after another?

I'm currently taking a college course called Christian Worldview, and one of the recurring questions in our discussions is, "If God is so good and powerful, why does He allow suffering?" It's a thoughtful question, and one that people from many different belief systems have wrestled with.

As I've listened to my classmates and reflected on my own life, I realized something...

The answer we give often depends on the worldview we're looking through.

The Modern Psychology Perspective

Modern psychology generally doesn't spend much time asking why suffering exists. Instead, it asks a different question:

"What helps people heal?"

Research on resilience, grief recovery, post-traumatic growth, and growth mindset suggests that while trauma itself is never desirable, many people eventually discover unexpected gifts that emerge from surviving it. They may develop greater compassion, stronger relationships, a deeper appreciation for life, or a clearer sense of purpose.

Psychology doesn't tell us that suffering is good.

It tells us that healing is possible.

As someone who has lived through childhood abuse, the death of my mother as a teenager, divorce, financial hardship, and many other painful experiences, I find hope in that.

Our wounds don't have to become the end of our story.

A Christian Perspective

One thing I've appreciated while studying Christianity is that the Bible never pretends suffering isn't real.

Jesus Himself experienced betrayal, grief, physical pain, and death.

The Apostle Paul writes that suffering can produce perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3–5). James encourages believers to see trials as opportunities for spiritual maturity (James 1:2–4). Romans 8:28 reminds us that God can work through all things for good for those who love Him... not that all things are good, but that love can redeem even the hardest parts of life.

For many Christians, suffering isn't evidence that God has abandoned us.

I find that deeply comforting.

My Personal Spiritual Perspective

My own spiritual life doesn't fit neatly inside one denomination, and I'm okay with that.

For most of my life, I've simply wanted to feel close to God... not just know about God.

Over the years, through prayer, profound spiritual experiences, working with grieving clients, and listening to the stories of people who have had near-death experiences or spiritually transformative experiences, my understanding has grown in ways I never expected.

I don't see suffering as punishment.

I don't believe God sits in heaven deciding who deserves pain.

Instead, I experience God, Jesus, and the angels as infinitely loving companions who walk beside us through every part of our lives.

Some people describe Earth as a school for the soul. Others believe we're simply here to experience what it means to be human: to love, to grieve, to forgive, to create, to struggle, and to grow in ways that may only make complete sense from a much larger perspective.

I don't claim to know exactly how it all works.

I simply know that this understanding has brought me peace.

One of the most meaningful spiritual experiences of my life left me with the deep sense that love existed before I was born and will continue long after my body is gone. Whether someone shares that belief or not, it has profoundly changed how I view hardship.

That doesn't mean I don't cry or ask God why. I do. When someone I love is suffering, I pour out my heart in prayer. I tell God exactly how I feel, and then I consciously shift my focus toward His love and presence. I thank Him for already surrounding the person I love with angels, for already bringing them comfort, guidance, protection, healing, and peace... even before I see those prayers answered. That practice reminds me that neither they nor I are ever alone. It doesn't always change the circumstances immediately, but it almost always changes my heart.

Where I Stand Today

At fifty-two years old, I still don't have all the answers and I accept I never will in this lifetime.

Sometimes I still ask God why and complain when my loved ones suffer.

Sometimes I still doubt myself.

Sometimes I still wish life felt easier. A lot easier.

But I've also discovered something beautiful.

Every painful experience I've survived has made me more capable of sitting beside another human being in their own struggles.

Whether I'm supporting a grieving client, reading with my grandchildren, or simply listening to a friend, I find that love keeps showing up.

Perhaps that isn't an explanation for suffering.

Perhaps it's the invitation within it?

So if someone asks me today, "Why would a good God allow suffering?"

My honest answer is:

I don't know all the reasons.

But I do believe that Love is stronger than suffering, healing is possible, and God never wastes our pain. Somehow, even in the darkest seasons, Love keeps finding ways to bring light into the world.

And maybe that's where hope begins.