To all those religious people out there, this is a no-brainer. Of course He can! Isn't He a Protector? Isn't that what Psalm 91 is written for? What better refuge have we than our mighty God?
But for those who are rationalists, it's not such an easy answer.
If God CAN protect us from a pandemic, why are so many people dying? Why doesn't He just stop it with one word? 'THUS FAR, AND NO FARTHER!' That's what we want Him to say, so why won't He? Doesn't He care about the suffering of our world?
Or could this be a test of faith, a call to repentance, and a chance for those who believe in Him to experience miracles?
Again, a question with complicated answers. If it WAS, then are we assuming all those who suffered and died din't have faith? Or didn't have enough faith? They didn't ask for miracles?
Well then maybe He CAN'T do anything about it. But then how can He be God, the ALL-powerful? Is our religion just a coping mechanism, something to help us face a cruel, meaningless, random world, and are all the atheists right? Is this all there is?
Tough questions, right? Let's all become agnostics.
Or let's not.
Something in us recognizes that chaos and suffering is not normal, not the way things were supposed to be. Something in us is drawn to goodness, to order, to harmony. Something in us longs for a Good, greater than all goods we have known in this world. That Ultimate Good is God, not just a force, or an energy, but a Person who revealed Himself by entering into our world. Jesus is the the face of God, the proof that God not only exists, but cares about His creatures.
Some of us have experienced that personally, through answered prayers, supernatural encounters with God's presence, or breakthroughs and conversions in ourselves and our families.
But still, confronted with the widespread suffering in this world, we cannot but ask: "Where are You, Lord? Where is Your goodness and Your power now, when we need it most? Why would you allow this to happen anyway?"
I answered some of these questions when Nepal was slammed with destructive earthquakes in 2015: Where was God when the Earthquake hit Nepal?
We can't know or understand everything, but there are some things that we can hold on to:
1. God is not a vengeful judge who sends suffering as a punishment. While suffering, sin and disorder entered our world as a natural consequence of man's broken relationship with God, His response as a loving Father is to help us, to draw near to those who are crushed and broken in spirit. Why would He send a punishment that disproportionately hurts the poor and weak and old?
2. God does not SEND suffering, but He does permit it for a time: We don't have some ready-made answers for WHY He does so, but we are invited to trust that He would only allow temporary suffering because He could draw some eternal fruit from it. Every event in our life is an opportunity to turn to God, and allow ourselves to be transformed by Him. This pandemic can be too. Every disaster is a reminder that our lives on earth are temporary, and we must prepare for our deaths.
3. God promises to draw near to all who call on Him: We can choose whether we allow God into our suffering, into our fear, into our insecurity, into our need, into our loss. Many have testified the supernatural peace and help they have received when they have turned their gaze upwards, and called out in desperation to Him. He drew so near that Emmanuel, God-with-us, shared our suffering and even tasted death.
4. God CAN heal and protect us if we ask Him to: In the Gospels, Jesus healed all who asked in faith, and many believers have experienced supernatural healing over the years. The God who created the universe and its laws is able to suspend them occasionally - to confirm His presence, and show that He is still around. So go ahead and ask for those miracles!
5. Illness and death is not something to be feared: Not all who ask are physically healed, and EVERYONE tastes suffering in their life, and eventually death. But ALL are promised an end to suffering, and a place in our eternal home, if they will only turn to God and die at peace with Him.
6. God can use our prayers to end the pandemic: This is one of those mysterious ways of God, that He allows to participate in His saving plan. Our prayers are the key He has handed to us to open up His good gifts.
Our Father knows what we need before we ask him, but he awaits our petition because the dignity of his children lies in their freedom. We must pray, then, with his Spirit of freedom, to be able truly to know what he wants. CCC 2736
7. We are invited to pray in a spirit of trust and hope: Pray in joyful hope, that God will provide for those in need, console those who are dying alone, and bring great good from what seems like a horrible disaster. Negativity, pessimism, despair do not reflect the eternal realities - of the ultimate victory of good over evil, of life over death.
Do not be troubled if you do not immediately receive from God what you ask him; for he desires to do something even greater for you, while you cling to him in prayer. CCC 2736
8. God can use US as part of His answer to our own prayers: Prayer moves us to action. So many heroic people are participating in the very Jesus-like action of putting their lives at risk for the sake of others. Others are looking for ways to help and serve and comfort and encourage, some are donating money, some are distributing food, some are calling to check in on those who are struggling.
God has not abandoned us. God is not far away. God is here, and sincere and fervent prayer is a sure way to experience this truth whatever we are going through.
Related Posts and Other Links
The Problem of Evil by Peter Kreeft
God's Answer to Suffering by Peter Kreeft
Natural disasters - from God or because of us?
You Were on the Cross- Matt Maher (Youtube song)
Where was God when the Earthquake hit Nepal?
How NOT To Do the Coronavirus Self-Quarantine
How To Be Holy and Happy During the Coronavirus Quarantine
No comments:
Post a Comment