Why Does God Allow Evil?

Let's ask a hard question. Why does God allow evil? I mean, if He's really God, He could stop evil before it starts and spare needless pain, right?

Here's another question that we should consider before we jump into this: Is it really that simple? Normally, issues like this are much more complex than we think. This is certainly one of those issues.

Let's take a look.

But before we do, we've created a "Why Does God Allow Evil? Quiz" for you to take at the end. Make sure to read all the content. Then take the quiz. That will help you understand the material better.

Without further comment, let's jump into the content and see what we can see!

Why Does God Allow Evil?

Evil is one of the most troubling realities of life. We see it in the world around us. We feel it in our own hearts. We wrestle with its consequences every day. It causes us to groan in our spirit...

"Why did this happen? Why does God allow evil to happen?"

Scripture does not ignore the concept of evil. In fact, it gives us a clear, honest, and hopeful explanation of where evil came from. It also explains why it continues. Most important of all, the Bible reveals what God has done and will do about it.

Evil Entered the World Through Human Rebellion

Let's start our answer to the question "Why does God allow evil?" by defining what evil is. To do that, we need to figure out where things started to go wrong. Is evil something God created at the beginning? Was it hiding out in God's plan, waiting to shake its ugly head? Did something happen that brought it into the world?

Where did evil come from?

Scripture teaches that evil did not originate with God. He created a good world, filled with life, beauty, and purpose. It was truly a perfect world. That's why He declared it "good" over and over (Genesis 1:4:-31).

But in Genesis 3:1-7, humanity chose to rebel against God’s command. With human rebellion came sin, opening the door for suffering and death to enter creation (Genesis 3:1–19). Evil is not a divine invention. Evil and suffering are the tragic result of human disobedience.

James reinforces this truth when he writes that God “tempts no one” (James 1:13). He isn't the author of sin. He doesn't rub His hands together and say, "I'm going to lure people into sin so that they can suffer!"

Nope. Not at all. Instead, sin arises from human desire and human choice. And suffering follows not too far behind.

Paul explains that through one man’s sin, death spread to all humanity (Romans 5:12). And the pattern continues: every time we choose sin, we participate in the same rebellion that began in Eden.

The brokenness and suffering we see in the world is not evidence of God’s failure. It's evidence of humanity’s ongoing rejection of His ways.

This is why the world looks the way it does. It looks broken because it is broken. But it isn't God's fault. We brought it on ourselves.

Evil is not a mystery without a cause. Scripture is clear: we opened the door, and we keep it open. There's suffering in the world because we sin. It's as simple as that.

God Allows Evil for Now Because He Is Patient

Well, that answers where evil came from. But it still doesn't explain why evil continues. After all, if God is so good and powerful, why doesn’t He stop evil in its tracks before it could ever hurt anyone?

Scripture gives a surprising answer: because God is patient and kind.

Whoa! Wait a minute! Evil hurts people. People suffer because of it. How is allowing evil God's patience and kindness?

Here's the answer:

Peter writes that God is “not slow” in dealing with evil, but patient, “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s patience is not passivity. It is mercy. If God ended evil today, He would also end every sinner who has not yet turned to Him. That isn't what He wants.

In other words, God is giving human beings plenty of time to repent of their rebellion. He's giving them countless years, months, days, hours and minutes to find the life only He can give (Acts 14:16; Acts 17:30; Romans 3:25).

In a world filled with rebellion, God’s patience is the very thing keeping humanity alive. His grace sustains the world even as it groans under the weight of sin.

What looks like delay is actually compassion. What feels like injustice is actually love. God's patience waits for the right time.

God allows evil for now because the world needs time. It needs time to hear the gospel. It needs time to repent. It needs time to be rescued from the destruction that we brought upon ourselves.

God Will Judge Evil Fully and Finally

That isn't to say God is so patient that He will never deal with injustice. It doesn't mean He'll put up with evil forever.

Scripture promises that a day is coming when Christ will judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1). No act of injustice, cruelty, or rebellion will escape His sight. Nothing will be overlooked. Nothing will be forgotten.

Paul writes that God judges everyone according to their works (Romans 2:5–6). His judgment is not arbitrary or inconsistent. It is based on His own righteous standard — the only perfectly just standard that exists.

This is good news because it means evil will not win. It means injustice will not last. It means God takes the suffering of His people seriously. The Judge of all the earth will do what is right (Genesis 18:25).

God Is Working Even Now to Save and Restore

Even in a broken world, God is not distant. Through Christ, He is actively redeeming people, forgiving sin, and restoring what evil has damaged. The Word of God explains that in Christ we have redemption and salvation in Christ alone (Ephesians 1:7).

In other words, Christ is the fix for a world that cannibalizes itself. There is no better solution for a world that perpetuates evil. God is healing hearts, reconciling people to Himself, and building a new creation from the inside out (Colossians 1:20). That means that, one day, God through Jesus Christ will finish what He started.

The Book of Revelation, the very last book in the Bible, promises that God will dwell with His people. He will wipe away every tear, remove death forever, and make everything new (Revelation 21:3–5). Evil will not merely be restrained. It will be erased. The world will be restored to the goodness God intended from the beginning.

This is the hope that anchors the Christian faith. God will fix the world. He will do it perfectly. Evil will disappear and suffering along with it.

Why Does God Allow Evil, Really?

So what was our original question? Oh, yeah? Why does God allow evil?

We did a pretty good job answering that, I think. But let's not leave anything up to chance.

Why does God allow evil?

God is kind and patient. That's why He allows evil to continue now. God is also just. That means He will deal with evil sometime soon.

His plan now is to save. The question is, are you one of the ones God is waiting on?

His patience has a purpose. It's meant to lead you to Him. He is waiting, not because He is unjust, but because He is merciful.

Have you put your faith in His Son, Jesus Christ? Is God waiting on you? Believe in Jesus, and you will be saved from sin so that evil has no power over you (Acts 8:37).

The world is evil. We made it that way.

God is patient. He won't wait forever to judge evil.

Believe in Jesus and find the cure to an evil world.

God bless.