By Nathan Anenson
I’ve seen heartbreaking tragedies in the lives of those around me: a difficult divorce, the loss of a job, the death of a child. When I broaden my view, I see war, disease, violence, and countless other accounts of human suffering. There’s a question that can surface in the face of pain: why did God let it happen?
If you’ve wondered, “Why did God let it happen?”, you’re not alone. In fact, you are in pretty good company. We find it throughout the Bible: Jeremiah, David, even Jesus. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). Jesus, the perfect Son of God, with his final words, asks, why God? Why are you letting this happen? If Jesus can ask this question, so can we.
It’s an important question to ask. When we bring our pain and questions to God, we discover a more honest and authentic relationship with God. We find we can be real, and God doesn’t leave us.
When we ask God, “Why?” there aren’t easy answers. In fact, in all those Biblical examples above, God never gave a direct answer. And so, I don’t have one either. But I do know two things.
I know God is going to make everything right. God has a plan to restore all things, including you. He’s not going to leave you where you are. His plan is centered on Jesus, who came 2,000 years ago to die for our sins and conquer death. When He returns to complete the plan, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” And then Jesus promised, “I will make everything new!” (Revelation 21:4-5). This is our hope. Today is not right, but one day it will be.
I know God is with you. When you sit at the bottom of the deepest and darkest pit, Jesus is there. It may feel like God is far away and doesn’t care. However, the cross of Christ says something different. The cross says Jesus took on our sin, despair, death, and brokenness to the fullest extent. Jesus completely identified with our suffering, so He could be with us in our suffering. Jesus enters into your depression, into your cancer, into your broken relationship, into your death and says, I. AM. HERE. Jesus suffered so you would never be separated from God’s love.
I don’t know the answer to the “why.” But I know God’s promises. When you wrestle with the “why,” I pray your questions lead you to the One who is with you and will make everything right.