Being a Christian can be tough sometimes – every now and then, we receive questions about our faith which we would love to openly answer. However, it’s always frustrating, when we don’t quite know the answer ourselves yet; we haven’t yet discovered what God has been saying to us about the issue. For me, that question (that often left me confused) was, “How can there be a loving God, when so many bad things happen to so many lovely people?” Only now, after being enlightened am I able to spread some light upon the issue…
Firstly, something needs to be set in stone – the world is one truly messed up place! No-one can deny this; there’s crime, discrimination, terrible disasters such as earthquakes, and other more personal forms of trial. The thing is, there is good, and there is bad – opposites attract – and so there is God, and there is the devil. Also, there is sin, which ultimately separates us from God, and causes bad to affect others. But, God sent his only son, so that whoever just simply believes in him, and accepts him can live in his love and mercy; Jesus stood in the way of our sins, took our burdens and wrong doing, so that we can have a relationship with God. There will always be sin, and bad – it’s inevitable – but there is also good from God, we just have to look for it, whether its an obvious pay rise, or a subtle smile from somebody in the street…
The above can be hard to understand – that’s because God’s love is so unconditional that we don’t deserve it! We don’t deserve our wrong doings to be forgiven without punishment! Only, when we start to live in God’s light, do we come to know him, and understand for ourselves…
Recently, I came across Psalm 4 and verses 6-7 say:
6 Many, Lord are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us. 7 Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.
The psalmist, in this case David, refers to this commonly asked question, and he highlights the fact that we need to allow God’s light to shine upon us, and ask him to fill us with his joy. It’s simple – go to God and submit to him, and he reveals goodness in every aspect of life. It may seem that only bad things happen in this world, but that’s because often we do not focus on God’s joy, love, and peace. God never makes the bad things occur, but unfortunately they happen; he may not take them away straight away, because otherwise we would not grow as individuals, or come to dwell in God’s love and goodness!
I do hope I managed to spread a little bit of light upon the topic – I apologise for anything that doesn’t completely make sense, after all, I’m only human! Feel free to ask any questions!
Eleanor ♥
