The problem of pain, as CS Lewis puts it, is that we find it difficult to understand it if we believe God to be a good, almighty god. We would expect that a good god would create a happy planet, according to our definition of happiness.

God (the god of the bible) did create a happy planet originally. The bible describes a place called Eden that had abundant life, many animals and where man and woman had everything they needed. The woman was tempted into believing this wasn’t enough and she took the one thing that had been forbidden her. She ate the fruit of a tree that God had said she couldn’t eat from. This act of disobedience was the first sin. In what the bible calls ‘the fall’ both the man and the woman were thrown out of Eden. From that moment on sin, disobedience, suffering and sickness have been in the world. The bible does promise however, that in heaven there will be no more suffering, no more pain and no more tears.

Unfortunately we are all part of the problem of sin in the world. So, to some extent we all contribute to the suffering that exists. We have all done things wrong. The good news of the gospel as presented in the bible is that we can all be forgiven through Jesus Christ.

God didn’t intend suffering and he doesn’t bring suffering. Sometimes we encounter trials to perfect our faith, sometimes we suffer for the sake of God’s kingdom. Sometimes we suffer due to the evil that exists in the world. God helps us during our suffering.

Jesus said, “…But you will have power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” (Acts 1:8) One of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy. The joy that the Holy Spirit brings is independent of our situation. So God, being good and almighty, brings joys in the midst of out suffering. The joy that God brings by the Holy Spirit ministers to us in our time of suffering and need.