If God is Good, Why Do Bad Things Happen?

One of the most-asked questions by both Christians and non-Christians alike is: ‘If God is good and loving, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world?’

Is God UNABLE to do something about the situation (i.e. not all-powerful)? Or is He UNCARING (i.e. not all-good)? Or perhaps, as some critics claim, the presence of evil and suffering in the world are proof that God DOESN’T EXIST at all?

The answer is ‘none of the above’! As Dr Mark Harwood explains, the biblical account of history makes sense of the world around us, including evil and suffering, and provides deep and meaningful hope through even the darkest personal pain.

⏳ TIMESTAMPS ⌛
00:00 Teaser
00:46 Introduction: A perfect world gone bad
02:23 A problem of perspective: We’ve arrived in the MIDDLE of the story!
03:57 Disasters and the Boxing Day Tsunami: Why doesn’t God prevent these?
04:20 → We’re living in a world broken by sin (God didn’t make the world this way!)
05:32 → We’re living in the aftermath of a global judgement (the Flood)
07:02 → We’re living in a universe designed to operate on ‘cause and effect’
08:09 Is God unable to intervene to make things better? Miracles and answered prayer
10:41 God is like a good parent: He allows difficulties—for growth!
11:31 Job and the account of his suffering
14:50 God is sovereign
15:39 → The analogy of the potter and the clay
17:20 Is God not ABLE to prevent suffering, or does he not really CARE? A false dilemma!
19:00 Genesis history is the key to understanding our broken world
20:08 Evolutionary history undermines the character of God, and the logic of the Gospel!
28:04 Responding to typical claims (e.g. Fry and Attenborough) about God and suffering
30:03 A note about the second law of thermodynamics
33:42 Mark’s Story: I lost My Son
38:34 Without God there is no hope in the face of suffering
39:52 Doesn’t the Old Testament show that God is a moral monster?
44:26 What has God done about the problems of natural and moral evil?
49:58 How do I get to know this God, personally?
54:38 What if I’m ‘not quite there’?

✍️ LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

📚 HELPFUL RESOURCES

💙 SOCIAL MEDIA

📅 EVENTS
We present at _hundreds_ of events around the world each year.
To see what events are happening near you, or to request a creation presentation in _your_ Church (or other gathering) visit:

Thanks for watching!

[kathleennorton]

The Isolation of the sick and dying was one of the most terrible things that happened during covid. I am so glad for you and your family that God let your family be together during that very, very hard time. I often tried to imagine the incredible grief so many experienced being kept separated from each other during the time that the closeness of family and loved ones was so very important. Praise Jesus for allowing your family to be able to love and support each other, when otherwise times were not likely to let this happen.

[pauladams]

This whole topic is very important for Christians to consider, as many non-believers ask this question. One day in the future, everything that has gone wrong - due to the effects of sin - will be put right. God has promised that. Meanwhile, we need to consider the reasons why we face suffering and tragedy in our lives, in order to be able to share this subject with others. Dr. Mark Harwood outlines this in such a clear, and gentle way - I only wish I could explain all these points so clearly! Thank you Mark!

[manuaiipondraken]

God is not only a good God, he's also God of justice. Chaotic world came about as a result of man's choice and God respect that. But because he's good, he's also working towards a long term solution.

[MrGumiflex]

Thank you for this interview, may God bless you and all who reveal the truth about God. The truth about creation must be at the foundation of every community led by God's spirit. And that truth is written in God's immutable law, in the 4 commandments about the Sabbath. Commandments and creation are 2 sides of the same coin. Bless our Father all who "have the testimony of Jesus and keep God's commandments"

[telwood]

Pleasure and pain are on the two sides of life's coin.

[ithelpdeskcomhar]

Bad things happen because it is the only way you can know what is good. In the same way you don't know night without day, left without right.

[kathleennorton]

The real question is why is there so much good in a condemned, fallen world? It is because of the unmerited grace of God, through Jesus Christ The LORD, that we live in and experience so much goodness and beauty.
We could all be squashed like one big, nasty cockroach.
He is patient with us, giving us many good and amazing things, revealing to us His goodness and patience, out of this place of actual darkness and foreboding.
It is up to us to come to His light, to be rescued by the blood of Jesus, out of the clutches of the sin, death and destruction we find ourselves in.
His amazing goodnesses in this world are clear glimpses of the eternal glory He is offering to us.
The evil, awfulness, hopelessness, grief and foreboding found in this world serves as a reminder of the course that this evil world is on and where this course leads us to. The awful hurt and evil is a glimpse into the eternal sufferings of torment we must, at every cost, escape from, into the loving arms of God, through Jesus Christ our LORD.

[MichelleYee]

Wow, this is really powerful! Thank you so much for this video.

[abebayehudesalegn]

God is good. But most of us chose the evil. God has given us to turn from the evil and back to him. Evil will be punished. Our knowledge for many 'why's is wanting. God's people also suffer but finally share his glory. God bless U.

[petroflorence]

The planet has fallen we are fallen but saved new creation but old man strugles whit new man beleve in jesus and live rember man is redemd but all is not saved so still death if god wipe out everything than start again tne not displaying love coz still giv son and still show mercy even when we sinner who are saved throug jesus

[luisdasilva]

If we go back to the past, since the beginning of creation, God has always warned us about what was good and what was bad, but since the beginning, humans rebelled against Him despite all the warnings. After these thousands of years, humanity continues to ignore God, His commandments and laws. It was not because a lack of warning from God, but rather because of our pride in thinking that we can governing the world ignoring God would lead us to a promising future, but looking at the global scenario clearly shows that we have failed.

[telwood]

If you get comfort in whatever your beliefs then that is what matters.

[alantasman]

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

[michaelmohanu]

The question “If God is good, why the world is bad”, has an interesting twist when asked “If God is evil, why there is good in the world?” Who can explain the good things in this world if there in no a force for good? If this God is all powerful and evil, why do we experience anything good in our life?

[keibro]

Typically, the people who suffer most from god’s justice are the poor, the starving, and primarily children who have no knowledge of sin. If you believe in him he is still the monstrous god of old. No apology for his character will change that fact.

[rubytuby]

This is a giant classroom in the end. God will have mercy on everyone and save everyone, just not all at the same time.
1 Timothy 4: 10 To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe. 11Command and teach these things.…

[Babesyann]

Isaiah 45:7
King James Version
7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

[JesusSavesJohnverse]

Thank you for the excellent video 😊
The Lord’s love + grace be with you
Hope you are all well and resting in Jesus saving love + grace 😊
Blessings friends 😊

[joeminoso]

That was SO beautiful ❤, GOD BLESS U ALL

[melchiormapa]

Who am I to question the Almighty, He has not been silent. He had spoken through His servants, the Prophet's. And finally His Son came was in our midst, and His word has spoken again, The HOUR OF FAVOUR IS AT HAND, BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS. This our window of hope.
Believe in the Lord Jesus and we'll be saved.