Is God Really Good?

I can’t understand why God allowed this pandemic to happen. An enemy we can’t see suddenly appears and indiscriminately starts killing innocent people. Even nurses, doctors, and first responders who work night and day to help those who are sick become ill and die.

It’s so unfair! How can God let this happen?

When we suffer a painful crisis, it’s normal to ask questions. We want to know who is to blame, why the crisis occurred, what could have been done to prevent it, what more we can do to stop it, and what God is doing in the midst of it. Asking the hard questions is painful, especially when we come up empty and start questioning God’s character and role in what is happening.

We’re not alone in doing so.

When Job lost his children, possessions, and health, he agonized about what had happened to him. He defended his integrity, he questioned God, accused God, and demanded that God answer him! Amazingly, God listened to Job’s every word. When Job finished, God told him what it’s like to be the God who created, loves, and intimately cares for every detail of the universe! God said,

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!”
Then Job answered the L ORD :
“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
I spoke once, but I have no answer.”
“I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.”
Job 40:2–5, 42:2–3

We may not find answers for what troubles us, but God is good and loving, always working in powerful ways we can’t imagine.

What frustrations and questions do you need to share with God today?