God Knows What He's Doing

Quite a few in this part of the world are wondering alound, “Why is it snowing again?”  Even many who have long loved snow and the respite it gives from routine are starting to ask when it will end.  Why questions do beg for answers, but they are nearly always unanswerable. Any time we question why history unfolds as it does, or why God allows what He does, we find ourselves having to speculate. No one can know the mind of God unless He chooses to reveal it to us.


Most of us have seen many things that have caused us to wonder “why?” I’ve wrestled with seeing handicapped children and untimely deaths. But what was once an occasional question has recently become a frequent concern. Large scale, widespread tragedy has been particularly common recently. Growing up, I don’t remember wrestling this much with tragedy. Perhaps it was because I was insulated from it or oblivious to it. But I have the sense that the last decade or so has been one where we’ve had to face this question far more often.

Since we’ve pledged we would never forget most of these events, I think its worth taking a look at them together:

Columbine shootings in Colorado (1999)
9/11 in New York City (2001)
Tsunami in Asia (2004)
Katrina in Louisiana (2005)
VT shootings (2007)
Earthquake in Haiti (2010)

Not all these events were global in scope, but all of us who have lived in this part of the world have been significantly affected by each of them.

Personal suffering can often be even more troubling. Those who have experienced personal suffering either themselves or among those they care for most struggle with this issue. They wonder how a loving, all-powerful God could allow people to suffer. After the tsunami in Asia, one reporter wrote:

“If God is God, he’s not good. If God is good, He’s not God.”

While such questions may not carry much weight in most circumstances, when pain becomes suddenly personal these questions loom large. Greek philosopher Epicurus presented the issue as a perplexing dilemma.

Is God willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is impotent.
Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent
Is he both able and willing? From whence then is evil?

This is a difficult issue that is not easily answered. We cannot simply turn to book, chapter and verse and get a succinct answer to this question.  Even when our experiences don't match our convictions, it is still true that God knows what He's doing.  Just sometimes I wish I did as well.