“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12
We all understand that pain and sorrow are realities of life. But we can struggle with understanding why suffering exists at all. People often question how a loving God could allow it. Today’s verse points us to the root cause of all suffering—sin. That doesn’t mean every difficult situation is a direct result of personal sin, but that human suffering is the inevitable result of sin entering the world.
Before the fall, there was no death, disease, or chaos of any kind. Creation was in perfect harmony with God’s design until Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden unleashed sin into the world (Genesis 3). Sin not only corrupts the human heart, it also affects the created world. Romans 8:21-22 says, “the whole creation groans and suffers” because of “its slavery to corruption.”
This brings us to an important truth—sin is far more serious than we often think. Every experience of suffering, from personal pain to global disasters, reminds us of the devastating consequences of sin. Death, in particular, stands as a glaring testament to sin’s destructive power. If we hate the pain of death, then we ought to hate sin, because it’s ultimately the cause.
So, how does knowing why suffering exists shape our daily lives? While we should help those who are suffering, we must remember that their spiritual needs far outweigh their physical needs. As followers of Christ, our ultimate mission is not to simply ease people’s earthly discomfort but to lead them to the Savior. It would be tragic to feed the hungry yet fail to tell them about the saving power of Jesus Christ. He alone offers eternal life and deliverance from the root cause of all suffering—sin.
We have this sure hope, even while living in a broken, fallen world. One day, Jesus will return and fully restore all things, wiping away every tear and removing the curse of sin forever. Until then, look to Him, knowing that He is victorious over sin and death. In Jesus, we can not only find comfort for our own suffering but give it to others.
