Age-Old Question - Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?

Question

Take for instance a young, innocent child that is suffering from a terminal disease. When I hear about this happening or see it happening, my heart aches and one of my first thoughts is "Why, why, why?" Why did a small child have to endure such pain, and why would God allow this to happen?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Answer 1

Funny. I've never really wondered this. Instead, I've always wondered, why God allows anything good to happen to all of us bad people? Now THAT'S a question!

Answer 2

Darwin asked why God would make a cat that would torture a mouse. If we leave the word "God" aside for a moment, because there are so many diverse definitions for that word, and substitute "universe", then we can look at it from a different perspective. Things grow and die. Biosystems like humans and animals have nerve endings to tell them where the pain is. It's a protective mechanism. The error in reasoning is to assign "human" feelings to the universe. It is a common thing, I do understand, and it is hard not to do. A climbing team going up Mt. Everest might sense "the mountain is angry today", or when things happen, you take that as a warning or an omen. What I'm trying to say is that a mountain, as far as I know, isn't sentient. It is beautiful, majestic, it harbors all sorts of flora and fauna, but it doesn't really get "angry." The universe is beautiful, amazing, awesome, wondrous, and a zillion other things, but it is arguable that the universe is sentient. It has evolved sentient beings, obviously, but I submit that those markers of development and evolution, like nerve endings and hormones, were not placed there by a mad cosmic scientist, they evolved. There are imperfect ants that have to hobble around on only 5 legs, there are stunted plants that don't get enough sunlight, there are fishies that get eaten. That's the way life works, and it is amazing that there is life at all. Maybe life will continue to evolve where pain will be a thing of the past, like a vestigial tail. Who knows. I do know this, though. It is time to leave the Dark Ages.

Answer 3

Because God respects us. He lets us make mistakes, He lets us have free will. Terminal disease and other things are usually much worse for the people around the one suffering. I have met people who have lost faith because someone they love has had to suffer, but most who go through it themselves have their faith in God strengthened.

Also, we are all born with sin, no one is "good." Only God is good. Pain and suffering is a test. Sometimes, I believe, God allows suffering so that we come to Him so that He can strengthen us.

Another thought is this: When we get to heaven, we can ask God, " Why didn't you do something to help?" But before you do, consider that God could ask you the same. Have you done anything to help someone's suffering? Have you helped the poor? Have you helped medical research to fight cancer? diabetes? AIDS? Have you helped prevent any suffering you could?

I know I won't ask God, "WHY?" because what if He asks ME the same thing?? What will my answer have to be?

Yes, it is hard to see suffering. But perhaps that suffering could make you pray for the child? maybe you get the child a cross to hang in his/her room to remind him/her of the suffering Jesus did for us so that we can go to heaven.

Don't sell children short. Often, they understand more about God than we 'grown-ups' can see because we are NOT innocent anymore.

I hope these answers help.

Answer 4

I was diagnosed with MS 6 years ago. A teacher I had in Jr High asked me that same question, as he loved me as a student. I said that it did not COME from God, but He IS letting me go through this. I do not ask God why. I never have. Why not? Cause God ALWAYS brings good out of bad. ALWAYS. We may not see right away, and maybe we won't understand til we're in heaven, but we WILL.

Also, my grandson is 6 months and only has 1 piece of one kidney that's working to keep him alive. He's got more health issues. We've not asked why. Why not? Cause his parents are such loving parents, as are his 'Grammy and Grampy' (that's me!) and we don't look at him with eyes of sympathy and sadness. We see him for the wonderfully sweet child that God has blessed us with. We know he (as all God's children) are in His loving, caring hands. We're on this earth, not because it's our home, but simply because we're passing through til we get to our real home which is heaven when all will be perfect. My daughter does not feel her son as a burden or a sickly child. She loves him with all she is and treats him like he's a healthy baby. Let's not pity the living, but rejoice!!! Everyday they are alive is a day to be thankful for. If/when the day comes that God takes them home, we will rejoice that our little boy will be held in Jesus' arms with his perfect body. We know we'll be joining him soon. I hope this helps you.

