After the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the Boston Marathon, many ask, "Why would a loving God allow this?" My question to them is, "Why do you blame God?" When He created man, He gave him a free will, to love Him or reject Him. We live in a broken and hurting world. It's been this way since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve fell for Satan's lie that they could be like God. Man has rejected God's love and set themselves up as gods of their own lives. They have eliminated prayer from schools and other public places. So how can they blame evil on God?
God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (with Him), John 3:16.
You might ask, "Why do the good people get hurt along with the people who committed the terror?" Over and over again God has demonstrated that He can use evil for good.
A good example is Joseph, who was a good man, his father's favorite son. Yet his brothers hated him and wanted to kill him. Instead, they sold him into slavery where he was falsely accused and spent time in prison for several years. He could have retaliated, but he gained a reputation as a model prisoner. God used his ability to interpret dreams to rescue him from the dungeons. Joseph interpreted the King's dreams and earned the position of governor of the land.
During a seven year famine, Joseph's brothers came to him for food. They didn't recognize him at first, but he presented himself to them and forgave them. He told them, "What you intended for evil, God intended for good, the saving of all these people (Genesis 50:19).
Do you see the major difference in the way people responded in the two stories? There are those who react under the circumstances and choose to reject God. And there are others, like Joseph, who respond to God in the midst of suffering and reflect on His goodness.
What will you do? React and reject or respond and reflect?
Thank you, Holy God, that you are always with us, and that you will never leave or forsake us. Help us respond to your love and to live under your will and purpose for our lives and not under our circumstances. Help us to rise above our anger, disappointments and suffering to reflect on your blessings in the midst of our challenges. Amen.
