In a world filled with sin and suffering, it can be tough to reconcile the idea of a loving, all-powerful God with the darkness that surrounds us. From moral failures to natural disasters, evil feels like an unyielding force in our lives, and we often find ourselves asking, Why does God allow this? If you’re someone wrestling with this question, you’re not alone. For centuries, people have tried to understand how sin, evil, and God’s purpose coexist. Here’s a reflection on this difficult topic, using Scripture as our guide.
The Freedom of Will and the Consequence of Sin
From the beginning, God granted humanity the freedom to choose, as we see in Genesis 2-3, where Adam and Eve freely ate from the tree of knowledge, bringing sin into the world. This freedom reflects God’s desire for a real, loving relationship with us rather than automated obedience. Yet, even in our ability to choose, God’s grace is always active, reaching out to us and enabling us to seek Him, even as sin tries to pull us away. This grace—the grace that goes before us—awakens in us the strength to resist temptation and the desire to draw closer to Him.
With this freedom, however, comes the risk of choosing against God’s will, leading to the painful, tangible consequences of sin. As Romans 5:12 reminds us, “just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people because all sinned.” Sin isn’t an abstract concept; it’s a rift that separates us from God, creating distance in our relationship with Him. Yet God’s grace continues to work, inviting us to turn back, empowering us to make choices that lead to life and holiness. Through this ongoing grace, we embark on a journey of transformation, a path where each step brings us closer to God’s heart and the fullness of His love.
The Presence of Evil: Moral and Natural
The existence of both moral and natural evil highlights the pervasive impact of sin and the need for God’s redeeming grace. It’s not just individual wrongdoing that creates suffering. There’s also moral evil—acts like violence, greed, and betrayal—that arise from human choices that harm others. These evils demonstrate the misuse of our God-given freedom, as sin distorts the intentions of our hearts. But we also face natural evil: events not caused by human action, such as earthquakes, disease, and death. These forms of suffering can feel even harder to reconcile with a loving God, and yet they too are part of the brokenness that grace seeks to heal.
Paul’s words in Romans 8:22 offer a powerful image of this broken creation: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Here, creation itself suffers under the weight of the fall, yearning for redemption alongside humanity. This worldview doesn’t imply that God causes suffering or evil but recognizes that sin’s reach extends to every part of life, even affecting the natural order. Yet God’s grace is at work, even in this brokenness, calling humanity to respond, to participate in healing and restoration. Through grace, we are invited to join in God’s redemptive plan, both for our hearts and for a world groaning for renewal.
Evil as a Test of Faith and a Call to Dependence
The presence of evil and suffering, while difficult to comprehend, serves as an opportunity for spiritual growth and deepened dependence on God. Evil raises hard questions, and often, there are no simple answers. But within these struggles, God invites us into a closer relationship with Him. James 1:2-4 speaks to this paradox: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” In facing trials, our faith is tested and refined, leading us toward maturity.
This perspective doesn’t suggest that suffering itself is to be celebrated; rather, it shows that God’s grace can redeem even our hardest moments. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, taught that grace works within us to deepen our trust in God, especially when we reach the end of our own strength. In these dark times, we become more aware of our limitations and our need for a Savior. The trials we endure can bring about a transformation that draws us into a fuller, more mature faith, where we rely on God’s sustaining grace. Through such dependence, we experience the Spirit’s work in our lives, shaping us in Christ’s likeness even in the face of adversity.
God’s Response: Entering Into Our Suffering
The Word of God doesn’t provide a simple answer to the problem of evil, but it reveals God’s profound response through Jesus Christ. God doesn’t remain distant from our suffering; rather, He steps directly into it. Philippians 2:7-8 captures this: “Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Through the cross, God enters into the depths of human pain and sin, showing that He is not removed from our struggles but deeply invested in our healing and redemption.
The cross not only shows God’s presence in suffering but also reveals His solution. Jesus bore the full weight of sin, conquering it through His resurrection, which offers a real and living hope. This victory doesn’t mean that all suffering is immediately eliminated, but it points to a future promise—a hope that one day, all things will be made whole. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? … But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” While sin and evil still have their effects, God’s grace is actively working within us, moving creation toward complete restoration.
The Role of the Holy Spirit: A Comforter and Guide in Darkness
The journey of faith, marked by the struggle with sin and the presence of evil, is not one we face alone. After His resurrection, Jesus promised His followers, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth” (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit, described as our Comforter and Advocate, comes alongside us in every season of life, especially in times of darkness and trial. In Wesleyan thought, the Spirit is not only a source of comfort but also the active presence of God’s grace, guiding, strengthening, and transforming us from the inside out.
Through the Holy Spirit, we experience God’s prevenient grace—the grace that goes before us, empowering us to resist sin, confront the darkness of the world, and live as people of hope. This grace doesn’t just forgive us; it initiates our journey and shapes us continually as we grow closer to God. The Spirit provides the will and strength to walk with God faithfully, as Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:12-13, “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
In this journey of transformation, the Spirit cultivates within us the fruits described in Galatians 5:22-23—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are not mere virtues but the evidence of the Spirit’s transformative work, making us resilient and hopeful, even in trials. The Spirit’s presence guides us, offering peace amid chaos and strength when we’re weary.
In a world that often feels overwhelming, the Holy Spirit acts as our guide in darkness, pointing us to the truth of God’s promises and enabling us to live as lights. Through His work, we’re not only comforted in our struggles but are continually transformed, equipped to reflect God’s love and grace in a broken world. The Spirit’s ongoing presence invites us into a life of faith that matures, deepens, and enables us to embody Christ more fully with each day.
Our Hope for the Future: A New Creation Without Evil
The hope of a future free from evil is a powerful promise that shapes our present journey of faith. The Word of God points us toward a time when evil will be no more, a future vividly described in Revelation 21:4: “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” This isn’t just a comforting idea; it’s central to the Christian hope and to the understanding that God’s redeeming grace will one day restore all of creation. God’s plan includes the full renewal of a new heaven and earth where evil, suffering, and death will be gone forever.
This future hope reminds us that, while we may not fully understand why evil and suffering exist now, God’s purpose will ultimately prevail. Wesley emphasized that God’s grace is at work even now, preparing us for this final restoration. This promise of future wholeness offers us strength for today, knowing that our current reality, with all its pain and brokenness, is not the end of the story. One day, God will bring complete justice and peace, fulfilling His promise to wipe every tear from our eyes. This assurance propels us forward, anchoring our faith in the ultimate victory of God’s love and His redemptive plan for all creation.
Conclusion: Trusting God Amid the Struggle
The existence of sin and evil is hard to understand, and the Word of God doesn’t sugarcoat that struggle. But Scripture shows us a God who is not indifferent to our pain. Instead, He steps into it, offering Himself as the answer to our deepest needs. While the presence of evil challenges us, it also calls us to lean on God, to seek His presence, and to trust in His promises.
If you’re struggling to see God in a world filled with darkness, remember that He sees you. He knows the weight of your questions, and through Jesus, He has provided a way back to hope, even in the face of sin and suffering. In the end, God’s light is stronger than any darkness we face, and His love and grace will have the final word.
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