Sickness and Suffering from a Loving God?

When faced with sickness, suffering, and death, we sometimes wonder how a loving God can allow these things to happen to us. We may find ourselves asking, “How can God do this to us?” In situations where innocent children face sickness or death, we find ourselves particularly challenged to understand why. We may ask ourselves, “Where is this loving God now?”

The answer to these questions can be found at the foundation of our faith. God’s love for us is total and all-encompassing. God does not want sickness, suffering, or death. We see Jesus weeping as he witnesses the sisters of Lazarus mourn his death. Throughout Scripture, we witness Jesus performing miracles to help the blind see, the lepers heal, and the crippled walk.

Causes of Evil: Nature of Material Things and Human Freedom to Choose Evil

Despite these miraculous healings, however, sickness, suffering, and death remain natural, normal consequences of living in this physical world. [And while] innate goodness is present because each individual is made in God’s own loving image and likeness, each individual also possesses the freedom of the human will, and with that freedom also comes the power to choose good or evil.

Solutions: Servanthood and Forgiveness

In practicing servanthood toward others who face difficult circumstances, we can listen and respond to their needs. Caring for others who need our help is the greatest opportunity we have to practice servanthood. When we respond to hurtful behavior by reaching out in a positive way, we rebuild the relationship and bring it back to the way God wants all human relationships to be, now and for all eternity. From a psychological standpoint, responding in this way allows us to waste less energy thinking and worrying about the hurtful behavior. The foundation of Jesus’ entire message rests on the principle of loving God and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.