Lesson 5: God’s Sovereignty and the Presence of Suffering

The third objection critics raise to the problem of evil and suffering often sounds like this: “God is not loving, because He does nothing to stop evil and suffering."

Nothing could be further from the truth! Even a cursory reading of the Bible shows us that God has in fact done some incredible things about evil and suffering.

The first thing He has done is to judge evil.

1 John 3:8 - “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."

Colossians 2:9-10, 15 - "For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority…He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him."

The Bible is clear. Jesus Christ stripped the devil of his power. He destroyed his work - he has been judged! The Lord exposed him, He shattered him, He defeated him utterly on the cross! The seed of the woman has crushed the head of the serpent. He has been totally defeated. He is a stingless dragon, a fangless lion, a noisy liar! He is headed to the Lake of Fire and he knows it. That is why he is so angry in these last days. He is defeated. It is over, and he knows it!

Therefore, Christian, you do not need to blame God when you are going through hard times. You need to boast in God and what He has done! Do not be angry at God. Be angry at the devil. Do not shake a fist at God. Open the Word of God and remind him of God’s victory, something he already knows! God has judged him and he is the loser, not you!

The second thing God has done about evil and suffering is to put a limit on evil. This is what we see in the Book of Job.


Job 1:6, 9-12 - "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them…Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have You not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD."

May I translate this passage for you? Satan only gets to do what God allows him to do. These verses tell us the great news that satan is not free to do anything he wants! No! God is Sovereign! God has put a limit on him! He only gets to do what God allows him to do! Satan not only knows he is defeated but also limited! He knows that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, not the devil! Therefore, take heart, Christian, in the midst of your pain. The devil is not having complete rule over you! God is aware of your pain and just like Job He allows it for good! You just need to trust Him and you will see just like Job that in the end you are the one who comes out on top, not the evil one!

* How have you seen Jesus make something painful in your life into something good?