Why Does God Allow Suffering? 8 Biblical Reasons to Hold Onto Hope
Why Does God Allow Suffering? 8 Biblical Reasons to Hold On to Hope in Hard Times
God allows suffering to refine and mature our faith (James 1:2–4; 1 Peter 1:6–7).
Suffering draws us closer to God by deepening our dependence on Him (2 Corinthians 1:8–9).
Trials conform us to the image of Christ, helping us share in His suffering and obedience (Romans 8:28–29; Philippians 3:10).
God’s strength is revealed in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).
We are equipped to comfort others through what we’ve endured (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).
Suffering keeps us humble and guards against pride and self-reliance (2 Corinthians 12:7).
God may be accomplishing a greater good that we can’t yet see (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).
Our response to suffering can point others to God and glorify Him (John 9:1–3; 1 Peter 3:15).
This blog offers a trauma-informed, biblical lens on suffering—designed for Christians seeking healing, meaning, and hope in their pain.
As a Christian counselor in Texas, this week has been heavy. Our state was devastated by the floods in Central Texas and the loss of so many children and families living and camping along the Guadalupe River. I have been sitting with fellow believers who lament the question we all have to face in our walk with the Lord. Whey does God allow such suffering, especially of innocent lives?
The practice of reconciling a GOOD GOD and a FALLEN WORLD is one that has taken my lifetime and more to understand. It is bittersweet to receive His goodness in one hand and sit with the trauma, betrayal, sins of others, and spiritual darkness that also lurks in the other hand. Thankfully, we have the truth of scripture to lead us when the world does not feel safe.
Why does God allow us to suffer? What does the bible say about our spiritual doubts, depression, and trauma?
This question isn’t just philosophical—it’s deeply personal. It’s asked through tears, clenched fists, and aching hearts. And while there may never be a full earthly explanation for all pain, the Bible does offer real, compassionate wisdom for those walking through the fire.
Whether you're experiencing emotional pain, spiritual confusion, or relational loss, the Bible gives us insight into how suffering can actually become a space of growth, intimacy with God, and transformation.
Below are eight biblical reasons why God may allow suffering. These insights can help reframe pain as something that is not meaningless—but potentially sacred.
1. To Refine and Mature Our Faith
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials… because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
— James 1:2–4
Trials often expose what we truly believe. They burn away shallow faith and deepen roots. If you feel like your faith is being tested, it might be because God is strengthening it—making it more resilient, genuine, and enduring.
Reflection: What area of your faith feels like it’s under fire? What might God be refining?
2. To Draw Us Closer to Him
“This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”
— 2 Corinthians 1:9
Suffering strips away illusions of control. In those raw places, God becomes more than just a concept—He becomes our lifeline. Trials invite us to lean fully into God’s presence and provision.
Reflection: In what ways is this hardship nudging you toward deeper reliance on God?
3. To Make Us More Like Jesus
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.”
— Philippians 3:10
Jesus was no stranger to suffering. When we suffer, we are uniquely positioned to understand His compassion, obedience, and love. Suffering conforms us to His image—not by crushing us, but by transforming us.
Reflection: How might this season be shaping you into someone more Christ-like?
4. To Show God’s Strength in Our Weakness
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9
In trauma recovery, we often feel shattered and powerless. But Scripture reminds us that God does His best work in the places we feel least capable. His strength fills in the cracks.
Reflection: What area of weakness could become a space for God’s power?
5. To Equip Us to Comfort Others
“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble.”
— 2 Corinthians 1:4
What you’ve been through isn’t wasted. When we heal, we carry a kind of sacred empathy—one that can’t be learned any other way. Suffering turns survivors into hope-bearers.
Reflection: Who might need the same comfort God has shown you?
6. To Keep Us Humble
“To keep me from becoming conceited… there was given me a thorn in my flesh.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:7
Sometimes suffering reminds us we aren’t self-sufficient. That reminder, while painful, keeps us grounded in grace rather than pride. It protects us from the illusion that we have life all figured out.
Reflection: Is there an area where God is lovingly pulling you back from self-reliance?
7. To Work a Greater Good
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”
— Genesis 50:20
When we can’t see the bigger picture, we can trust that God can redeem anything. Even pain. Even betrayal. Even loss. His story is never finished at the point of our suffering.
Reflection: What redemptive outcome might be unfolding—even if you can’t see it yet?
8. To Point Others to God
“This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
— John 9:3
Faith in the midst of pain is a powerful witness. When others see your endurance, your trust, and your honest faith—especially in suffering—they catch a glimpse of God’s love and grace.
Reflection: How might your response to this trial reveal God to others?
A Prayer for the Suffering Soul
“Lord, help me to trust that You have a purpose in every trial. Open my heart to the lessons You have for me, and give me strength, patience, and hope as I walk this road.”
Being human means we will taste both joy and sorrow—and sometimes, both at once. Even Jesus, fully God and fully man, knew the bitter sweetness of suffering. He wept, He rejoiced, He felt forsaken, and He trusted. As a therapist, I often remind clients that it’s okay to hold joy and pain together. We don’t have to choose one or the other. Compassion invites us to honor our grief without shutting out beauty, to receive comfort without rushing past the ache. This is sacred ground—where healing begins and where Jesus meets us with gentleness, not judgment, in both.
Click Below to Learn More about Christian Counseling in Weatherford, Parker County, and Brock, Texas.
About the Author
Whitney Akins is a trauma-informed Christian counselor in Weatherford, Texas. She helps clients who feel stuck in emotional pain, spiritual confusion, or dysfunctional relationship patterns find healing through evidence-based mental health practices and a compassionate faith. Whitney integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic therapy, and biblical wisdom to guide clients toward lasting emotional and spiritual wholeness.
