When we look at the world around us, it’s not hard to see the presence of evil. We see suffering, violence, injustice, and sin in every corner of society. It’s natural to ask, “Why does God allow evil?”
This question has been asked by Christians and non-Christians alike for centuries, and while there are no simple answers, the Bible does give us insights that help us understand God’s perspective. One passage that speaks to this issue is Romans 8:28, which says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” This verse gives us a profound truth to hold onto: even when we see evil, God is still in control, and He is working all things, even the painful things, for a greater good.
The first thing we must acknowledge is that evil exists because of sin. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the world. Genesis 3:6-7 tells us that their decision to eat the forbidden fruit opened the door to a world marred by sin, suffering, and death. As a result, the evil we see today is a direct consequence of humanity’s rebellion against God. We brought sin into the world, and with it came evil, pain, and death. This wasn’t part of God’s original design, but it was the outcome of free will.
Free will is essential to understanding why God allows evil. He didn’t create us as robots, programmed to only do good. Instead, He gave us the freedom to choose. We are free to love Him or reject Him, to follow His ways or go our own way. With that freedom comes the possibility of sin and evil. If God had removed our free will to prevent evil, we would also lose the ability to love. True love requires choice. God desires that we love Him freely, not by compulsion, and this freedom makes the existence of evil possible.
But even though evil exists, God does not abandon us to it. Throughout Scripture, we see God intervening in human history to bring about redemption and restoration. He is not indifferent to our suffering. In fact, He entered into our suffering through Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself experienced evil and suffering on a level that we can scarcely comprehend. Isaiah 53:3 describes Him as “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” He was rejected, betrayed, beaten, and crucified—yet He willingly endured all of this to defeat the power of sin and death. God doesn’t just allow evil to persist without addressing it. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, He has provided the ultimate solution to evil.
Romans 5:8 reminds us of this truth: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ’s sacrifice shows us that God is not distant from our suffering. He stepped into it. He took the worst evil upon Himself in order to save us. This is the heart of the Gospel: that God has already begun the work of defeating evil, and He will one day bring it to an end.
However, this leads us to another question: If God has defeated evil through Jesus, why does evil still persist? The answer lies in God’s timing. While Jesus’ death and resurrection have broken the power of sin, we are still living in a world that awaits full redemption. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God is patient because He desires more people to come to repentance. He delays His final judgment on evil because of His mercy.
In this period of waiting, God allows evil for a time, but He does not allow it without purpose. Romans 8:18 gives us another crucial perspective: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” The suffering and evil we experience now are temporary. They pale in comparison to the eternal glory that awaits us in God’s kingdom. Our present trials are part of a larger story, one that God is weaving together for our ultimate good.
Even in the face of evil, God is working. Sometimes He uses suffering to refine us, to make us more like Christ. James 1:2-4 tells us to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” While evil itself is not good, God can use it to produce something good in us. Our trials and hardships can strengthen our faith, deepen our reliance on Him, and mold our character.
Moreover, God often uses our experiences of suffering and evil to help others. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says that God “comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” When we go through difficult seasons, we become better equipped to minister to others who are struggling. Our pain can become a platform for showing the love and comfort of Christ to others. In this way, even the evil we endure can be redeemed for a higher purpose.
At the same time, we must never lose sight of the fact that God’s justice will prevail. Evil will not have the final word. Revelation 21:4 gives us the ultimate hope: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” There is coming a day when God will completely eliminate evil from the world. Every tear will be wiped away, and all suffering will cease. Until that day, we live in the tension of a world where evil is real but temporary, knowing that God’s victory is certain.
We also must remember that we have a role to play in resisting evil. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Evil is not just a physical reality but a spiritual one. We are engaged in spiritual warfare, called to stand against the forces of darkness through prayer, faith, and obedience to God’s Word.
As Christians, we are called to be lights in a dark world. Matthew 5:14-16 exhorts us, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” In a world full of evil, we are called to shine the light of Christ. We are called to love, serve, and proclaim the truth of the Gospel, even when evil surrounds us.
In conclusion, while the presence of evil is a difficult and complex reality, we can rest in the truth that God is sovereign over it. He allows evil because He has given us free will, but He is actively working to bring about redemption and restoration. He entered into our suffering through Jesus Christ, and He will one day put an end to all evil. Until that day, we are called to trust Him, knowing that He is working all things together for good, even in the face of evil. We are not left alone in our struggles, and we have the promise that evil will not have the final victory—God will.
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