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How Could God Allow So Much Sorrow to Unfold?

A dear, dear Aunt once said to me, "How can there be a God with so much bad happening in the world around us? Why, if God did exist, He wouldn't allow such to unfold."

At the time my aunt posed her question, I looked her in the eyes and said, "My dear aunt, you know that God exists. You can feel His spirit right now as we speak."

During my lifetime, that was one of the strongest connections that I have felt with the spirit of God, and the way my aunt batted her wide-eyes, I knew that she had felt it too.

But I believe that what she felt was much differently than what I had felt; for her it was the Spirit of Conviction.

For many years, I prayed over my aunt's dear soul, but I am not certain if she ever acknowledged and accepted God before her time on earth had passed.

Although my response may have avoided the question she had posed, over the years I believe I now know why God allows so much sorrow to unfold for if God answered each and every prayer lifted up, it wouldn't take much faith to believe in Him.

Although God hears the believers, not all the believer's prayers are answered. When Satan tainted God's beautiful creation (Man), unfortunately the fall of Man tied God's hands in many ways. It's not that God doesn't hear us; it's just that God allows the passing of time to play out until it's time for the Last Roll Call.

Many times, God chooses to intervene. The sick become whole; sadness is erased; finances may be eased. God works in mysterious ways.

And we-humans can be quite childish and selfish at times, like praying for our favorite teams to win a ball game, or praying that we'll win a pot of money so we can buy an expensive car while God looks down from on high at those missing limbs, or having no money for food.

But although the fall of Man tied God's hands in many ways, it's still the hands of God that turn the Clock of Life.

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