Yesterday afternoon when I picked the children up from school there was a tornado watch in our area. K got into the car, looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Mama, why does God make tornadoes?"
(I had a feeling I knew where this was going...)
"Well, I don't really know. God is so big. He doesn't think the way we do. I don't always understand what He does."
"But, Mama, He LOVES us. Why would He make dangerous things if He loves us?"
Her face was earnest. It was clear she was not going to let this go.
I repeated that I did not really know, but that I knew God was big and powerful--and that a lot of people get busy with their lives and forget that. I told her I thought tornadoes weren't all bad, because they reminded us of how huge and powerful God is...Then I wondered if I had totally messed up her view of God.
So, how would you answer that question?
UPDATED TO ADD: I love posting questions here and reading your terrific counsel! Thank you!
14 comments:
Difficult question, definitely. We had a discussion similar to this in my Sunday School class with three year olds. I guess I'd say that God made nature perfect, but when Adam and Eve sinned, the world wasn't perfect any more - even nature was ruined. So the weather that God intended for us to enjoy became hurtful and dangerous.
But then, I'm not sure if a four year old would be able to understand that (much like I don't think my three year olds really got it)... But then again, I wouldn't have expected that question from a four year old, either!
You know, I would have explained it the same way. It is so hard when it isn't a cut and dry type of thing. Their little minds go and think up things that we never knew that they were even taking in.
I think your answer was very good. It's not a question you can answer satisfactorily for anyone, whether they're 4 or 44. That she may have left the conversation more confused than when it started isn't necessarily a bad thing. When my daughter asks those kinds of questions I almost hope I'm creating more questions than I answer, hoping that by doing so I will encourage them to continue to seek after God for the answer. An answer that's virtually impossible to pin down, but my prayer is that the journey of discovery will only deepen their relationship with Him. Either that,or I'm setting myself up for a lifetime of impossible conversations! :)
I don't envy you answering that question..
My four year old asked me to explain why his grandmother died of cancer--and whether or not God was going to "give cancer" to his other family members. It was a very hard discussion and one that I wanted to have honestly... But when I don't understand it myself, its very hard to answer!
Youch. That one stings. I like the first comment. I'm filing that away for when my kids start to ask.
I would answer as Abbie did. Man's origional sin damaged all of nature which will not be healed until the new earth is formed after the ultimate destruction.
That is a tough topic.
I just remind my little ones that God does everything for a reason. Although we might not see or understand it at the time, the troubled times make us and those around us stronger.
I've been asked questions similar to this. My reply would be, that God created the heavens and earth and the weather and clouds and sometimes like people, clouds don't get along and they create dangerous situations and bad storms. Good weather and bad weather comes together and can make scary weather. But God is always there to watch over us and we have to trust God.
:)
Kelly in Michigan
The thing I tell myself to try to help ME understand it is that I believe God only allows bad things to happen when something better can come from it. I haven't had to try to explain that to my kids yet (whew! tough!), but I might try to give them an example of some possible good God might do through something like that...maybe there's someone who will know about Jesus because of going through this storm. I think what you said is great though because it's so true...we really don't know what God intends for every hardship. We can just emphasize that HE does know and we're ok with that because His ways are always good.
You answered quite well, I think. I don't think I could have done any better :)
I like what Abbie and Tommy said. In the Begining God made the heavens and the earth and it was good. He supplied all that man would need - it was a perfect word. However, into the story entered evil and man choose to listen to the devil and sin entered the world. Thank God He had the plan of a Savior who would redeem us back to His original plan. We live in a world where evil is present and we see its influence daily. When sin entered the world it disrupted God's perfect plan. It will be restored when Jesus returns. Thank God
Blessings, Diane
God is not in the business of hurting people. However, this world is ruined by sin. Satan loves to destroy things. This world is waxing old and that means more natural disasters. Revelation talks about God having his angels hold back the winds of strife. But they won't be able to do it forever. This world will get really bad, and then he'll return to take us to heaven with him.
One thing to stress is that God does not cause these things to happen (except in certain times when punishment of sinful cities was in order - like Sodom and Gomorrah). Sometimes innocent people get hurt because this world is sinful. But God is a God of restoration and healing. No matter how this world hurts us, He can make things better. We should use it as an opportunity to not set our hearts on this world, but long for our heavenly home where tornadoes don't exist! :)
I think you did great. It would've been impossible for me to answer, because I still struggle with the same question K is struggling with.
How would we see the miracles for the blessings they are if they are contrasted with the evil of the world? Not an easy thing for anyone to understand, but that is why it is called "faith."
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