When God Isn't Good Anymore...

Small disclaimer: Sorry everyone that I haven't written in a while. Life' been hectic, as you will read...

When does God stop being good? Or, I guess the better question is: when has God been the "bad guy" in your life? If you say, "Krista, I have never once questioned God's goodness." Then I would quickly answer back, "I don't believe you." And, if you honestly, honestly have never questioned God's goodness, I still don't believe you. All people, Christians or not, even the strongest of Atheists and Agnostics, have at some point in their life questioned God and His goodness and have all wondered, "How would I supposedly good God allow this to happen?" I know that this is a question I've been struggling with for the past few weeks.

A few weeks ago, a girl at my college passed away. Although I knew her, I was not close to her. However, several of my friends were. As I listened, they asked questions I could not answer: Why did God allow this to happen? Why would a good God do this? My school held a memorial service for her the day after her passing. Again, although I was not close with her, my heart broke as I heard the sobs of her friends. Even worse, I listened to the anguish in the cries of her parents. Hearing the cries of parents who have lost their children had to be the most heartbreaking thing I've ever heard. As I sat in my pew, I couldn't help but wonder, why would a good God let this happen? 

In my major, Child & Family Studies (Pre-Social Work) I read about terrible and disgusting things that have happened to children. Often in my classes, although I don't voice my thoughts, I wonder how God could let this happen. How could He allow an innocent baby to be sexually abused? How could he allow toddlers to be tortured? Again, I don't know.

At my school, I'm the founder and co-leader of a group that helps girls who have been rescued from sex slavery. Again, how could a good God who is supposed to be loving and protective allow this to happen? How could he allow young girls to be raped on average 12 times a day? He's in control of the entire universe, right? So WHY would He let this happen?

A verse that immediately comes to mind is Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD. 'They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope'". Well, this sounds all hunky dory doesn't it: that God has good plans for us? However, as soon as I remember this verse I have to quickly remember to put it INTO CONTEXT, something that many people often don't do.

First, it's important to remember when this was written. This was written during the Babylonian captivity. Jews, God's chosen people, had been forced from their homes and into slavery in a foreign, had their temple destroyed and had probably seen loved ones killed along the way. They probably didn't like behind told that God had good plans for them. I mean, when someone close to you dies, you don't like being told, "God has good things for you" do you? Personally, if I had just had all that happened to me, I'd be kind of ticked that someone had the nerve to say, "God has good things for you".

Secondly, read the verses before and after, or just read the entire chapter.

¹⁰ This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² In those days when you pray, I will listen. ¹³ If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

Okay, so the first thing the Jews are told is that they will be in captivity for ANOTHER 70 years! Many Jews who are reading this will not be alive to see their captivity end. That's a key concept: we have to wait on God and possibly a very long time. I know I personally struggle with this as I hate waiting. I want comfort and justice and answers to come immediately. I've been saying for years that God needs to get a 1-800 #. But, God doesn't work that way. So, when we're expecting answers, comfort, direction ext., we have to remember to wait patiently on God, even though it's difficult. 

Thirdly, we need to remember to pray to God, even when it's hard. But, how awesome is it that God promises to hear us? To listen to us? Even though we may not feel Him, He is there! He is with us! Even though it may take years, God promises to provide for us and bless us. 

So, here's the 3 step process that I've come up with to help me when I feel God is no longer good: 

1) Pray my little heart out. I ask God to show me His goodness and give me comfort. 

2) Trust that God is still good even though I cannot understand why He is allowing things to happen. 

3) Wait for God to do wonders. Even if I'm not comforted for months or years, I need to trust that God has good plans. 

Another thing I want to mention is that I do not believe God wants bad things to happen. He's not a god with temper issues and doesn't throw lightning bolts and famines at us every time we disobey. In the Old Testament, yes He punished Jews for their continual sin, but He always, always, worked out ways for them to be restored. The greatest being Christ's death and resurrection, where we can now be completely forgiven. Instead, I believe God gives us free will. God desires intimate, authentic relationships. And, it's cool that we mirror Him in that way. After all, would you rather have someone be your friend because they wanted to, or because they had to and instead acted like a robot? God gives us the option to follow Him. Sadly, people sin, A LOT! When we sin, our sins have the ability to hurt other people greatly. For example, when someone is raped, what happened? Well, the rapists sexual sin hurt the victim, right? And, if God had stepped in, how much free will would the rapist have had? Now, rape is an extremely terrible thing that disgusts me and cuts me to the core. So, I can only imagine that it hurts God that much more. BUT: what God does PROMISE is that He has the ability to turn ANY bad situation into something beautiful. This could take years, but God promises that He can bring healing, and closure, and justice and good things out of any situation. "For God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him.." Romans 8:28. I think this is kind of like God's battle plans: Satan can tempt people, but he will not prevail, because God can take whatever brokenness Satan causes and turn it into something wonderful, even though it may be hard. I've seen this happen in my own life. 

So, does God ever stop being good? Even though it may not always feel this way, I believe the answer is no. I believe God allows bad things to happen because He loves us enough to give us free will. Sadly, our free will = freedom to sin, which can deeply hurt others. But Our God, the Ruler of All, can take ANY hurt ANY pain and ANY brokenness, and heal it and turn it into something positive. It may take decades, but God can do this. 

Let's dance in these through these storms of life together!