At times, I look around and see pain, suffering, wickedness and evil in the world, and I start to wonder whether God wants all these things to happen in the world. Occasionally I wonder why innocent people cry, why families suffer and why bad things happen to good people. However, on reading the Bible very carefully, I understand that God wants good. God is holy, loving and good. Evil exists because of the free will to choose between good and evil given to man.
God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man,” says the Bible in James 1:13. This verse is for me as a reminder that evil is not from God. In the beginning, God created the world as good, as peaceful. Bible tells us in Genesis 1:31 that everything God created was “very good.” Evil entered in the world due to disobedience and sin.
God does not wish evil, but He permits people to make choices. I have learned that love cannot be forced. God wants us to obey Him because we want to. Some people will opt for hatred, pride, greed and the evil, which causes pain to others. I cry when I see all the suffering sin has brought to the world.
One thing that bolsters my faith, though, is knowing that God can still bring good out of bad. Every good thing that happens to God's people is a result of His favor, according to the verse in Romans 8:28, "All things work together for good to them that love God. It does not mean that evil is good, but that God is strong enough to make the bad things good, the hurt things better, the lesson out of the difficult moments, the healing from the hurt moments, and the testimony of the difficult moments.
I have actually been there myself where I asked myself why some disappointments were met in my life. Initially, I was hurt and confused. However, in turn those moments brought me closer to God in prayer and faith. I grew stronger in my spirit and learned more and more to trust Him.
I believe God's heart is to see righteousness, peace, love and salvation to all. In second Peter 3:9, God says “Not that any will perish but that all will come to repentance.” This is a reminder to me that God's heart isn't evil, it's filled with mercy.