Theodicy is a fancy word that helps us ask the question, “If there is a good and all-powerful God, then why is there evil and suffering in our world?”
Some make the following assumption: Tragedy occurred. An all-powerful God could have prevented this. An all-loving God would want to prevent this. Yet, this tragedy occurred. Therefore, such a God does not exist.
Here is another assumption we may make: An all-powerful, all-loving God exists. Tragedy happens. Therefore, our all-powerful, all-loving God has a loving purpose for permitting this tragedy to occur.
Why do we so often choose the first? I think it is because we, in our pain, want to blame something or someone. When we do, what is our answer for suffering? There is none. When we choose the second, we find that there is some purpose for our suffering (even if we don’t readily see it) and we find the source of grace, strength, and comfort to deal with tragedy.
Remember, the Bible teaches that the universe we live in is not the universe God created. When man introduced sin into God’s creation, God’s universe was corrupted. This is the source of evil and tragedy, which didn’t exist before man’s sin. The good news is, God has a perfect, new heaven and new earth in our future if we belong to Him.
God is not the author of evil and His holy, unchanging character reminds us He can never be. Yet, God permits evil, always punishes evil, can bring good out of evil, and one day will deliver us from the presence and power of evil. Praise His Holy Name!
I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things. Isaiah 45:7 ESV
Behold, the Lamb of God! 