Q: Did God Create Evil, or Does He Just Allow It?
A: Although God may sometimes use physical evils to accomplish His purposes, the Bible says that God does not cause sin or moral evils (James 1:13-15, 1 John 3:2-6, 2 Thessalonians 3:3). Jesus said the cause of sin is within the human mind: “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” (NLT, Mark 7:20-23)
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Through The Storm
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock." - Matthew 7:24-25 NLT
Everyone loves a good story. And Jesus was a master storyteller. In this parable, two people built different houses. One house was built on sand and the other on rock. When rain poured down, floods rose, and the winds whipped up around the house built on rock, the house stood firm. When the rain poured down on the house built on the sand, the house collapsed. Neither home was exempt from the storm.
Precious one, even as a child of God-even as a wise child of God-you'll experience storms. The temptation is to blame yourself or say, "Why is this happening to me? I must have done something wrong." Good and bad things happen to everyone. What's different is God's presence and peace in the storm. You don't need to be afraid. Call on the name of Jesus, and he will give you the stability you need when all else is shaking.
Father, thanks for the promise of your presence even in the storms of life. Help me build my foundation on you, my rock, so when storms come, I don't need to be afraid.
"A Little God Time For Teens" - p.285
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