Why does God allow good people to suffer injustice?

Being made into the likeness of Christ is worth all the pain that we can feel. Unsplash

Having a good God as Father to us doesn't mean we won't face hardships and other difficulties anymore.

Having the victorious risen Christ as our Lord and Saviour doesn't mean there won't be any problems to face anymore.

Having the Holy Spirit of God reside in us who are in Christ doesn't mean life will be easy and hassle-free, that we won't be suffering from injustice anymore.

If anything, following and obeying our good and gracious God will mean facing injustice and all sorts of hardship.

That's just how it is. The Lord said it Himself:

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also." (John 15:18-20)

But why does our good and loving God allow good people to suffer injustice? Why does He allow the faithful to be tried and tested, even through unfair methods?

Let's talk about that.

When we fail to see what they're for

When we're going through hardship and painful experiences, many of us begin to fail to see things the way they're meant to be seen.

When we do good to others and they respond by rejecting us or hurting us, we think that it's because they are bad or that maybe it wasn't a good thing to be "good."

When we do nothing wrong but suffer injustice and unfair treatment from people, we begin to think that God is being harsh on us or has abandoned us.

Friends, we've got to have the right perspective about things.

First we've got to realize that we're living in a fallen world marred and devastated by sin.

Second, we've got to understand that humans have been affected by sin, and are not perfect -- they can hurt us, do us bad, and even attempt to destroy us. That's how sin affects us.

Third, all these things are meant for a purpose: that we as God's children would be conformed to the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ:

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:28-29)

No matter how bad the treatment we receive, the truth is that these won't be over and above what we can bear:

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

How can we say that the troubles we face won't be too much for us? It's because God said so:

""Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy. No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me," Says the Lord." (Isaiah 54:16-17)

So why does God allow these things to happen? It's because He wants us to be like Jesus.

In closing

Friends, God promised that He won't abandon us. We can trust Him to always do what is best for us. No matter the injustice, the truth remains: God loves us and will never leave us nor forsake us. (see Hebrews 13:5)

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