Why Did God Let This Happen?

Q

I know you must have answered this question before, but I cannot find the exact answer I am looking for on your website. When I talk to family, they always ask “why did God let this happen?” referring to tragedies and natural disasters. I would like to have an answer ready when people ask this. Could you address this? Thanks a lot.

A

The simplest thing to do is remind them who’s in control here. Paul called Satan the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:4) and John said, “We know we are children of God but the whole world is under control of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19) God didn’t create the world to have periodic natural disasters. These all came after sin was introduced into the world and are consequences we have to live with now, along with sickness, disease, wars, famine and other life threatening events.

Jesus said that the increase in frequency and severity of these disasters would be a sign that the end of the age is coming. It’s one of the warning signs that it’s time to get right with God before it’s too late. The judgments that are coming will make the current disasters seem like the good old days.