Every human being has asked, thought, or felt this question in their lives. There is a lot of emotion that surrounds disappointment. For some, it is anger. For others it is shame, as in, “is it ok to even be feeling this way?” Regardless, life is complicated and often very difficult. In the complexities and disappointments we can find ourselves looking to the heavens shaking our fist demanding justice. It has even been reported by Josef Stalin’s daughter, Svetlana, that on his deathbed, the bitter communist leader sat up, shook his fist at heaven and then died. Is that to be our end as well?
We have seen so many hard things happening in and around our world in these difficult days. Perhaps you have asked the question, “how could God let this happen?” It is a very fair question but it does make a lot of assumptions. The first assumption is that God is somehow ok with it since it is happening? What we are seeing in Afghanistan or Haiti or even in our own circumstances can be so unsettling and heart-breaking. A logical conclusion can be, “if God is so good, then why would He allow this?”
Let me assure you, all of Scripture and the testimony of history lets us know He is absolutely NOT ok with the dire pain, suffering, and devastation we see all around. It is the price He, and we, all pay for being allowed to have our own free will. You may think if God is all-powerful He would stop all the wickedness and if He doesn’t it must prove that He is NOT all-powerful. If He were insecure, that would maybe be true, but restraint is the greatest of all strengths. It restricts what CAN be done for what MUST be done. (Click here to read my post, “Are You Strong Enough to Use Restraint”)
But I Don’t Like It
It is easy for us to see the negative consequences of decisions and then forget all of the steps that lead to the outcome we now dislike. Let me explain it this way. When we are the ones lying to our boss about being late so we don’t get fired we don’t have a problem with that ‘injustice’ because we felt like it helped us out. However, when someone lies to us and causes us to trust something false we are hurt and humiliated by their heartless action. The same freedom we had to make our decision and ‘benefit’ from its brokenness is given to others to do the same to us. So why does God let that happen? His patient, painful, vulnerable love for us all.
You may say, “how is it love that God would allow people to suffer?” That is a great question and there is no easy answer that will heal the emotional pain of all we see around us. But truth does set us free… even it it takes some time. The truth is people are not truly able to choose to love if they are not also able to choose to hate, hurt, or destroy. It is angering when we see it around us but it happens inside of us every day. The more outraged we become about our own brokenness and inconsistency the more hope there is for us to humble ourselves, receive God’s help, and bring hope and healing to the world around us.
While it can seem unfair to compare cheating on our taxes or lying to our spouse about what we’re looking at on our phone to starvation or war on the other side of the world, the principle is the same. The wickedness of the human heart wants to manipulate things for our own benefit then complain when others do the same. But God has allowed it… for a time. (Click here to read my post, “God Broke My Heart”)
The Final Score
The Bible lets us know that all the accounts will be settled. We will ALL give an account for our lives, for the suffering and pain we have caused, and for the love and life we shared. No one gets away with anything. Nothing beautiful will ultimately go unrewarded and nothing wicked will go unpunished. The hope and beauty in it is God already knows we cannot fully live a life pleasing to Him and helpful to others so He sent His Son Jesus to take the punishment we deserve, to give us credit for His success, and to empower us to live the life that pleases God when we say ‘yes’ to Him. But we must say yes, it is not automatic, because God gives us the power to choose. This ‘yes’ becomes a daily choice to follow Him that ultimately brings His hope and healing into our hearts and our world around us.
Today, your decisions matter. Every act of love, fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit, brings God’s Kingdom, His order, His hope, and His justice. The pain in this world will continue as long as there are people, like us, who still struggle to submit to God’s will and His way. However, there is a Day coming when He promises to make all things new. We have much to hope in and so much to be grateful for so let us live with one foot in eternity and one foot in our community today. As we do, let’s see His Kingdom come and His will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. (Click here to read my post, “What Does A Move Of God Look Like?”)
From the Bible
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. – 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 ESV
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. – 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” – Acts 17:30-31 ESV