Two weeks ago, one of my childhood friends was brutally murdered by a gunman. Up to today, no one can figure out the motive. My friend loved the Lord and served Him wholeheartedly. He was a committed husband and loving father of two teenagers, one of whom is scheduled to write CSEC exams this year. He was passionate about bringing positive change to the lives of young people in his community, and anywhere he served was left better for him being a part of it. So when tragedy struck, it is understandable that many were left asking the question, "Why would God allow something like this to happen to someone like him?"
As a follower of Jesus, I am fully convinced in the Sovereignty of God. He is in total control of everything that happens in the universe. There is nothing that can take place, good or evil, unless He allows it. This is seen most clearly in the account of Job, where Satan had to get permission from God before he could interfere with Job's property, family and even his health. (Job 1:10-12) Even when Satan was given permission to inflict Job with suffering, God was very clear in defining the boundaries that Satan was not allowed to cross. (Job 2:6)
Another example from Scripture is when King Balak engaged the sorcerer Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam told him in no uncertain terms, that even if Balak gave him all the silver and gold in his palace, he could not go against God's command and curse the people of God (Numbers 22:18). I am reminded of the time two years ago when a bandit broke into our home while we were sleeping. He stole the handset for the home phone, but did not touch my Surface Pro which was right behind it. He took up our car keys, but dropped them lower down the street where my neighbour spotted them so we were able to retrieve them. God is the supreme power, so He is more than able to determine how far evil is allowed to go.
So then, why doesn't He stop it?
How could a good God allow horrible things to happen?
What kind of a loving God would not intervene when He sees evil being done to an innocent person?
The answer is that God knows better than we do.
In our finite thinking, we believe that pain and suffering should be avoided at all costs. They are seen as undesirable, and we cannot fathom that anything positive can come out of hurt and sorrow. But the reality is that our God is able to birth something beautiful out of the deepest pain and darkest sorrow. He is able to take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around for good, to advance His purposes (Genesis 50:20).
When Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, and his master's wife's false accusations landed him in prison for years, he had no idea that God would use his time in prison to promote him to the second highest position in Egypt. He would later use this influential position to save his family's life. Moses was born at the time when baby boys were being slaughtered. Because of this, his mother placed him in a basket in a river, which led to him being discovered by Pharoah's daughter. So instead of being killed like the other Hebrew baby boys, he grew up under protection in the palace, and was eventually used by God to deliver the Israelites from captivity in Egypt after over 400 years of slavery.
In the New Testament when Jesus got the message that the one he loved was sick, He didn't drop everything he was doing to rush off and heal him. Instead, He stayed where He was for two more days. By the time He got to Lazarus' home, he had been dead for 4 days. Lazarus' sister Martha told Jesus that He could have prevented Lazarus' death if He had been there, but Jesus had already told His disciples in John 11:4 that his sickness was "for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus' delay caused Lazarus' family to go through the pain of losing him to death, but it also allowed Jesus the opportunity to show the resurrection power of God when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
Later on when Jesus was explaining to His disciples that He would suffer at the hands of the religious leaders and eventually be killed and then be raised to life on the third day, Peter protested, saying that these things would never happen. But Jesus rebuked him in Matthew 16:23, accusing him of only considering matters from a human point of view, and not taking into consideration God's purposes. Jesus' death was not a defeat, as the disciples thought it was; instead, it was a massive victory, because it destroyed the hold that sin had on humanity, and made the way possible for those of us who put our faith in Him to live in heaven for eternity.
James encourages us to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds, because when our faith is tested, it develops perseverance in our lives, and this is necessary for our maturity (James 1:2-4). I remember going through a particularly difficult trial that my friend helped me to recognize was developing the characteristic of patience in my life, and I wondered out loud, "Isn't there an easier way for me to learn this lesson?" God often uses suffering to refine our impurities, so that we can become more like Him.
God also uses our times of great trials to draw us into full dependence on Him. In referring to a trial that he was plagued by that God did not remove, Paul had a revelation from God that God's power was made perfect in his weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) As a result, he rejoiced in suffering insults, hardships, persecution and difficulties, because he recognised that when he was weak, he was strong, because it was God who was sustaining him. Psalm 46:1 says it best: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. He will not always remove the trouble that we are facing, but He promises to be present and help us through those terrible times.
God knows that our life on earth is temporary, and that the situations we face here are meant to shape and prepare us for our life in heaven, which is eternal. In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Paul refers to "light and momentary troubles" which are preparing us for an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. In case you were wondering about the 'light and momentary' troubles, he was referring to, Paul lists his trials in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 which included almost being beaten to death numerous times, being stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked and starved. In spite of these trials, Paul can declare with confidence in Romans 8:37 that "In all these things we are more than conquerors".
When Job faced his share of disaster and questioned God, God's response did not give Job an explanation for His suffering, but rather demonstrated God's supremacy, and our insufficiency in relation to His power and might. At the end Job concluded that God can do all things, and none of His purposes can be frustrated. We may not understand His ways, but we can trust His character, which works all things, even the things that seem horrible and devastating, together for good (Romans 8:28).
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:35, 38-39
