By Haley Lewis | FaVS News Columnist
Being human means questioning things we can’t understand. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why doesn’t God intervene when we need Him most? If he’s all-powerful, why not stop every terrible thing?
Whenever I bring this up to people who are strong in their faith, they say something along the lines of, “It’s God’s plan. He knows better than we do.” But that answer has always made me feel a mix of slight anger and bitterness. Things that come to mind: LA fires or even the local Medical/Silverlake fires where people lost everything, little kids getting cancer/fatal sickness and dying, people losing their jobs and having financial struggles, etc. I can accept that bodies fail and people die—that’s part of being human. But why does God grant miracles to some and not others? What makes one person chosen and another overlooked?
This is where the concept of faith comes into play in trying times like these. The whole concept of faith is confusing to me. I try. I really do. But sometimes it can be difficult for me to still have faith in God when I see bad things happening in the world to people who don’t deserve it. I know we live in an imperfect world, according to God, and that can cause bad things. Proverbs 3:5-6 states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” So God is stating right here to not lean on our own rational of things, which I have to remind myself of.
But even when I’m frustrated, there’s a part of me that still believes God’s love is bigger than anything our human minds capacity. Maybe that’s why I’m thankful for his steadiness—something stable to lean against even when I don’t understand any of it.
Maybe faith isn’t about having all the answers, faith can be a work in progress. It’s about learning how to give up control, letting something bigger than you hold the things you can’t carry.
I guess I don’t need the answer to why bad things happen… but I still crave meaning. I still want to make sense of my world, even when it refuses to make sense back–and in those moments, all I can do is lean into faith and trust that there’s a purpose I can’t quite see yet.
The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News. FāVS News values diverse perspectives and thoughtful analysis on matters of faith and spirituality.
Never miss a story. Get the top headlines, breaking news, commentaries, and handpicked favorites delivered straight to your inbox every morning. Subscribe to our quick, free and informative FāVS News Daily Newsletter.
Thank you, Haley, for your views and your strong faith to hold tight while questioning. I get this deeply and appreciate what you shared vulnerably.
The part of the gospel that people don’t want to hear, what Paul calls a stumbling block and foolishness and others call a bloody cross IS what God has asked of us: die to self and serve Him by serving others.
We still have that tree of good and evil placed before us. God said this tree is Mine. Eat from it and die, obey and live. The implication was simple: Trust Me.
Did Adam and Eve know anything more than that? Did they need to know anything more?
Rather than answers, God wants obedience to what He places in our conscience by His Holy Spirit. Listen to it, obey it and peace will come, our character will change, our nature will be like His selfless nature, even if the answers do not come.