LUZIA LIMPS ON HER LEFT LEG. As a small child, she contracted poliomyelitis, a highly contagious disease that attacks the body’s nervous system. When she was 16, a lady whom Luzia worked for told her, “God punished you with paralysis because you were disobedient and nasty to your mother.” Years later, Luzia still remembers how devastated she felt.

WHEN DAMARIS LEARNED THAT SHE HAD BRAIN CANCER, her father asked her: “What have you done for this to happen to you? You must have done something very bad. That is why God is punishing you.” Damaris’ spirit was crushed by his comment.

The thought that sickness is punishment from God has a long history. The book Manners and Customs of Bible Lands says that many in Christ’s time believed that “sickness was caused by either the sin of the sick person, or of his relations, and that it was sent as punishment for that sin.” Medieval Medicine and the Plague says that in the Middle Ages “some people believed that God brought plagues to punish them for their sins.” So when millions throughout Europe died from the plague in the 14th century, was God executing judgment on wicked people? Or was the plague simply caused by a bacterial infection, as medical researchers have since determined? Some may wonder, does God really use sickness to make people suffer for their sins?a

CONSIDER: Why would Jesus heal people who were sick if sickness and suffering were deserved punishments from God? Would that not amount to undermining God’s justice and righteousness? (Matthew 4:23, 24) Jesus would never counteract God’s actions. He said: “I always do the things pleasing to him” and, “I am doing just as the Father has commanded me to do.”​—John 8:29; 14:31.

The Bible is clear. Jehovah God “is never unjust.” (Deuteronomy 32:4) For example, God would never cause an airplane disaster, killing hundreds of innocent people, because he wanted to punish someone on board! In harmony with God’s righteousness, Abraham, a faithful servant of God, said that God would never “sweep away the righteous with the wicked.” That would be “unthinkable,” he said. (Genesis 18:23, 25) The Bible also says that “God does not act wickedly”; he does not “do wrong.”​—Job 34:10-12.

WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT SUFFERING

The suffering we encounter is not divine punishment for a specific sin. Jesus himself was very clear on this matter when he and his disciples saw a man who had been blind from birth. “His disciples asked him: ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, so that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered: ‘Neither this man sinned nor his parents, but it was so that the works of God might be made manifest in his case.’”​—John 9:1-3.

In view of prevailing misconceptions, Jesus’ disciples must have been surprised when he told them that neither the man nor his parents had sinned in a way that brought on misfortune. Not only did Jesus cure the man’s blindness but by so doing he overturned the erroneous belief that suffering is punishment from God. (John 9:6, 7) Those who suffer from serious health problems today can find comfort in knowing that God is not the cause of their affliction.

The Scriptures assure us

• “With evil things God cannot be tried, nor does he himself try anyone.” (JAMES 1:13) Indeed, the “evil things” that have plagued mankind for centuries, including sickness, pain, and death, will soon be eliminated.

• Jesus Christ “cured all who were suffering.” (MATTHEW 8:16) In healing all who came to him, God’s Son demonstrated what God’s Kingdom will accomplish on a worldwide scale.

• “He [God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”​—REVELATION 21:3-5.

WHO IS TO BLAME?

Why, then, does mankind experience so much pain and suffering? Mankind has been pondering that question for centuries. If God is not to blame, who is responsible? The answers to those questions will be discussed in the next article.

If suffering is not from God, what accounts for mass starvation, grinding poverty, brutal warfare, crippling diseases, and natural disasters? God’s Word, the Bible, reveals three main causes for mankind’s suffering:

1. Selfishness, Greed, and Hatred. “Man has dominated man to his harm.” (Ecclesiastes 8:9) People often suffer because they are victimized by imperfect, selfish, or cruel humans.

2. Time and Unforeseen Events. Humans often suffer “because time and unexpected events overtake them.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) That is, people are simply at the wrong place at the wrong time, accidents occur, or people are careless or make mistakes.

3. The Evil Ruler of the World. The Bible clearly identifies the primary cause of human suffering. It states: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19) That “wicked one” is Satan the Devil, a powerful spirit creature who was originally an angel of God but “did not stand fast in the truth.” (John 8:44) Other spirit creatures joined Satan and rebelled against God in order to pursue selfish desires, thus making themselves demons. (Genesis 6:1-5) Ever since their rebellion, Satan and his demons have exerted a powerful and cruel influence over this world’s affairs. This has been particularly so in our time. Now, the Devil has great anger and “is misleading the entire inhabited earth,” which has resulted in “woe for the earth.” (Revelation 12:9, 12) Indeed, Satan is a brutal dictator. He gets perverse satisfaction from human suffering. It is Satan​—not God—​who causes people to suffer.

CONSIDER: Only a heartless, diabolical evildoer would cause innocent people to suffer. By contrast, the Bible says: “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) In harmony with his loving personality, “it is unthinkable for the true God to act wickedly, for the Almighty to do wrong!”​—Job 34:10.

However, you may naturally wonder, ‘How long will Almighty God permit Satan to continue his heinous rule?’ As we have seen, God abhors wickedness and our suffering causes him great pain. Furthermore, his Word urges: “Throw all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) God loves us and has the power to remove all suffering and injustice, as the following article will explain.a

“How long, O Jehovah, must I cry for help, but you do not hear? How long must I ask for help from violence, but you do not intervene?” (Habakkuk 1:2, 3) These are the words of Habakkuk, a good man who enjoyed God’s favor. Did his plea indicate a lack of faith? By no means! God reassured Habakkuk that He had an appointed time to bring an end to suffering.​—Habakkuk 2:2, 3.

When you or someone close to you is suffering, it is easy to conclude that God is slow to act, that he should have intervened by now. Yet, the Bible assures us: “Jehovah is not slow concerning his promise, as some people consider slowness, but he is patient with you because he does not desire anyone to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.”​—2 Peter 3:9.

WHEN WILL GOD ACT?

Very soon! Jesus revealed that a particular generation would witness a unique combination of conditions that would mark the last days of a “system of things.” (Matthew 24:3-42) The fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy in our day indicates that God’s intervention in human affairs is imminent.a

But how will God bring an end to all suffering? When Jesus was on the earth, he demonstrated God’s power to alleviate mankind’s suffering. Consider some examples of this.

Natural Disasters: While Jesus and his apostles were sailing on the Sea of Galilee, a violent windstorm threatened to sink their boat. But Jesus showed that he and his Father can control the natural elements. (Colossians 1:15, 16) Jesus simply said: “Hush! Be quiet!” The result? “The wind abated, and a great calm set in.”​—Mark 4:35-39.

Sickness: Jesus was well-known for his ability to heal the blind and the lame, as well as those suffering from epilepsy, leprosy, or any other sort of infirmity. “He cured all who were suffering.”​—Matthew 4:23, 24; 8:16; 11:2-5.

Food Shortages: Jesus used powers granted to him by his Father to multiply meager food supplies. It is recorded that twice during his ministry, he fed thousands.​—Matthew 14:14-21; 15:32-38.

Death: That Jehovah has the power to undo death is clearly shown by the three resurrections Jesus is recorded to have performed. One of those whom he brought back to life had been dead for four days.​—Mark 5:35-42; Luke 7:11-16; John 11:3-44.