Why Does God Allow Suffering? Finding Purpose in Life’s Hardest Moments

Understanding Adversity: God’s Plan, Our Agency, and the Nature of Love

It’s a question that has echoed through the hearts of men and women for centuries: Why do bad things happen if God is all-powerful?

When faced with pain, loss, or injustice, it’s natural to wonder why a loving God doesn’t simply intervene and stop the suffering. While we may not have all the answers, three profound principles offer insight and comfort.

1. Growth Through Hardship
   Every experience, good or bad, can contribute to our growth. The scriptures teach us that God “doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world” (2 Nephi 26:24). This suggests that even in our hardest moments, God sees a larger purpose.
   Life on Earth is designed to be a classroom where we encounter both joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain. These varied experiences are essential for us to learn, develop empathy, build resilience, and ultimately, become more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Just as a refiner’s fire purifies metal, trials can refine our character and deepen our understanding.
2. The Power of Agency
   Another critical piece of the puzzle is the principle of agency, or our ability to choose. Some challenges are an inherent part of the human experience, such as natural disasters or the aging process. Other difficulties arise from the choices people make—both good and bad.
   God, in His infinite wisdom and love, grants each of His children the profound gift of agency. He can encourage, warn, teach, and inspire, but He will not force us to act against our will. To do so would undermine the very plan of salvation and our ability to truly learn and progress. This respect for agency means that sometimes, the consequences of others’ poor choices can impact us.
3. The Nature of True Love
   Think about what true love entails. Does it force, control, or remove all difficulties? Or does it allow for genuine growth, even if that growth comes through struggle? If God were to intervene in every instance of suffering, He would remove our opportunity to learn, to serve, to develop compassion, and to exercise faith.
   God’s love is perfect and eternal. This means His love isn’t just about making us comfortable, but about helping us become our best selves. Sometimes, the deepest lessons of love, forgiveness, and perseverance are learned precisely because we face challenges, not despite them. His love allows us the space to choose Him freely and to develop virtues that can only be forged in the crucible of real-world experience.