The important theological topic of why God permits suffering is explored in a number of movies, which frequently reveal themes of God’s purpose, redemption, and strengthened faith through adversity.
The following movies use suffering to illustrate God’s purpose:
1. The Shack (2017)
Through the journey of Mack Phillips, a father mourning the kidnapping and murder of his young daughter, the 2017 movie The Shack examines the “problem of pain”—the dilemma of why a benevolent God permits suffering.
The following are the core lessons learned from it:
- Forgiveness is for the Forgiver: Mack discovers that forgiveness is about escaping the “prison” of resentment rather than justifying a crime. The movie highlights that forgiveness is a process that frequently starts with just saying the words, even if the emotions don’t come right away.
- God Doesn’t Cause Pain: One of the main themes is the difference between God creating suffering and God utilizing it. The character “Papa” reveals that even though He did not plan the tragedy, He is able to turn terrible catastrophes into amazing things.
- In a crucial scene with “Wisdom,” Mack is asked to evaluate his own children, which he finds impossible. “Judgment is Not Our Role.” Because our perception of “good” and “evil” is frequently constrained by our individual suffering and subjectivity, this demonstrates that we lack the perspective and authority to judge others or God.
- Confrontation Is Necessary for Healing: Mack is returned to the exact hut where he “got stuck.” The lesson is that going back to the trauma place to confront the feelings and “demons” one has been avoiding is frequently necessary for recovery.
- Relationship Over Religion: Rather than depicting God as an aloof authority figure, the movie shows him as a “welcoming, friendly, laughing community” (the Trinity). It emphasizes that living “unloved” is what really constricts a person’s spirit and that God prefers a personal relationship than religious rites.
- God Suffers With Us: Instead of a detached observer, the film depicts a God who is deeply moved by human tears. The belief that God shared in His Son’s agony and still shares in humanity’s suffering is conveyed by the image of “Papa” bearing wounds from crucifixion.
2. Miracles from Heaven (2016)
Miracles from Heaven (2016) examines themes of hope, resiliency, and the existence of the extraordinary in daily life. It is based on the true tale of the Beam family.
Although the novel revolves around a supernatural healing, it acknowledges that it cannot explain why some people are healed while others are not. Rather, it provides the reassurance that God is present in the process as well as the final destination, regardless of the outcome.
These are core lessons from the movie:
- Miracles Are Everywhere: The main lesson of the movie is that miracles are not just “big” incomprehensible occurrences but rather goodness manifesting itself through people—friends, strangers, and simple deeds of kindness—at precisely the appropriate moment.
- The “untidy reality” of suffering is depicted in the film It is Okay to Struggle with Faith. Christy Beam’s spiritual crisis is portrayed as a normal reaction to hopelessness, highlighting the fact that struggling with God does not equate to abandoning Him.
- Persistence and Advocacy: The significance of tenacity is emphasized. A lesson in maternal instinct and unwavering advocacy can be learned from Christy’s unrelenting quest for a diagnosis and treatment for her kid.
- The Beam family maintains their unity despite severe financial and emotional hardship thanks to the power of solidarity. Their sisters show how family love can be “the best medicine” by restricting their own diets in support of Anna.
- Living with Gratitude: The movie ends with the advice to live each day as though it were a miracle. It urges viewers to be grateful for even the most basic things, such as the freedom to move or eat painlessly.
- Sharing Hope Increases It: In one scenario, Anna shares her cross necklace to a roommate, illustrating how God frequently increases your faith and hope when you give it away.
3. Letters to God (2010)
In the 2010 film Letters to God, Tyler Doherty, an 8-year-old with cancer, transforms his community by writing letters to God.
The lessons are as follows:
- Your Struggle is a Testimony: Tyler’s life serves as a reminder that going through hardship is not in vain. His faith becomes a “letter” to all around him, despite his infirmity, demonstrating how your attitude amid adversity can motivate others to make life changes.