Answer 5

It may be to make other people more thankful for what they have. Same thing with poor people you see on TV. There is no possible way that you can see them and not feel a bit guilty about not being like that. Everyone has to endure pain sooner or later. Unfortunatley some people have to feel more pain than others. Most diseases that happen to younger people have to go through physical pain, while others have to go through emotional pain. Like a breakup or a death of a loved one. Which is extremely hard. I know :( my sister died. She died when she was only 2 months old of crib death. Sometimes you have to keep your faith regardless of what happens to you, he may just be testing you.

Answer 6

ok... here it goes...
you can't blame God... bad things happen to good people for a reason. It's like a domino affect.
Remember the tsunami? SO MANY people lost all that hey had... but from this millions around the world took their attention away from christmas and other things and gave their help. (suffering brings people together)

And does any one remember amber who was kidnapped by her father I think, and killed? because she was killed peoplle took notice and established the amber alert. Because of her, thousands of children are saved from the same tragedy as amber... just like that innocent child suffering from a terminal disease, a man could see this and make awarness and raise money in their name. This child left a memory to make a difference....

Answer 7

First you must look to the universal law of karma and reincarnation. No one is "innocent". Each is accountable for their actions, good and bad and must live out the effects of each cause they put forth. We all reap what we sow. This is the only explanation for why we are all born into such vast sets of circumstances. KARMA.

Why are there starving children (and adults) all over the world? Each soul incarnates into the set of circumstances each lifetime whereby they can benefit from the lesson and burn karma. Each soul reviews their previous lifetime(s) with a "guide" then selects their circumstances before reincarnating back onto the physical plane.

Answer 8

without undesirable issues we would not learn the attributes of God, even interior the direction of the extra severe issues, like rape, etc. usually human beings do the undesirable issues, in simple terms because of the fact all of us are Divine in some way does no longer propose that we don't make errors and does no longer propose that the society that we've made for the youngsters is everywhere on the brink of the final. this is straight forward sense, if we could like exchange in this worldwide we could create it ourselves, the governments wont help us because of the fact they're led by utilising sinning, stupid human beings like us all and standard once you're as wealthy as they have a tendency to be, they do exactly no longer care approximately every physique different then themselves...we could boycott the presidential balloting technique extra often than no longer i think of, in line with threat this could exchange some thing. we could govern OURSELVES and have faith in our very own God given rights and adult males and females human beings to love one yet another and unite in peace, ultimately and consistently. Salaam and Shalom.

Answer 9

Is God to Blame?
Does it makes sense to be angry with God because he permits suffering? Not when you consider that God has promised to end all suffering. Nor does it make sense to feel that God causes bad things to happen. Many tragic happenings are simply the result of random events. Imagine, for example, that the wind blows a tree down and it injures someone. People may call this an act of God. But God did not make that tree fall down. The Bible helps us to appreciate that such things are simply the sad result of "time and unforeseen occurrence."—Ecclesiastes 9:11.

Suffering may also stem from poor judgment. Suppose a group of youths indulge in alcoholic beverages and then go for a drive. A serious accident results. Who is to blame? God? No, they have reaped the consequences of their poor judgment.—Galatians 6:7.
read on for more info:

http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2004/3/22/article_01.htm

Answer 10

Why do bad things happen to good people? That is one of the difficult questions in all of theology. God is eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, etc. Why should we human beings (not eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent) expect to be able to fully understand God’s ways? The book of Job deals with this issue. God had allowed Satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him. What was Job’s reaction? “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15). “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21). Job didn’t understand why God had allowed the things He did, but he knew that God was good and therefore continued to trust in Him. Ultimately, that should be our reaction as well. God is good, just, loving, and merciful. Often things happen to us that we simply cannot understand. However, instead of doubting God's goodness, our reaction should be to trust Him. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Maybe we should be asking, "Why do good things happen to bad people"

Answer 11

We opened ourselves to these things beginning with Adam and Eve. They sort of cursed all of mankind. They unleashed these things on the world. We now live with painful childbirth, disease, working the ground for food, etc. It was their actions that followed through the years. What we do will likewise be passed to our children and generations after. It is very sad, but we did it to ourselves. God is merciful, and He does listen to prayer. God takes care of His own.