A Good God and a Hurting World

This upcoming week marks one year of this pandemic.

This upcoming week also marks our little boys first birthday!

Jethro was born into a hurting and fearful world. Around this time last year, while the rest of the world was experiencing sickness and death, we were celebrating new life. Two things that are complete opposites.

Like any other parent, I want the best for Jethro, and this world misses the mark (by a lot). During the first year of life, he didn’t get to see the smiles behind the masks, he didn’t get to play with his friends in the nursery, and he still hasn’t met all his extended family. One of hardest things I have struggled with this year is the fact that Jethro will grow up in a broken and hurting world.

As I wrestled with this reality, God has recently led me to the book of Job, where God continues to shine light on the contrast of a hurting world and a sovereign God.

Job teaches us that God sovereignly governs our world. He is just, and He has supreme reign over the universe. (Job 1: 8-9) As I tell our CBC kids, God is King.

So naturally, the next question that follows is: “Why does God allow pain and suffering?”

Well, Job also shows us that God is wise. Throughout the book, Job, his wife, and his friends, continuously question the reason behind Job’s suffering. His friends assume that his sin is the cause of his suffering, and Job accuses God of being unjust. God responds by reminding Job that he does not have a universal perspective like God does, and thus, Job should trust God’s wisdom. Job withdraws his claim that God is unjust and repents.

Recently, I have led a few conversations with kids, where I must simply say, “I don’t know.” I don’t know why God allowed sin into the world. I don’t know why God created Satan. I don’t know why He allowed Satan to enter the garden. I don’t know why God doesn’t just heal everybody.

But I do know that God sovereignly reigns and that I can trust Him. As Job did, I can trust God even as I grieve the brokenness in our world. (Job 1: 20-22)

So, as we mourn a year a sickness and celebrate a year of life, we can remember that God is still reigning supreme over all creation, and He is still just. Nothing, not even the state of this world, can change the power and character of our God.