Where is God when Bad Things Happen?

A Response from My IG Comment's 20,000 Likes

Photo by Frantisek Duris on Unsplash

I made a comment that got a lot of steam on Bleacher Report’s Instagram. I commented on a post where an NFL player quoted the Bible, and I responded with a mini gospel encouragement.

People responded, "Amen!” to “God isn’t real.” And a frequent reply was, “Where is God when bad things happen?”

That’s an understandable question. There are three reasons why I want to try to answer it. First, because honest questions deserve honest answers. Second, it may serve your soul. Third, it may help you when this question comes your way, too. This isn’t a full answer to a giant question, but is part answer/encouragement.

Since IG comments can be a challenging venue for theological dialogue, here's what I say to this kind of question:

---

Thank you for asking this tough question. It is tough not so much in its answer as in its origin. A question like this arises from a specific place in our lives and histories. We have very real hurts and disappointments. We have deep questions about reality. We wonder why some things in life happen with such jagged edges.

We don’t have time to touch on a definition of evil or “bad things.” But, I think it is safe to say that we instinctively recognize some human actions as unloving, unjust, harmful, cruel, and wicked.

We long for God to act and stop events in human history—but only in ways we deem acceptable. We wrongly want God to let us be God, for God to follow us. I think we are often unfair towards God. We want him for some things and then want him to buzz off for others. We frown and scowl at the idea of God overriding human agency in other scenarios. We want him to stop a car wreck, but what about a lie you told? We wonder why God didn’t stop a murder. And we should also wonder why he didn’t stop that extra slice of cheesecake from hitting the plate and cholesterol.

The problem is our perspective. We need a long-term view.

So, within the panorama of God’s sovereignty and human agency/responsibility—where is God when bad things happen? Here’s my simple encouragement:

He sees it. He notes it. He will avenge it.

“Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, ‘Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.’” (Romans 12:19)

God is not absent in our world. God is not unaware of the evil that lands in our lives. Know this: No one gets away with anything in God’s universe. He sees everything, knows everything, and will judge everyone. Judgement day is coming. The Judge is on his way.

Every sin will be paid for by the one who committed it—forever in hell. Or, Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection can pay for it forever. This is God's beautiful offer in the gospel, of Christianity. No sin goes unaccounted for, and Jesus can pay for yours and anyone who trusts in him. Hell or him. These are the options.

And I hope you don’t balk at the reality of hell and God’s wrath. How do you propose God get rid of the evil that exists in this universe? We cannot conceive of eternal life with evil lurking around. Hell is God’s way of executing his wrath and expunging evil from our reality—forever.

Where is God? The Son of God went to the cross, paying for our sins. Where is God? The Son of God rose from the dead, is reigning, and will return to judge the living and the dead. A day is coming when he will stop evil.

So, where is he? Not far away—in executing justice and wiping away every tear from the eyes of those who trust him.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.” (Rev 21:4)