16. Question: Why would a loving God allow infants, children and good people to suffer?

Answer: The Bible states that before humans chose to sin, no one suffered on earth. After humans chose to sin, all humans and all mankind has suffered. Suffering and death is the natural consequence of sin present on earth. No human being has ever been exempt from suffering. God created all humans and loves all humans. God is grieved when anyone suffers.

Often, suffering is a test to see how we will respond. When we suffer, will we continue to love God and remain faithful? Will we allow the Lord to refine us like gold, strengthen us spiritually and mature us in Christlikeness? When Christians remain faithful to God during suffering, the Christian will receive reward from God in heaven and on earth. 

God gets a very bad wrap on suffering. God does not cause suffering. God is the giver of all good gifts. God enjoys giving His good gifts and He has joy in giving His good gifts to show humans how much He loves them. Even Jesus Himself suffered when He was on earth. The only times God punished persons with suffering is when they refused to repent from causing continual suffering to the children of God (i.e., the Pharoh of Egypt and King Herod of Israel). God grieves whenever His creation suffers.

Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 3; Exodus 12; Exodus 34:6-7; 2 Chronicles 36:15; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 145; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 14:14; Matthew 16:27; Luke 6:35; Luke 16:10-13; John 1:1-4; John 3:16-18; Acts 12; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7; Galatians 6:7-9; Colossians 1:16; James 1:17; 1 Peter 1:3-7; 1 Peter 4:12-17;1 Peter 5:7; Revelation 22:12.