If there is God, why is there so much suffering in the world?

This topic is an important question any human being should ask in view of the happenings in the world. Although there are very many good things in the world such as air, water, food, including man-made materials that make life pleasurable, the issues of suffering, pain and death have put a question mark on even the essence of life.

Looking at the world, it is reasonable to accept there is God who created the universe. It also appears from all indications that this God has good intentions. He wants people to be happy in the world, and live a good life. This is why he provided all the life-supporting materials we find on earth.

In addition, he gave man wisdom to manufacturer many other things that assist people living on earth like vehicles, phones, computers and the like.

We can therefore say that God is love! He cares and wants the best for man.

Among the books that speak of God, the Bible stands out, and is the central book of reference. The Bible, apart from stating unequivocally that there is God, and he is love, also presents him as an embodiment of justice. Besides, it shows God as omnipotent and omniscience.

Now, looking at all the sufferings and calamities in the world, it becomes difficult or confusing to see God in all this.

If God is love and all-powerful, why can't he prevent hunger, poverty, sickness and death among the people of the earth since he created them and they are his children?

To answer the question, we need to know that God did not create man as a robot to do simple straight jobs. The principle of freewill he deposited in man is what makes man not to be just an automated being.

And so, man has the freedom to choose doing what is right or wrong but, he bears the consequences of his actions. That's the crux of the matter!

For instance, man is free to use his energy on land for farming, or remain idle and lazy. As a result, he feeds himself from his farm produce or remain hungry if lazy without farming. Hunger is a source of suffering.

Man is free to carry out developmental projects like construction of roads, cities and factories, while making good water channels or face the consequences of flooding and erosion when the rain comes.

In the area of damage to the atmosphere, man has the choice of excessively burning fossil fuel, producing carbon (IV) oxide, carbon (II) oxide and other greenhouse gases which help to reduce available oxygen in the air, and increase heat content. By this, he reaps poor health due to insufficient oxygen, in addition to heating up of the environment which causes the melting of ice deposits of the earth. When this happens, he can be sure to experience floodings.

And, when we deplete ozone layer due to our high usage of chlorofluorocarbons, we increase the chances of ultraviolet rays damaging the cells of living things in general.

Above all, when we engage in evil (sin), like murder, rape, use of hard drugs, stealing and other crimes, God who we know as righteous does not tolerate sin. He can decide to take back our life because he owns it. He gave us life, and he has the power to take it.

Apart from the freewill factor, one must look at the make-up if man. Man is both physical and spiritual. In other words, man has a physical body and an invisible spirit components. In as much as God made the two, he is more concerned with the spirit of man than in the physical body. This is why he may permit sickness or accident to destroy the body in death so as to recover the spirit which goes back to live eternally with him if we lived a good life on earth.

Also, since God is all-knowing, he may allow death to take us, so as to prevent a pending calamity which he sees ahead. 
(Isaiah 57:1). "The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; " 

We ourselves do not see that calamity because we are limited in knowledge and wisdom.

In all, suffering is an integral part of life which serves as a lesson to the living man if he has understanding of the situation. In other words, suffering can be a way God is telling us to change our ways. He wants us to do what is right.

It could also be a lesson he wants us to use and teach some other persons in our situation. Suffering could help us to learn endurance and help us to have faith in God.