Many believers and non-believers have correctly identified the hardest question for a Christian to answer. The question is, why does God allow bad things to happen to children? Some of the most intelligent and educated theologians turn silent when posed with that question. It has been a question that has been around for centuries and it will be around in my estimation until eternity. It is a question that has returned to my mind as a baby, only one month old, in our family stares at the last day of his life, a life that doesn’t seem to have even begun. While I cannot answer the question posed, I pray that God’s Word will speak to us and give everyone who has, is, or ever will be effected by this question some comfort.
The first place I must start is in Isaiah 55:8 which says,”For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” There are certain things that the infinite, Almighty God allows that cannot and will not make sense to our finite minds. While that may seem like a cop out, it doesn’t change the fact that it is the truth. God does and allows things to occur with an eternal perspective, while you and I do things from the perspective of the here and now. God’s desire is that everyone would come to a saving faith in Him, not making sure that we have the easiest life here on earth. The next place that I go during these difficult times is to the book of Job. If there was ever a man who understood what it meant to suffer personally it was him. In the span of a day he lost all of his possessions (and he was rich), he lost his family (including his wife telling him to curse God and die), and he lost his health (by being covered with boils from head to toe). On top of that he had three friends who rather than listening to him and empathizing with him, they tried to blame him for everything that had happened (with friends like that who needs enemies?). Yet we see in Job 1:20-21, “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped (bold added for emphasis), and said, ‘Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.'” The easy thing to do when tragedy strikes is to blame God, yet we see that Job blessed God. Rather than focusing on what he lost, Job was grateful for what he had been given. The final passage I turn to is 2 Corinthians 12:9 which says, “And He (God) said unto me (Paul), ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'”
I know that my family and I are not the only ones who are hurting right now. There are many people who are suffering tragedy right now. I wish I could take your pain away, but I can’t even take mine away. But I pray that this will help you know that God does care, He does love you, and He can help you get through the pain. I want to leave you with one more Scripture that paints the picture that I so long for. It comes from Revelation 21:3-4, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
By His grace, through His strength, may we live for Him!