Faith in the Midst of Chaos (part 2 of the Chaos series)

The question of why bad things happen in a world that’s supposedly guided by a loving, all-powerful God has been asked for centuries. It’s the kind of question that makes us wrestle with our faith and understanding of both God’s character and His plan for the world. The presence of evil, suffering, and pain in a world that’s ultimately under God’s direction is something many struggle to reconcile. So, let’s break this down in a way that helps make sense of it, rooted in Scripture and the truths we see in the Bible.

The first thing we have to remember is that God’s sovereignty is not in question, even in the midst of bad things happening. The Bible is clear: God is in control. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man's heart devises his way: but the Lord directs his steps.” This verse doesn’t just say that God gives us free will to choose but that He is actively directing our paths, even when we don’t understand it. God isn’t caught by surprise by the chaos in the world. He is actively involved and, in ways we may not immediately see, working out His purposes.

But here's the part that people often get hung up on: God’s sovereignty doesn’t mean that He causes all the suffering we experience. He does not create evil or suffering for the sake of seeing us hurt. When we look at the world around us, it’s clear that sin—human rebellion against God—has broken everything. From the very beginning, in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the world, and with it came death, disease, destruction, and every kind of suffering we see today. The Bible says in Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” It’s through sin that suffering entered, not through God’s design.

But why does God allow it? Why not step in and stop all the bad things from happening if He’s in control? We can look at Job’s story for insight into that question. Job was a man who loved God, but he endured unimaginable suffering. He lost his wealth, his health, and his family. His friends questioned him, and even his wife told him to curse God and die. But Job’s response, though full of pain, ultimately pointed to his trust in God’s greater plan. In Job 42:2, he says, “I know that you can do every thing, and that no thought can be withheld from you.” Job knew that even though he didn’t understand why all of this was happening to him, God was still in control. The final chapter of Job’s life shows us that God had a purpose even in his suffering—Job’s faith was tested and refined, and in the end, God restored him.

This brings us to the reality that suffering is often part of God’s plan to refine us, to make us more like Him. In Romans 8:28, we are reminded, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” It doesn’t say that everything that happens is good, but that God can use even the painful, difficult moments to work for the good of those who love Him. God does not waste our pain. He can use it to bring about something greater in us—something that may not make sense at the moment but will eventually serve a higher purpose.

Consider the lives of people like Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. He faced years of hardship and imprisonment, yet in the end, God used those years to position Joseph to save not only his family but an entire nation. Genesis 50:20 says, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Joseph’s suffering wasn’t random—it was part of God’s plan to save lives.

Another example is that of the Apostle Paul, who suffered greatly for the sake of the gospel. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-28, Paul lists some of the countless ways he endured suffering: beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and much more. Yet, he viewed all of it as part of his calling and mission. He said in Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Paul understood that suffering had the potential to draw him closer to God and to shape him into a vessel that could be used for God’s glory.

This is where we must trust in God’s character. We may not always understand why certain things happen, but we can be sure that He is good, just, and loving. Psalm 34:8 says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.” Even when we can’t see the end of the story, we can trust that God is good, that He cares about us, and that He is working all things—good and bad—together for His purposes. And ultimately, His purpose is to draw people to Himself.

It’s in the most broken places, the darkest moments, that we often see God’s light shine brightest. The story of the cross is the ultimate example of this. Jesus, the Son of God, suffered the ultimate injustice, being crucified for crimes He didn’t commit. He experienced the weight of all human suffering on the cross. But that suffering, that pain, led to the greatest victory the world has ever known—Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death and offering eternal life to all who believe. In the same way, God can take the brokenness in our lives and transform it into something beautiful.

This leads us to the concept of “New Beginnings,” the idea that in the midst of hardship, God is always preparing us for something new. Jesus promised in John 16:33, “In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” The tribulation we experience is not the end. God has a new beginning for us, even in the midst of pain. Our suffering is not in vain—it is part of the process that refines us, draws us closer to God, and prepares us for the new life He wants to give us.

We often need to look beyond the immediate pain and focus on the hope that we have in Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:17 tells us, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The struggles we face now, though painful, are temporary. God’s eternal plan, the glory that awaits us, far outweighs anything we go through on earth.

So, what do we do in the meantime, when the world feels overwhelming, when we’re faced with suffering and loss? We trust God. We lean into His promises. We trust that He is with us, that He’s directing our steps, even when we don’t understand the path. And we trust that His ultimate goal is to bring us into a closer relationship with Him and to use us for His glory. As we walk through the pain, we can hold onto the truth that God is good, He is faithful, and He is working all things for our good and His glory. New beginnings are possible, even in the midst of life’s hardest trials.

I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

The image is AI generated on chatgpt.