I was watching ‘The Good Doctor’ and this scene (Please excuse the quality) made me really think a lot about my faith and those of my friends who have yet to find their hope in Christ. At surface level, it makes sense. Why would an all good, all powerful god put an innocent kid through such horrible situations like pediatric cancer or murder or anything? It would be easier to say that bad stuff happens because it just does and there isn’t a real god that would let it happen, instead of saying that God allows this for many reasons and most of those are beyond our understanding.
We may have an answer ready for this person but it will never suffice. We don’t need to protect God, He is powerful enough to take care of himself. We need to show our brothers and sisters that they are loved by a God that understands pain and suffering. He sent His Son to save us by dying on a cross after being brutally scourged and crucified. He understands heartache and desertion because when He was betrayed and sent before Pilate, none of his close disciples were there to help carry that cross up to Calvary. No, they were scared and left Jesus to do it by Himself.
God knows our pain. Jesus himself wept in front of the tomb of Lazarus even though He knew that He was about to raise His friend from the dead. Check out John 11:35. He allowed Himself time to grieve. His human nature needed to vent! God knows you’re mad at Him and He’s okay with that but just know, He loves you. And He would send His Son back to earth to do it all over again. In fact, when Jesus died for our sins, He died for them past, present and future! Just for you. Even if it were ONLY to save you.
Though He allows bad things to happen it doesn’t mean that He willed it to happen. Remember that He wants you to prosper and to be fruitful. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 Keep in mind that we are only pilgrims on a journey back to Him so don’t get too comfortable with this world.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
“Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.” Rick Warren
I love my family very much and they love me, because I’m the most handsome out of all the brothers and the baby of the family, but I don’t agree with everything they tell me. Like how I’m wrong to follow Christ. Like how I’m a disappointment for not doing what everyone in the family has done. I remember the first time I told my mom about my decision to convert to Catholicism, she said she would disown me! But she didn’t, because she loves me. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a very sensitive subject but I’m still her favorite though not by as wide of a margin anymore.
Some people may get angry that you would preach to them in their time of distress. And some may get mad just because you’re preaching to them at all. They may tell you how hypocritical you are and that God doesn’t exist. Be strong and stand firm in your faith, but don’t get angry with them. Show them kindness and mercy and love them into the faith. And yes, sometimes we live hypocritical lives because we are not perfect but “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans’ 5:8
“Love is to will the good of another.” St. Thomas Aquinas
No, God does not hate some people. He loves every single one of us. We are all his children. What God does hate is our sin. He hates our disobedience because that is what separated us from Him in the first place.
As for the young man in the video, I would ask him if he thought about what happens if it wasn’t just “over”. What if when you die, you are called to life with the living God for all of eternity? Wouldn’t the sufferings of this world be worth it? I’m not discounting how bad cancer is or the other really bad stuff in this world. It’s just a terrible thought to end your physical life on earth in suffering and nothing more than that. Isn’t the thought of heavenly glory for eternity better than the thought of nothing?
Guys, it’s time to be real men of faith and love people the way Jesus did.
Disciples At The Ready 