The Question I Can’t Answer and The One I Can

I get asked by a lot of friends who don’t know God why I believe in a God who lets bad things happen, like 20 kindergartners getting shot in school. I wish I had all of the answers to give you. I’m new to this too. I don’t know why bad things happen to good people. I don’t know why innocent people die in shootings, drunk driving accidents, at the hands of fathers, mothers, husbands, wives. I don’t know why children are stolen by strangers, beaten and murdered. I am just as heartbroken as you are. Pastors who know the bible tell us we live in a fallen world and there will always be a battle between the unseen forces of good and evil. Satan is out to kill and destroy everything that’s good. I believe I conceptually understand, but I still can’t explain it to my sweet friends who sincerely want the answer.

I can’t explain all the bad things but I can tell you why I love Jesus. Jesus comforts us when we are destroyed by evil. I have a kindergartner and a second grader. When I think of that shooter walking into the school with guns pointed at those little babies, God reminds me that while he gave us free will and he can’t keep the gunman from shooting innocent children, he can send his army of angels to comfort their hearts in the time of terror. He sends teachers the words to hold a tiny face and sooth a small voice that says “I just want to go home and hug my mommy.” He sends teachers to hide her first graders, lie to the gunman and take a bullet for her children. God has a place in heaven for her. Anything she wants, God will bless her in heaven. God is ever present in the middle of the tragedy. We don’t understand or know what that looks like. His ways are not our ways. When every single one of those children entered heaven, they were greeted by Jesus, arms stretched wide, running to scoop them up and hold them tight.

God will redeem any tragedy and shine the light in all of the dark places. He will expose the good, the angels, the caring people, the helpers. He will bring comfort to the grieving. He will bring hope to a hurting community. God is good. Satan is bad. Good ALWAYS prevails.