If God is good, why am I suffering?

Have you ever wondered why a good and sovereign God allows suffering?

That was the question I found myself asking when I reached the end of my strength. It felt almost wrong to voice it. Who was I to question God’s sovereignty or His goodness? Yet, I was weary of striving, exhausted by the chaos in my mind, and desperate for answers.

The tension between God’s sovereignty and our suffering is not a new question. But as I hit rock bottom, I cried out: “God, if You are good, why am I suffering like this?”

Here’s what I discovered: God, even in His sovereignty, chooses to work in partnership with His people. He could have freed the Israelites instantly, yet He chose Moses. He could have silenced Goliath, but He chose David. He could have rescued Israel in countless ways, but again and again, He partnered with ordinary men and women — Moses, Esther, Joseph, Noah, Abraham.

And today, He partners with you and me.

Something shifted in me when I realised my identity as a child of the Sovereign King. Like Rapunzel in Tangled, I recognised that I didn’t belong in the tower of fear and limitation. I was made for freedom. But stepping into that freedom required a decision: to agree with God’s truth about who I am, and to live from that identity.

When I encountered the Father’s heart, I discovered that He is not only sovereign — He is good. He is love. It was never His will for me to remain tormented, but His desire to lead me into peace, freedom, and partnership with Him.

We live in uncertain times. Suffering surrounds us. Yet, I am convinced: suffering is not God’s will for the people He loves. So perhaps the better question is not “Why do we suffer?” but “How can I, created in His image, partner with Him to bring His Kingdom into a broken world?”

Romans 8 tells us that all creation is eagerly waiting for the Sons of God to be revealed. This is our invitation — to live from the deep revelation of His love, to partner with His sovereignty, and to reveal His Kingdom wherever we are.

This morning, as I read Psalm 145, I was reminded again of God’s majesty and His goodness. And like David, I want my life to reflect trust in a sovereign King who partners with His children to bring hope, freedom, and love into a hurting world.

I encourage you, dear friend, to change your question from "God, why am I suffering?" to "God, I know you are good. I know I am created in Your image. How can I partner with you to bring your Kingdom into my life, and into the world?"

With Love and Blessings x

Meliza

You can read my full story in my book, Untangled.

Written by:

Meliza Farndell