Read: 1 John 4:8, Genesis 2:16-17
Do you remember the Genie from Aladdin? He had all this incredible power, yet even he had a few rules. One of the most famous ones was that he couldn’t make people fall in love. Why? Because love can’t be forced. It has to be freely given. Even in the world of magic and wishes, love remains something that can’t be controlled or manufactured. And in a much deeper way, God, in His infinite wisdom, created us with the freedom to choose—because love, real love, only exists when we have a choice.
One of the hardest truths to grasp is that love requires choice. God didn’t create us as robots programmed to obey Him. He gave us free will because real love demands the ability to choose. That means we can choose to love, but we can also choose to sin. And sin is the root of all the pain, suffering, and brokenness in the world.
When we ask, “Why does God allow suffering?” we often forget that much of it stems from human choices—our own and others. But even in the midst of that brokenness, God remains good. He could have taken away our ability to choose, but then we wouldn’t have true love or a relationship with Him. Instead, He allows us to choose, and He offers to walk with us, redeeming even the worst situations for His glory.
Questions for Reflection:
- How does the concept of free will change your perspective on suffering?
- What choices can you make today that reflect your love for God?
- How can you trust God to redeem the brokenness caused by free will?