Why Does God Allow Suffering? A Christian Counselor’s Perspective

It’s been a hard month for many people, for many Christians. Our hearts have been heavy with senseless acts of violence. It makes you think about why people do the things they do. It also might make many question God. When you really look at it, you can break it down to not only mental health, but also good versus evil.

A former pastor of the C.S. Lewis Institute wrote, “The Bible declares that evil is far worse than we realize. Evil is an invader, a parasite, a rot. It’s a malignant cancer that has spread, a rupture in the cosmic order. Evil is so real that it has a personal focus – a focus in the one Jesus called the Devil – the one who stands opposed to the purposes of God and all that is good, true, and beautiful. The good material world God created has been corrupted. The root of evil in this world is not material; it is moral. It is found in rebellion against God’s good rule. And from the beginning of humanity, we have all participated in that rebellion, and evil is embodied in our own hearts.” (Kynes, 2023)

Why does God allow suffering?

People might then ask, “Why does a good God allow evil?” God didn’t create evil. When he created the world, the Bible says everything was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Evil comes from the devil and, unfortunately, from human nature/people, and angels disobeying, rebelling, and turning away from God.

He created angels and humans with free will. From the beginning, the devil and other angels abused their freedom. Satan, originally called Lucifer, was prideful and rebelled against God, even wanting to take God’s place and be worshipped rather than obey.

Jesus said that the devil “was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him” (John 8:44). Revelation 12:9b says, “…that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.”

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

Adam and Eve also disobeyed God and rebelled against Him. ​​The Bible talks about human nature. In Jeremiah 17:9 (AMP), it says, “The heart (some versions say mind) is deceitful above all things and it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives?”

God’s Judgment

So why doesn’t God get rid of evil people? He destroyed almost all the people due to wickedness during the Great Flood. He destroyed all but eight people – Noah and his family.

The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. – Genesis 6:5

So God sent the Great Flood to judge and cleanse the Earth. But it didn’t drown out sin. There were eight people on the ark, and they had sin in them. Even Noah, who was described as “righteous,” was not perfect. He was still human and sinned. We see that by his actions after the flood (see Genesis 9:20-27). Getting rid of all evil would mean God would have to eliminate free will.

How does mental health fit into this? Mental health conditions are part of living in a broken world. Seeking treatment demonstrates good stewardship of one’s life. A person’s likelihood to commit crimes may be impacted by mental health issues that affect their judgment, impulse control, and decision-making skills.

Some experts say that although violent behavior is not prevalent among people with severe mental illness, when it does happen, it is frequently linked to other problems, such as co-occurring substance abuse, traumatic childhood events, and environmental variables.

Either way, it is good to pay attention to what we are feeding our minds. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” and “it determines the course of your life” (NLT).

Other helpful passages regarding our hearts and minds:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. – Romans 12:2

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. – Colossians 3:2

Therefore, prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 1:13

The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. – Romans 8:6

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell. – Mark 9:47

Jesus’ teaching can be seen in two-fold. First, if something is destroying your life, even if it feels valuable or part of you, it’s better to remove it than let it ruin you entirely. This might mean cutting off toxic relationships, habits, environments, or thought patterns, even if it’s painful, because keeping them does long-term harm.

Second, sometimes maintaining mental health requires saying “no” to things that others see as normal (like social media, certain careers, substances, or even family dynamics). It can feel like “losing an eye” because it sets you apart, but the gain (peace, stability, healing) is greater than the loss. It’s about healthy discipline; choosing what to prune away so your whole self can thrive.

The Good News

Here’s the good news. God was not done with death or sin even after the Great Flood. Jesus came to set us free from sin and death (Romans 8:2).

But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. – 1 John 3:8

Colossians. 2:15 tells us God sent Jesus into the world and Jesus disarmed the powers of evil and made “a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15). The New Living Translation says, “He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”

Our enemy, the devil, wants us to focus on him, on the evil; he wants us to be full of hate and fear. But we have to turn our focus to God and remember that He is good. Kynes (2023) says it this way, “At the same time, the Bible affirms that God is far more loving than we could ever hope. Though God could rightly do away with us all, in His love and mercy, He seeks us out to save us from the evil in this world and from the evil in ourselves.”

God is good. James 1:17 states that “every good and perfect gift is from above.” If you do a Google search for “God is good,” it will take you to numerous verses about the goodness of God. I love how Psalm 136 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

For his mercy endures forever.” Then it repeats throughout, “His mercy endures forever.” Matthew Henry’s commentary says, “Forgetful as we are, things must be often repeated to us…The Lord continues equally ready to show mercy to all who seek for it, and this is the source of all our hope and comfort.”

No matter the situation, good or bad, “…we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

God can use even the most painful circumstances to achieve a greater, victorious outcome. If you feel like you can’t get past questioning God, pray for Him to help you understand. You can also speak with a pastor, a leader in your church, or a Christian counselor. Community support and professional care can be expressions of Christian love.

If you feel like you’ve been suffering with grief for too long, we have counselors who specialize in grief and loss. Christian counseling provides a safe, non-judgmental space to discuss spiritual doubts. A good Christian counselor can help people when they are struggling. They help individuals work through negative emotions like guilt, doubt, confusion, and worry. They can offer support, professional guidance, and faith-based perspectives when appropriate.

Just know, whatever you are going through or whatever you witness in the world around you, God said He will never leave or forsake you. That means He will never abandon you or turn away from you. Trust in Him and reach out for help if necessary.