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Credit is usually given to the devil for all the bad things that happen in the world by justifying that 'God allows it, but Satan causes it.' I know that God controls and allows everything, but isn't saying that God ALLOWS Satan to carry out his inflictions on man in most situations according to His will, another softer way of saying God DIRECTLY inflicts pain, such as cancer, on His children?

God is just and that is why He has to give Satan freedom; otherwise, He would be unjust. God will never allow Satan to carry out God's will; but God permits Satan to do such things because of God's justice and the freedom that He has given Satan. Also sometimes people give Satan too much credit. Satan really has limited power that is allowed by God. We have a free will and are not just helpless pawns in his hands. Every effect result from a cause. For example, ,lung cancer is usually caused by smoking cigarettes. Unhealthy diets can lead to heart disease and diabetes. The most common cause of liver cirrhosis is alcohol consumption. Environmental hazards are the results of reckless behavior. These bad things happen because of bad choices. Our bad choices help Satan's warfare against us without him really having to work too hard. Other calamities can merely be a test of faith. In our Prayer of Thanksgiving, we pray, "for You have given us the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and upon all the power of the enemy." This powerful prayer is an antidote to every pain and affliction we may encounter, whether instigated by Satan's envy or a direct message from God. Rest assured that if you turn to God, you will endure and overcome.
 
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart...and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive" (Jeremiah 29:11-13).