Is God Responsible for Our Problems?

WHEN Marion’s adult daughter suffered a serious brain injury, Marion did what many of us would do.a She prayed to God for help. “I could not recall another time when I had felt so lost and alone,” says Marion. Later, her daughter’s condition took a turn for the worse, and Marion began to question God. “Why was this happening?” she asked. She could not understand how a loving and caring God could abandon her.

Marion’s experience is far from unique. Countless people throughout the world have felt abandoned by God during times of need. “I still struggle with the ‘why GOD questions,’” says Lisa following the murder of her grandson. “I have not completely lost faith in God, but it sure has changed.” Similarly, after experiencing a senseless tragedy involving her infant son, one woman said: “God gave me no comfort with what happened. He has shown me no sign or no compassion.” She added: “I will never forgive God.”

Others develop bitter feelings toward God when they look at the world around them. They see societies overwhelmed with poverty and starvation, desperate war refugees, untold numbers of children orphaned by AIDS, and millions of people wracked by other diseases. In the face of these and similar tragedies, many blame God for his seeming inaction.

The truth is, however, that God is not to blame for the problems that plague humankind. In fact, there are valid reasons to believe that God will soon undo the harm brought on the human family. We invite you to turn to the following article and see that God really does care about us.

[Footnote]

Is God to Blame?

Much of mankind’s suffering is self-inflicted. For example, the dangers of certain high-risk activities are well-known. Still, people engage in sexual immorality, abuse alcohol and other drugs, use tobacco, participate in extreme sports, drive too fast, and so forth. If such risky behavior results in suffering, who is to blame? God or the one acting unwisely? God’s inspired Word says: “Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a man is sowing, this he will also reap.”​—Galatians 6:7.

In addition, humans often hurt one another. When a nation declares war, surely God is not to blame for the suffering that results. When a criminal attacks a fellow citizen, is God to blame for any resulting injury or death? Of course not! When a dictator oppresses, tortures, and murders those under his control, should we blame God? That would be unreasonable.​—Ecclesiastes 8:9.

What, though, of the millions who live in abject poverty or who are starving? Is God to blame? No. Our planetary home supplies more than enough food to feed everyone. (Psalm 10:2, 3; 145:16) It is the unequal distribution of the God-given bounty that leads to widespread hunger and poverty. And human selfishness prevents that problem from being solved.

The Basic Cause

Who, though, is to blame when someone gets sick or dies because of old age? Would it surprise you to know that God is not to blame even for that? God did not create man to get old and die.

When the first human pair, Adam and Eve, were placed in the garden of Eden, Jehovah gave them the prospect of everlasting life in an earthly paradise. However, he clearly wanted the earth to be populated by humans who would appreciate their heritage. Hence, he made their future life prospects conditional. Adam and Eve would live in Paradise only as long as they remained subject to their loving Creator.​—Genesis 2:17; 3:2, 3, 17-23.

Sadly, Adam and Eve rebelled. Eve chose to listen to Satan the Devil. He lied to her and in effect said that God was withholding something good from her. So she embarked on an independent course and attempted to “be like God, knowing good and bad.” Adam joined her in her rebellion.​—Genesis 3:5, 6.

When they sinned in this way, Adam and Eve showed themselves unworthy of living forever. They suffered the disastrous results of sin. Their strength and vitality waned, and eventually they died. (Genesis 5:5) However, their rebellion had far more serious consequences. We are still suffering from the effects of Adam and Eve’s sin. The apostle Paul wrote: “Through one man [Adam] sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) Yes, because of the rebellion of Adam and Eve, sin and death spread like a malignant disease through the whole human race.