By Mike Edwards
It is reasonable to ask why a loving. all-powerful God wouldn’t stop suffering that serves no good purpose. Please don’t tell rape survivors or a tortured loved one that God had a good/hidden purpose for not intervening. It is true some suffering may eventually serve a good purpose just as an addict hitting rock bottom. Any human parent that has the power to prevent a rape, murder, sexual assault and doesn’t isn’t truly loving. Why would we judge God, who is supposedly all-powerful, any differently if a Creator surely created us to love like them?
God can’t be all-powerful logically
Most who have grown up in the institutional church have been taught that God is all-powerful. Logically, how can God be all-powerful and humans have some freedom/power? It makes no sense to say God can exert all power and creatures can exert some power. Even the Bible doesn’t claim God is all-powerful and can do anything. God can’t tempt others (Jas. 1:13). God can’t lie or be unloving. God can’t make one believe or freedom would be a farce.
In defense of freedom
It is not logically possible for God to create freedom unless there is the possibility of love or hate. I don’t know of any human parent who brings children into the world not desiring their children freely reciprocate their love as opposed to being forced. Without freedom we could accuse God of not creating the very best world where only true, authentic relationships can develop. Freedom allows human to develop qualities of moral character that cannot be created initially. Freedom cannot guarantee a pain free universe.
God can’t be all powerful and be loving
Perfect love can’t be controlling for explaining why God can’t intervene in suffering. This may be an unsatisfactory explanation to many – but better than some rationalizations given. A parent may think they know best for their adult child, but interfering in a child’s life could make them even more rebellious. I am suggesting maybe God can’t control some evil because God’s very nature is love and true love is uncontrolling. Controlling love is an oxymoron. Even the Bible claims love does not insist on its own way (I Cor 13:5).
Typical rationalizations to defend what God doesn’t intervene in suffering:
- It is claimed a mystery how God can allow evil but not be evil. Humans don’t get a free pass if they can stop evil but don’t. Some claim all evil eventually leads to good as if some grand plan by God. Hardly! Ask sexual abuse victims or family members of murdered victims.
- We sinners have no right to question a Holy God. This is not the moral of the story of Job
- God doesn’t have to be fair because They are God! It is nonsense to suggest God requires impartiality in us but not of Themself (James 2:1)
No, God doesn’t plan or control tragedies in your life
- God doesn’t plan for you to be unable to have children if you desire to be a mom or dad
- God doesn’t plan for your body to be wrecked by cancer
- God didn’t want you sexually or physically abused as a child
- God didn’t want your partner to leave you by wanting a divorce
- God didn’t want your loved one murdered or severely injured in a car accident
- God didn’t want you let go from your job
What about miracles and God not being all-powerful?
I admit I don’t have the best explanation for how God can do miraculous things – against natural laws such as bringing Jesus back from the dead – and not be all-controlling. I am convinced miracles are real but lots of prayers asking for healing aren’t answered. Thus, why I write. Do miracles not happen because some people are less sinful or beg better at the feet of an arbitrary God? A possible better explanation for healings is that various biological and environmental factors are involved such as cells and organs. It may not be a stretch to say God has to account for natural freedom as well. Perhaps miracles can happen when God’s love aligns with countless factors known and not known. God cannot intervene singlehandedly, but a loving God always wants to intervene whenever circumstances will allow.
Why bother to pray then?
We don’t have to assume God can answer our prayers but doesn’t for some unknown reason. God suffers with us, but the unfortunate truth in a free world is suffering happens, though God is dying to help. We can pray but we can be more understanding when God can’t answer our prayers. Lean on God and others for emotional support and encouragement in difficult times. Prayer is more than asking for things. We can also talk to God for self-examination, for sharing our concerns so to not feel alone in a chaotic world. Seeking God’s influence in our lives can lead to making wiser choices. God is already doing all they can in a free world. Pretending God can simply heal without accounting for freedom and other factors makes one’s suffering worse. God is tireless in working through individual lives to change the world.
God. where are you in suffering?
In our suffering we don’t have to feel God doesn’t care or that God could do something and doesn’t. God knows and empathizes with us in our suffering. God grieves with us. God can empower, inspire, and accompany us. God can influence us to follow Jesus’ example which can make for a much grander world. God doesn’t derive pleasure by seeing us in pain but the unfortunate truth in a free, uncontrollable world is that God’s power it limited and suffering happens. Lean on God and others for emotional support and encouragement in difficult times.
Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. He couldn’t find enough people to discuss God openly so he started blogging years ago. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com
