God could eliminate evil. But, it exists because He was so good as to give His created beings a free will. He desires to have an intimate relationship with him, and for true relationship to work, people must be free to choose. God did not create evil, but His created beings, being free, have often chosen to do the opposite of their Creator’s will, and that is the essence of evil. A free will is a great gift when right choices are made. But, it can produce much suffering when the wrong choices are made.