Nearly almost every Christian struggles with a “God why” moment. God why… did you send that storm, did you make me this way, did you make my mom sick, did you let them die so young : God why do you let these bad things happen…. to good people.
If you are struggling with this yourself, know that I sympathize with you. Please know that you are not alone, and you are certainly not the only person who has asked this question. However, this is not a time to abandon your faith, but it is a time to cling to it. This struggle should NOT break you, you should allow it to make you stronger.
As long as “the good people” are strong in their faith, they are also a threat to the Devil. Therefore, all these “bad things” that are happening are the Devil’s way of trying to turn you over into his kingdom instead of God’s. So do not let your doubt be Satan’s victory over your life. Instead use the opportunity to find some answers. After wrestling with my own “God why”s, I have decided that these events are not God’s fault – but mankind’s.
It all started in the Garden. When Adam & Eve took a bite of the forbidden fruit, life as we know it began. The first rule broken was that Adam & Eve took the Devil’s advice over God’s. Interconnectedly, Adam & Eve were making themselves the god of their lives instead of letting the LORD be God over their life.
““You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her.“
– Genesis 3:4-5 (emphasis added)
This one act created quite a “jam” for God, in our human perspective. In reality, He knew it was going to happen in the beginning, but he longed for us more than an eager wife who longs for her firstborn – He created us anyways. God’s just character demands that consequences are served. Our consequence was a cursed and broken world ruled by Satan. In this cursed and broken world comes the storms, the disposition to be gay or an alcoholic, the sickness, and death. All of the things that plague us were turned over to Satan’s control. Why? Because mankind gave it to him, and now we reap the curse we sowed.
BUT! This is NOT the END! God let all of this happen, and He -from the beginning – also had a plan to redeem it. God sent His one and only Son to die for our sins. Justice had to be served. Our punishment for our sins is death, so death must be served. Instead of serving mankind with death, God took it upon Himself and served our sentence. This has allowed hope to enter the world again. And when He returns, the world, too, will be redeemed. God will restore the garden to it’s intended state, where we will continue to live in His presence, where His light wipes out all of the darkness and plagues of Satan.
I hope this can be a start into your own journey… Discovering the answer to “God Why?!” in your life. But let me suggest : Instead of screaming out “God Why!”, we should be pleading “God help, God restore, God redeem, God shine your light, God come home.” God is not our enemy, God is our hero.
Ethan & Emilie 