If God is good and all-powerful, why is our world filled with suffering, injustice, and evil?

Many conclude that either God doesn't exist, doesn't care, or lacks the power to intervene. But Scripture reveals a startling alternative.

What if God isn't the problem?
Who or what is really in control of our world?
How can we reclaim the dominion we've lost?

God is Sovereign

When tragedy strikes, we often expect God to intervene according to our desires. But Scripture presents God as the Sovereign Owner Who acts according to His purposes, not our expectations:

Why should the Gentiles say, “So where is their God?”

But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.

-- Psalms 115:2-3 (NKJV)

Another Psalmist also confirms that nothing dictates to God what He should do:

For I know that the LORD is great, and our Lord is above all gods.

Whatever the LORD pleases He does in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places.

• He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
• He makes lightning for the rain;
• He brings the wind out of His treasuries.
• He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
• He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.
• He defeated many nations and slew mighty kings:
  • Sihon king of the Amorites,
  • Og king of Bashan, and
  • all the kingdoms of Canaan And gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people.

Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations.

-- Psalm 135:5-13 (NKJV)

The prophet Isaiah declares God's complete sovereignty over all circumstances:

"That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other:

• I form the light and create darkness,
• I make peace and create calamity;
• I, the LORD, do all these things."

-- Isaiah 45:6-7 (NKJV)

Here "calamity" refers to God's righteous judgment on sin - disaster that comes as consequence of rebellion, not arbitrary evil. God doesn't create moral wickedness, but He does execute justice when His laws are violated.

Other biblical authors affirm God's absolute sovereignty, like Job (Job 42:2) and Solomon (Proverbs 16:9; 19:21).

For example, Daniel pleaded for his nation when they were suffering as captives in Babylon:

Therefore the LORD has kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. And now, O Lord our God, Who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day:

We have sinned, we have done wickedly!

“O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.

-- Daniel 9:14-18 (NKJV)

Understanding our situation

God made no mistake when He created our world, neither is He an evil god, nor did He hand us over to some evil god to inflict suffering on us. God is still in control.

Sadly, humanity choose to rebel against God's design. When something operates against it's intended design, abuse or damage are often the result. In our case, we suffer because our world operates against God's purpose.

Despite God, having every right to judge our sin, He also shows mercy by providing a solution to be saved from eternal death so that we may be part of His Kingdom.