Where Is God When Evil Happens?


Like most of you I am just hearing the details of the Florida school shooting that has left at least 17 dead. The evil involved in such an act is hard to comprehend. I wrote the following thoughts following the shooting in Las Vegas last year, but they are fitting today as well. 

 Whenever such evil occurs we often find ourselves asking, "God, where were you when this happened?"

First off let me say there are no easy answers in times like this. Loss takes time to process, and tragedy caused by evil can be even harder to wrap our brains around. Human nature compels us to search for someone or something to blame. An all powerful, all loving God is an easy target. That said, allow me to offer a few thoughts.

The Bible Never Promised Us An Easy Life
"In this world you will have trouble." John 16:33. These are the words of Jesus. Somehow over the years we've twisted a lot of the teachings of Scripture to form the fictional belief that if we follow Jesus everything will always be great. C.S. Lewis wrote it like this, 
"We want, in fact, not so much a Father in heaven as a grandfather in heaven—a senile benevolence who, as they say, "liked to see young people enjoying themselves" and whose plan for the universe was simply that it might be truly said at the end of each day, "a good time was had by all." CS Lewis.
The problem is this isn't Biblical. The apostles all experienced terrible pain and tragedy in their lives, and great men and women of God throughout history have endured horrific loss at the hands of evil people. God was with them, and granted supernatural strength and peace, but the hurt was real.

Our Longing For Perfection Is Fulfilled In Eternity
"He has also set eternity in the human heart." Ecclesiastes 3:11. Every person who has ever lived has always longed for something more...something better than the current experience. That longing was placed in our hearts by God to draw us to Him. Jesus gives us peace with God on earth, and His abiding presence equips us to press on through the tragic storms of life on earth. We, however, long for all the promises of Heaven on earth. 
The Apostle John wrote these words,
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4.
There's still death, mourning, crying, and pain today. In fact, today there's a lot of it. Eternity is when this will all be erased. 

God Lets Us Choose
"Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." Deuteronomy 30:19.
These were Moses' words to Israel as his life was coming to an end. Joshua's final words are similar when he said, "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve." Joshua 24:15.
Giving humanity a choice gives us the opportunity to choose to live in a relationship with God. Sadly, it also gives us the opportunity to choose to be terribly evil. Sometimes in the midst of such loss I hear people mistakingly say things like, "well that must have been God's will if He allowed it to happen." That's terrible theology. Lots of things happen on earth that are not God's will, and I will assure you that it was never God's will for someone to shoot and kill 20 people. Murder is sin. God would never will for anyone to sin. With the free will God grants us wicked, sick people make evil decisions.

God Is Still Present
Somehow in the midst of horror stories will begin to emerge. The presence of God will bring a peace that is beyond our understanding (Philippians 4:6). Stories of grace, hope, faith, and love will shine. Isaiah wrote these words of a time when people were hurting.
"In all their distress he too was distressed," Isaiah 63:9.
God hurts with us. It breaks his heart that people choose to do evil things. He will allow this no longer in eternity, but on earth he mourns with us. He longs for all to come to repentance and relationship with him (II Peter 3:9), and he "is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1.

There are no easy answers to evil and tragedy, but I hope you'll find peace through the truths of God's word. Pray for those who have experienced such pain, and may our longing for something better compel us to draw near to our Father.

Following the Son,
James A Williams

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