Recently someone asked me: Why is there so much evil and suffering if there is a benevolent being?

It’s a huge question, perhaps the biggest! And let’s be honest. If there was an easy, silver bullet answer, we’d all know it already.

You can link to a video of my full response to the question below. But for today’s devotional, let me just share this: God doesn’t promise us freedom from suffering, but to journey with us through it.

One of the most beautiful and well-known passages about this reality is Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…”

For you are with me.

God journeys with us, helps us, and encourages us in a variety of ways—through his Spirit, through worship, through the Bible, through prayer, and also through other people.

Someone was telling me about something horrid they were dealing with. They wondered where God was in the midst of their struggle. In the next sentence they told me about all the helpful people in their life. I told them that I thought God had sent help through those very same people!

Life is hard. Let’s not deny it. And there are big questions—some of which we can’t easily answer. But even though we sometimes walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we do not need to fear evil, for God is with us.

God doesn’t promise us freedom from suffering, but to journey with us through it.

By Matthew Ruttan

–As mentioned, click here to watch the 12-minute video with my response to this question. It’s a part of the monthly Q & A Forum at Westminster Church.
–“Up!” is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday), and returns on January 13.
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.