- The Power of Prayer as Conversation: The movie presents prayer as a daily, intimate conversation rather than a rigid ritual. Tyler treats God like a friend by writing “letters,” demonstrating that vulnerability and honesty are essential for achieving spiritual serenity.
- Purpose Found in Loss: The mailman Brady McDaniels serves as a metaphor for the idea that suffering can result in atonement. Reading Tyler’s letters gives Brady, a damaged man, a new purpose, proving that God frequently employs the “little ones” to save the lost.
- Faith is Not a Guarantee of Healing: Like The Shack, the film addresses the harsh reality that having faith doesn’t guarantee a physical recovery. The lesson is that even when the physical body fails, “healing” can still be relational and spiritual, bringing a family together.
- Community Is Essential: The movie shows how a neighborhood may change when residents begin to share their responsibilities and stop living in seclusion. Tyler’s letters serve as the impetus for his neighbors’ walls to come down.
4. Show Me Your Glory (2025)
Show Me Your Glory, a 2025 documentary created by Eric and Kameron Swithin, examines the “problem of pain” by fusing theological perspectives from specialists like Sean McDowell with experiences of contemporary miracles.
The movie concludes that the supernatural nevertheless “crashes into” human existence even though people are constrained by a materialistic understanding of science. Its main message is to have faith in God’s timing and sovereignty, regardless of whether a prayer is answered with a “yes” or a “wait.”
We learned the following lessons from the movie:
- God is Present in Suffering: The movie makes the case that God’s splendor can be seen in the midst of suffering rather than only in its absence. It refutes the notion that suffering is a sign of God’s absence and instead demonstrates how He walks with people through their most difficult times.
- Miracles Are Not the Only Measure of Goodness: Although the movie focuses on eight extreme miracles, such as addiction recovery and unexplained healings, it also talks about people who don’t get what they wished for. One important lesson is that, even in the absence of a miracle, God’s goodness and presence remain indisputable.
- Healing Can Be Spiritual, Not Just Physical: A number of stories center on internal changes, such the conversion of a former Muslim following a heavenly encounter or the drastic change of heart of a woman. The lesson is that eternal significance and spiritual serenity are frequently more “miraculous” than medical remedies.
- Viewpoint Above Explanation: Instead than attempting to “explain away” evil, the documentary presents an alternative explanation for why a loving God permits it. It says that “light momentary afflictions” might help believers get ready for a “eternal weight of glory” that is far greater than the suffering they endure on earth.
- The Power of Personal Testimony: The video shows that sharing your experience of redemption—even the sad parts—is a potent instrument for fostering others’ faith by using actual individuals rather than actors in its interviews.
5. Standing Firm (2022)
Although Kyle Prohaska’s 2010 picture is frequently linked to the title Standing Firm, it was re-released or attracted fresh interest on streaming services in 2022. The movie centers on Dave Corwin, a widower who gives up his religion and works himself to exhaustion as a result of his sadness over his wife’s passing.
We learned the following lessons from the movie:
- Religion is a Choice, Not a Feeling: One of the main ideas is that you can’t change other people’s religion; everyone has to make their own decision to believe. Dave’s story demonstrates that depending on God’s love is a choice that results in healing even when feelings like resentment or rage take over.
- The Strength of Intercessory Prayer: Steven, Dave’s son, is still the only Christian living there. The film emphasizes that when a loved one “falls by the wayside,” the most effective thing they can do is pray consistently and have faith that God will work in their heart.
- Finding Purpose in Pain: According to director Kyle Prohaska, the movie is a study on how suffering can reveal God’s purpose. It implies that even though we can wonder, “Why?” the answer frequently resides in how the tragedy changes our character and brings us closer to God.
- Joy Is Independent of Circumstances: Dave must deal with financial disaster and foreclosure in addition to sadness. The lesson is that genuine joy is found in God’s presence inside problems rather than the absence of them.
- Community Is Essential for Resilience: Dave attempts to cope with his loss on his alone, which sends him into a downward spiral. The movie shows that having a “team”—in this case, Steven, his grandfather, and a close friend—makes it easier to remain firm.
