“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed.” – Genesis 1:31
Ever wonder why God allows bad things to happen? It’s a question skeptics throw our way, challenging the very fabric of our faith. The truth is, God didn’t create evil and suffering, but He does allow it.
When God fashioned this world, it was pristine, perfect—very good, as Genesis 1:31 declares. You might be thinking, “If God isn’t the author of evil or tragedy, where did these things come from?”
Let me break it down for you. When God created us in His image, He designed us to experience real love. Now, God is love, and we were made by Him and for Him. But here’s the kicker—we needed the ability to love genuinely. And to love genuinely, you need free will.
Think about it. If we were mere robots, programmed to act out a preordained form of love, it wouldn’t be real love. Love, to be authentic, requires choice. That’s where free will comes in. Without it, we’d be incapable of deciding to love or not to love.
You see, God granted us the gift of free will, allowing us to experience love in its truest form. However, with this gift comes the potential for choices that lead to evil and suffering. God, in His infinite wisdom, took the risk because genuine love demands it.
It’s tough to reconcile, I know. Bad things happen, and it’s not easy to grasp why God permits them. But as we navigate this complex terrain, remember that God’s original design was perfect. Our misuse of free will introduced the brokenness.
So, while we grapple with the mystery of suffering, let’s cling to the truth that God, in His goodness, is working to redeem and restore. We might not have all the answers, but in the journey, we discover a God who walks with us, even through the shadows.