If God is real—and if He’s good—why does life hurt so much?

That’s one of the most common questions people wrestle with. Maybe you’ve asked it during a season of grief, when the diagnosis came, when a relationship broke, or when the world just felt too heavy. You’re not alone in asking. In fact, the Bible is full of people who asked the same thing.

And God doesn’t push those questions away. He leans in close.

We Live in a Broken World

When God created the world, it was perfect—no pain, no death, no disease, no heartbreak. But when sin entered the picture, everything changed. The Bible says:

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”

—Romans 5:12 (NLT)

In other words, suffering wasn’t part of God’s original design—but it became part of the human story when we turned away from Him. The world is now broken by sin—and in that brokenness, there’s hurt.

God Is Not the Author of Evil

Some people picture God as distant or cruel—like He’s up in heaven watching us suffer. But that’s not the God the Bible shows us.

Jesus came into the suffering. He didn’t avoid it—He stepped into it. He cried at a friend’s funeral. He felt betrayal. He was beaten, mocked, and crucified. He understands pain.

“He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.”

—Isaiah 53:3 (NLT)

When you suffer, you’re not alone. God is with you.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

—Psalm 34:18 (NLT)

God Can Use Pain for Good

We don’t always understand why things happen. Sometimes the answers don’t come in this life. But God promises that if we trust Him, He can bring purpose out of the pain.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God…”

—Romans 8:28 (NLT)

God doesn’t waste a single tear. He can use suffering to grow us, draw us closer to Him, and even reach others through our story.

One Day, God Will Make It Right

Here’s the hope we hold on to: pain doesn’t get the final word.

There’s coming a day when all suffering will end. For those who put their trust in Jesus, there’s a promise of eternal life—no more pain, no more sorrow, no more death.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

—Revelation 21:4 (NLT)

Jesus came to rescue us—and one day, He will return to restore all things.

Final Thought

We may not get all the answers now, but we can trust the One who holds the future. He is good, even in the storm. He is near, even when we feel alone. And He is working, even when we don’t see it.

If you’re hurting, don’t shut God out. Let Him in. He cares more than you know.

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

—1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)