How can u say that God is benevolent when my 15 yr old neice died from lung failure??

Question

please dont tell me He works in mysterious ways.....I doubt his existence....she was healthy and died within 3 yrs...

We all prayed a lot...so did her friends...death was God's answer??

Answer 1

Yeah I feel the same way. I'm 19 and have a very good chance of needing to have a hysterectomy. And at the same time, wish I grew up with religion so I would have some source of hope. It's a very horrible internal conflict when something horrible happens in someone's life. I'm sorry for your loss. Hopefully things will get better, but we can't expect anyone but ourselves for that to happen.

Answer 2

First, I'm sorry for your loss. I remember when my daughter's biopsy came back showing a rare form of cancer and how frightened I was.

Second, I'm not a Christian, so I have a different view of who God is. I also remember though, when I had to play for the funeral of an 18 week old baby. The minister at that funeral asked why someone would be here for shuch a short time and have to go through so much. Her answer was that maybe that person was here just to be loved and to experience being loved and having little to offer in return.

In my faith, we don't live just once. We experience many things over many lifetimes. I think we're here until we have accomplished what it was that we set out to accomplish in a particular life, or until that life isn't productive for us on a greater level than what we can see from here.

It's not easy. It's not easy to understand with eyes that are so used to measuring things according to a clock and a calendar.

I can't say why your 15 year-old neice died at such a young age. I'm not sure what her plan was. I do believe that her life served her a purpose greater than what any of us could possibly see from this perspective. I'm sure too, that while her body died, her spirit didn't. She accomplished something, and she will again.

You might not believe my words; they may be empty to you, but that's simply what I believe. However it comes to you and your family, I do sincerely hope that you find some peace. I hope that you can come to the understanding that just because we don't always see the reasons for things doesn't mean that they don't have a purpose.

--Dee

Answer 3

I am sorry for your loss... this must be a terrible thing to come to terms with.
I am agnostic, so I cannot answer your question because I can’t say the lord is benevolent or not. What I can say is that if God in fact exists he cares no more for humanity that the birds in the sky, the ants on the ground, stones or all the particles that fly through space.
Human beings have a habit of being self-righteous, believing that we are the centre of the universe and that there is nothing else more important. I’m afraid that we are far from the truth in this regard.
Life and death are part of a natural cycle and it is a shame when it happens to someone so young. I hope for you and your family that your niece lives forever in your mind with happy memories and perhaps in her death it can help you all place a higher value on every second of your own lives.
Good luck!

Answer 4

this seems to be the way the story goes:

I believe in God. He is all powerful, all loving, and all knowing. He created the universe and sustains it. Someday when this is all over he will take believers to Heaven forever, where there will no longer be pain, hurt, and tears. He is going to do this in spite of the failure of the human race. That is what I believe.

then: oops, my -------------- died. Now I don't believe in Him anymore.

I am sorry for your loss, but He is as much God when things go badly as when your world is pain free. Or He was never God at all. I will not try to make excuses for God--He doesn't need me to.

Answer 5

I know what you mean...this "all-powerful, kind and loving God" took my father from me three years ago. I was sixteen. I find it convenient how God gets all the credit for the goodness in this world, but the goodness is sporadic and somehow powerless against the random evils we all face at some point.
It makes you wonder what the point of organized religion is at all.

Answer 6

I feel for you as I have lost many brothers and sisters and parents. I have a feel for what you are feeling. It is common to blame God and to be angry. Please don't let it continue too long without seeing a grief counselor.
Death is something we all will face. Unfortunately, it will likely be easier for us -when the time comes- than it is to loose someone we love.
There is nothing I can say, at this time, to ease your pain. Time and effort will do this. In the meantime, I wish you peace, comfort, understanding and acceptance.

Answer 7

Why is everything that happens Gods fault?

What a tragedy and you have my condolences.

Mysterious ways isn't the answer . . . . . . . the answer is God didn't GIVE your niece this ailment. God didn't make her die. God isn't up there playing puppet master and watching people die and not feeling hurt. He does love us but there is someone who doesn't care about us and he will do whatever it takes to keep your soul from your creator. If that means your niece passed and the faith of God in your family died with her b/c of pain, well that is a reason. I am just trying to show you that there could be many reasons she died, it isn't b/c God wanted her too. She is with him now, I believe that . . . . . . . . . I am sorry for your loss.

God Bless

Answer 8

Life is temporary. Our bodies are temporary.

This is why we must cherish one another and cherish every moment. It sounds like lots of people cherished your niece. So does God. Why wouldn’t he answer you prayers? Perhaps he wanted to spare her from even more suffering. We can’t know his reasons but he is looking at the big picture. I’m sorry you find it difficult to believe, otherwise you would know that she is experiencing love right now like nothing on earth.

I am truly sorry for your loss.

Answer 9

God did not "take" your niece...nor did he "allow" her to suffer and die. Her illness and ultimate death are the results of sin in the world.....just like there are germs in the world. I'm NOT saying that the sin was hers...or anyelse's in your family.

Now that she has gone -- in body, anyway, she is much closer to you than you could ever imagine! She is also very close to God and so full of Life! Indeed she is always with you...deep within your heart. Allow her to comfort you and bring you peace. God will use your terrible pain and loss to accomplish his will. Her death will indeed bear fruit...we are all interconnected.

Answer 10

God isn't benevolent. Just read the old testament sometime.