“Why do natural disasters that kill people happen?” ~Patrick

"I saw the question and answer about why bad stuff happens in the world. It said that the bad things in the world are more of a testiment to man's evil, not God's lack of care. So I was just wondering if you could explain why natural disasters that kill people happen. I once knew a young boy who was about 5 years old who was killed by a tree being blown over on him. Can you explain that?" ~Patrick

That's a great question Patrick, one I've thought about a lot. I can't promise you that you'll be satisfied with any answer we humans can come up with, and I don't want to insult your hardship by oversimplifying suffering, but there's more than one really good thought that I've heard. Hear are the ones I can remember:

1. Even creation is perverted and distorted because of our choice to turn from God. This is described in Genesis 3:17-19

"Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

and referenced again in the New Testament by Paul in Romans 8:20-22

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."

2. When asked why an all-good all-loving God would allow suffering, the only answer I've ever heard that makes sense is "in order to accomplish something that couldn't be accomplished otherwise and which is worth suffering." The next logical question would be "What's worth all that?" and there are several interesting ideas. Let me know what you think.

A. Free will: God wanted to create people who would truly love Him, not just because He created us that way (like robots), so He gave us the ability to choose between His way or our own. We chose our own way by eating the forbidden fruit, and are now being taught that our way isn't best (look at all the suffering we've brought upon ourselves). We spend our earthly lives learning to trust Him and follow Him (like a child learning to trust his/her parents) and are offered the chance to return to Him, but not forced to if we want to continue down our self-directed path to destruction. (see Hebrews 12:10)

B. Soul-building: A lot of these ideas make sense only when considered from the light of eternity. If we are going to exist for all eternity, then even 80 years of suffering is just a prick of the finger. The idea of "soul-building" or "character building" is similar to muscle building. When we lift weights, we're actually tearing our muscles with strain so that they will rebuild themselves stronger than before. So too, when we go through challenges and sufferings, we adapt and grow a lot more than during easy times. So God wants to develop our eternal character, our soul, and He's willing to put us through some pain and suffering to get us there because He knows it's worth it, even though we can't always understand His perspective (see James 1:2-4).

C. Bond Building: The idea is that we bond together through adversity, like the way people helped each other during 9/11. Sure, people become friends without suffering, but their friendship is truly tested and strengthened when someone is in need. How much greater the bond when one person helps another find Jesus and join them in eternal joy!

There are more, and I tend to think that there isn't just one right answer on this one. God has a way of tying everything together in an intricate design. He often has a thousand reasons for each thing that happens, but I'm pleased to understand just a few.

So, what do you think?


"Wow. I really liked that. This topic has always puzzled me and I saw your site and figured I'd ask what you thought. I've never thought of it in that light before. At least the part about man perverting the world. It's so true too. I appreciate it alot! I'm trying to grow in God right now and I can say personally that He does "tear us down" to build us up, as cleche as that sounds. Thanks again! Maybe I'll have some other questions for you later on down the road. God Bless!" ~Patrick