Teen Articles
Why Does God Allow Bad
Things to Happen?
by Noni McVey
How can a loving, merciful and kind God allow tragedies such as the terrorist attacks on America? How can a loving God allow war, sickness, pain and death? Is He a God that does not care about human suffering or is He the all-powerful supreme Creator of the entire universe?
God created us in His image and likeness. He is the Creator of our minds. In fact, when He created us, He “saw everything that he had made and behold it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). We were not created with an evil nature, but with the ability to choose right from wrong. It is not in God’s plan to produce instant character in us. He knows how perfect character is developed. Good character comes from the ability to decide between right and wrong and then to have the will power to do what is right. The terrorists that killed so many in New York and Washington did not choose to do good, they chose to do evil instead.
We are now left with the pain and suffering of the choices the terrorists made. God does not like it when people make such terrible choices. He condemns it. When Jesus saw the suffering in Jerusalem, He wept about it. Jesus wants everyone to live by His standards. God does not get upset that we ask such questions. God does blame man because man is the one who has sinned. God cannot be blamed because He is righteous. There are many scriptures that ask why God allows bad things to happen. Such as in Jeremiah 12:1 , “You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper?”
We must not allow ourselves to second guess God’s decision or question His motives about why He allows such suffering. Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” In Job 38, we read about how Job questioned God about why He was allowing him to suffer. The Lord answered Job, “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!”
In times of great suffering, we must eventually wipe our tears away and take a look at the good that may be occurring. In the midst of all the suffering since the terrorist attacks, many have turned to God for comfort. From the suffering have come compassion and a showing of great love for ones neighbor. The stories of heroism and courage in the sight of danger have brought tears to the eyes of everyone who has listened. We have learned about the importance of justice because we have experienced injustice.
We must have faith that God will take this evil and turn it to good for His purpose. It takes tremendous courage to believe that there is something better than our earthly existence. There is the soon coming Kingdom of God when our savior Jesus Christ will return to this earth and establish His Kingdom. There will no longer be war, pain, illness or suffering. Our ultimate goal is to be born into the God Family and be joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
by Noni McVey
How can a loving, merciful and kind God allow tragedies such as the terrorist attacks on America? How can a loving God allow war, sickness, pain and death? Is He a God that does not care about human suffering or is He the all-powerful supreme Creator of the entire universe?
God created us in His image and likeness. He is the Creator of our minds. In fact, when He created us, He “saw everything that he had made and behold it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). We were not created with an evil nature, but with the ability to choose right from wrong. It is not in God’s plan to produce instant character in us. He knows how perfect character is developed. Good character comes from the ability to decide between right and wrong and then to have the will power to do what is right. The terrorists that killed so many in New York and Washington did not choose to do good, they chose to do evil instead.
We are now left with the pain and suffering of the choices the terrorists made. God does not like it when people make such terrible choices. He condemns it. When Jesus saw the suffering in Jerusalem, He wept about it. Jesus wants everyone to live by His standards. God does not get upset that we ask such questions. God does blame man because man is the one who has sinned. God cannot be blamed because He is righteous. There are many scriptures that ask why God allows bad things to happen. Such as in Jeremiah 12:1 , “You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper?”
We must not allow ourselves to second guess God’s decision or question His motives about why He allows such suffering. Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” In Job 38, we read about how Job questioned God about why He was allowing him to suffer. The Lord answered Job, “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!”
In times of great suffering, we must eventually wipe our tears away and take a look at the good that may be occurring. In the midst of all the suffering since the terrorist attacks, many have turned to God for comfort. From the suffering have come compassion and a showing of great love for ones neighbor. The stories of heroism and courage in the sight of danger have brought tears to the eyes of everyone who has listened. We have learned about the importance of justice because we have experienced injustice.
We must have faith that God will take this evil and turn it to good for His purpose. It takes tremendous courage to believe that there is something better than our earthly existence. There is the soon coming Kingdom of God when our savior Jesus Christ will return to this earth and establish His Kingdom. There will no longer be war, pain, illness or suffering. Our ultimate goal is to be born into the God Family and be joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
Copyright 2008 
Church of God International. All rights
reserved.
sky@cgi.org
Church of God International. All rights
reserved.sky@cgi.org