Why doesn't God keep bad things from happening to people...?

There are horrible things that happen in this world: small things, giant things, unseen things, sneaky things, publicized things, politically twisted things, emotionally traumatic things...


There is some gruesome stuff out there...


In fact, it seems that there are always new, sad and horrifying stories to find if we look into our own lives, or the lives of those around us, or the lives of those far from us, or just turn on the news...  If we look for it, it's really easy to find and see the brokenness of this world.  The same is true of good things too, (let us not forget this!) but these are much more palatable, and much easier to attribute positively to a loving God.  The presence of good seems to be what we subconsciously long for (this is a great concept to dig further into later!).  When we see something that goes against goodness (hurt/brokenness/pain), we look for someone to blame. It is easy to throw this blame on God, because He has ultimate authority, right?!  

The ease of finding bad in our world, naturally begs the question, "why does God allow this all to happen?"  It is a question that has been asked by most every human on the Earth who considers God's existence.  Some dismiss the question, some work through it.  Some find there is no easy answer and turn away from God. Some find there is no easy answer and lean harder on the God who loves them in this broken world.  All reactions make sense.  It's a a hard question to ponder. 

Today I was thinking about this in light of parenting:

If God is a good parent...

"Why doesn't God interfere and STOP the bad from happening. Why didn't he stop the earthquake, ward off the murderer, or keep all sickness from taking life or limb or so much joy.  Where is God in all the misery?"


God, like a parent of a toddler, has so much more power over the environment than the toddler.  And a good parent warns a child when something bad may happen, and even intervenes often to keep bad things from happening (moving hot pans, grabbing the child before he/she falls off a cliff side, etc.).  Sure God warns us, if we listen.  There are even books he has given us with directions on how to live a healthy life, if we read them (psalms, proverbs, the whole Bible...). But a good parent wouldn't just warn their child, they would swoop in and protect them at all costs...right?  Why doesn't God turn the world upside down, infiltrate the laws of nature, overthrow the free will of others, etc. to always save the children He loves?  Why do bad things sometimes still happen to the children He says he loves? 

GOOD parents ALWAYS protect their children...don't they?!


And then I had a crazy vision in my head, like a gentle answer in picture form, begging a question in return:

I saw my niece's bloody knee after falling off her bike, her bruises from soccer games, her slivers from playing outside in the dirt. I remembered her tears when I pulled out the slivers, put on the bandaids, and kissed her wounds. Toddlers do get hurt.  All children do.  Even those with loving, careful parents and aunts. They get slivers and cuts and bruises and sometimes even broken arms and legs, etc..  

Couldn’t the parent (or aunt) have followed more closely or wrapped them in bubble wrap, or locked them in the house in a ‘safe’ room to protect them?  Sure!  Parents have that control and could protect their kids from all the dangers of this world.  They would just be crazy hovering parents who never let their children leave that fireproof, waterproof "safe" room, make any decisions for themselves, touch any objects, interact with other people, etc.  I suppose God could do that too….


But I wonder...would this sheltered and protected life really be better?




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