This question comes up a lot because of our lived experiences – especially from those who have experienced loss, injustice, and survival. My understanding of Process Theology teaches me that God is not a distant ruler who controls everything like a puppeteer holding strings, but rather that God is a loving presence working within a world that isn’t always loving. God does not cause suffering. Instead, God is constantly inviting all of creation toward healing, justice, and new possibility even when violence, oppression, and human choices resist that invitation.
In Genesis 1, creation is declared “good” but very quickly introduces harm. The Bible never claims the world is free from harm, that perfection is possible, or even that God controls all of our actions. God hears our moans but doesn’t dismiss them. We find hope in the Bible where soon after Exodus tells us about a God who hears the cries of the oppressed and sets liberation in motion. When we recognize that Jesus’ ministry was rooted in liberation, it becomes clear that God entered into suffering directly in order to bring good news to the poor, freedom to the captive, and healing to the broken. (Lk 4:18-19) God’s goodness is not proven by the absence of suffering, but by God’s unwavering
We also have countless stories from our own history where faith has been forged in the struggle. I want to be clear about not romanticizing suffering; God’s goodness is revealed through God’s relentless presence with those who endure suffering. God is found in our survival, resistance, and the creative ways that oppressed people make life where death seems ever present. presence with God’s people and God’s ongoing call to justice.
Within African Methodism, faith is tied to liberation, community, and moral action. The AME Church was born from injustice and proclaims a God who sides with the oppressed. As believers, we are called to confront our suffering rather than explain it away. God works through faithful people, organizing communities, challenging unjust systems, and nurturing hope across generations.
Suffering exists not because God is absent or cruel, but because the world is unfinished. We have faith that God is actively at work comforting the brokenhearted, empowering the weary, and calling us to participate in healing. Faith is a commitment to love, justice, and hope, trusting that God’s goodness is still unfolding through us.
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