Tornados, earthquakes, tsunamis. Famine, epidemics, drought, war, terrorism, political corruption… Sometimes it seems like evil reigns supreme, right? Yet the Bible clearly states—multiple times—that God is firmly in control and nothing happens that isn’t allowed by him.
Therefore, if one is to actually believe the words of the Bible, the next logical question is: If he’s so powerful, loving, and good, why does God allow bad things to happen—especially to his own people?
If one is to actually believe the Bible, the next logical question is: If he’s so powerful, loving, and good, why does God allow bad things to happen?
Writers, theologians, professors, and ministers worldwide have spent decades filling books with answers to this question and lecturing on the subject of a supreme deity allowing evil to thrive in the world. Yet the question remains—perhaps because we don’t like the conclusions they arrived at.
I can’t possibly give you a fully satisfactory answer with one—or many—blog posts on the issue of why God allows bad things to happen. My goal here is to get you thinking in the right direction so that your heart might be able to find and accept the truth.
Hi, I’m Lauren Thell, author of Christian YA fiction and blogger for teens who are ready to exceed the world’s expectations!
In This Article
Moments in History When God Allowed Bad Things to Happen
Consider the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. Humans became exceedingly cocky at this point and decided to make a name for themselves by building a big tower. It might sound silly to us, but God didn’t find it funny.
He scrambled their languages, making communication all but impossible, thus thwarting their plans and scattering them across the earth. Does that sound cruel to you? Why would God do that? What’s wrong with unity and cooperation—two things the world lacks in extreme today?
This isn’t just an incident of God allowing something bad to happen. In this case, he caused it!
Even more troubling for some: This isn’t simply an incident of God allowing something bad to happen. In this case, he caused it!
Another sobering account of God allowing bad things to enter a believer’s life is found in the book of Job. (See the story in my post Dear Christian Teen, Never Be Afraid of Bad News.) God may not have caused the pain Job endured, but he clearly permitted it.
If these stories are all you read of the Bible, it would be easy to conclude that God isn’t as loving as we thought. Which is why we need to dig deeper and learn more.
Why would God allow bad things to happen if he loves me?
Why does God allows bad things to happen to us or—worse—cause them himself?
To answer these questions truthfully, you must understand who God is. God is love (1 John 4:7-9). He is perfect (Psalm 18:30) and all-knowing (1 John 3:20). And God is almighty (Psalm 89:5-13). If he is loving and perfect, then he doesn’t enjoy seeing us suffer, even when we deserve it. I hate watching my kids go through tough things, even when they’ve brought them on themselves.
To answer these questions truthfully, you must understand who God is.
But being all-knowing means God knows what will happen if, say, arrogant people are allowed to build a tower. Or what might happen if you climb the ladder of success without hindrance. God hates seeing his people suffer, but he especially hates watching them suffer eternity in hell. Sometimes he will intervene with his almighty power to make sure that doesn’t happen.
God knows the safest, happiest place for you to be: Right next to him.
Look At the Horizon, Not Your Feet
With your limited human vision, you might not understand why God allowed you to suffer.
With your limited human vision, you might not understand why God allowed you to suffer that injury, or be rejected by that group of friends, or lose that loved one, or go through any number of bad things that can happen in this earthly life. We certainly don’t like to think about God causing these things to happen on purpose.
But know this: God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). He will do what it takes to make you draw nearer to him, to keep your faith in Christ alive, and to stop you from putting your confidence in your own shaky abilities which are sure to let you down.
Know this: God works for the good of those who love him.
Rejoice in your sufferings, because “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (See Romans 5:1-11)
You don’t have to have all the answers.
but, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.