If God is all-loving, all-powerful and all-knowing, why does he allow suffering and injustice to take place in our world? After all, if he is all-knowing, then he would be aware of every injustice; every wrong happening around the globe. If he is all-loving, he would care that these things are happening and his heart would break for those who are being mistreated. And if he is all-powerful, he could put a stop to it in an instant. So, if he is all of these things, why is there suffering? I get that people struggle with this question. It is one of the major stumbling blocks for those who might consider whether God exists. But these conflicting feelings aren’t only felt amongst those who question God’s existence, many believers struggle with them as well. Even the prophet Habakkuk questioned God on such matters. It says in Habakkuk chapter 1, verses 2 and 3:
“How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.”
The reality is that God is all-knowing, all-loving and all-powerful. He could snuff out all injustice and all violence with a single word. But he chooses not to. Our God has decided to stay his hand, at least for now. He is allowing the weeds to grow with the wheat. He is allowing the good to exist with the bad. But there will come a day when that will all change. Until then, we must live in this fallen world; a world that has departed from God’s original plan since Genesis 3. And all humanity must reap what was sown until Jesus returns. But I encourage you to put this question to rest. Yes, God is all-knowing, all-loving, and all-powerful yet in his sovereignty he has decided to allow suffering and injustice to take place in our world… at least for now.
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Habakkuk questioned God, not understanding why he would allow such injustice and violence, even after he cried out to God for help. In response, God revealed his plan to Habakkuk; his plan to use the unrighteous Babylonians to punish God’s rebellious people. But we are not always given an answer. Probably because God doesn’t owe us one. Later in the book, God says that “the righteous will live by his faith”. That is our role; to be his creation and have faith that God knows what he is doing. So I encourage you to put this question to rest. God is all-knowing, all-loving and all-powerful yet, we may still cry out to him and not receive the answer we were hoping for.
