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Why Does God Allow Suffering? | A Conversation We Need to Have
I hate the phrase "Everything happens for a reason."
You know why? Because it doesn't actually answer the question you're really asking:
Why does God allow suffering?
This is the hardest question in Christianity. And most of the answers we've been given? They make the pain worse.
In this episode, we have the conversation the church often avoids—an honest exploration of suffering, God's sovereignty, and what to do when the theology you've been taught doesn't hold up under the weight of real pain.
This isn't a quick fix. This is a conversation we need to have.
We explore:
• Why "Everything happens for a reason" doesn't answer this question (and why it makes the pain worse)
• The 3 most toxic lies Christians tell about suffering (that sound spiritual but are destructive)
• Why "God won't give you more than you can handle" is a dangerous misquote of Scripture
• What Genesis 50:20 reveals about God's role in our pain
• God didn't cause your pain—but here's what He does with it
• The shift from "Why me?" to "What can I build with this?"
• Why your scars are your credentials and your misery becomes your ministry
• Is God punishing you for your past sins? (The answer might surprise you)
Key insight: God is not the Architect of evil. He is the Master Recycler of it.
He doesn't NEED the evil to happen to do good. But once it happens? He refuses to let it be wasted.
This episode is for:
→ Anyone asking "Why does God allow suffering?"
→ People who've been told "Everything happens for a reason" and felt worse
→ Anyone stuck in the "Why me?" question
→ People wondering if God caused their pain or is punishing them
→ Anyone ready to turn their pain into purpose
This is a conversation about pain, purpose, and the God who sits with us in the mess.
Stop asking "Why?"
Start asking "What now?"
KEY QUOTES:
"God is not the Architect of evil. He is the Master Recycler of it."
"Stop asking 'Why did this happen?' Start asking 'What can I build with this?'"
"Your pain gives you a credential that seminary can't give you. Your scars are your credentials."
"'Everything happens for a reason' doesn't answer why God allows suffering—it just makes the pain worse."
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
• Genesis 50:20 (God redeems what He didn't design)
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Temptation, not trauma)
• Psalm 13:1 (David overwhelmed)
• John 16:33 (You will have trouble)
• 2 Corinthians 1:4 (Comfort to comfort others)
• Romans 8:1 (No condemnation in Christ)
Stop asking "Why?"
Start asking "What now?"
This is a conversation we need to have. Let's have it together.
Got a question or story? Email: [email protected]
Be Part of the Conversation:
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Find weekly episodes on YouTube [LINK]
- Join our "Weekly Unlearning" newsletter for exclusive insights and reflections [LINK]
View all episodes
By Nelson Jackson IIII hate the phrase "Everything happens for a reason."
You know why? Because it doesn't actually answer the question you're really asking:
Why does God allow suffering?
This is the hardest question in Christianity. And most of the answers we've been given? They make the pain worse.
In this episode, we have the conversation the church often avoids—an honest exploration of suffering, God's sovereignty, and what to do when the theology you've been taught doesn't hold up under the weight of real pain.
This isn't a quick fix. This is a conversation we need to have.
We explore:
• Why "Everything happens for a reason" doesn't answer this question (and why it makes the pain worse)
• The 3 most toxic lies Christians tell about suffering (that sound spiritual but are destructive)
• Why "God won't give you more than you can handle" is a dangerous misquote of Scripture
• What Genesis 50:20 reveals about God's role in our pain
• God didn't cause your pain—but here's what He does with it
• The shift from "Why me?" to "What can I build with this?"
• Why your scars are your credentials and your misery becomes your ministry
• Is God punishing you for your past sins? (The answer might surprise you)
Key insight: God is not the Architect of evil. He is the Master Recycler of it.
He doesn't NEED the evil to happen to do good. But once it happens? He refuses to let it be wasted.
This episode is for:
→ Anyone asking "Why does God allow suffering?"
→ People who've been told "Everything happens for a reason" and felt worse
→ Anyone stuck in the "Why me?" question
→ People wondering if God caused their pain or is punishing them
→ Anyone ready to turn their pain into purpose
This is a conversation about pain, purpose, and the God who sits with us in the mess.
Stop asking "Why?"
Start asking "What now?"
KEY QUOTES:
"God is not the Architect of evil. He is the Master Recycler of it."
"Stop asking 'Why did this happen?' Start asking 'What can I build with this?'"
"Your pain gives you a credential that seminary can't give you. Your scars are your credentials."
"'Everything happens for a reason' doesn't answer why God allows suffering—it just makes the pain worse."
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
• Genesis 50:20 (God redeems what He didn't design)
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Temptation, not trauma)
• Psalm 13:1 (David overwhelmed)
• John 16:33 (You will have trouble)
• 2 Corinthians 1:4 (Comfort to comfort others)
• Romans 8:1 (No condemnation in Christ)
Stop asking "Why?"
Start asking "What now?"
This is a conversation we need to have. Let's have it together.
Got a question or story? Email: [email protected]
Be Part of the Conversation:
- Subscribe to the podcast
- Find weekly episodes on YouTube [LINK]
- Join our "Weekly Unlearning" newsletter for exclusive insights and reflections [LINK]