Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?

That title is almost a cliche, it is asked and mused over so often. But just know this: God doesn't like rotten things anymore than you; in fact, He hates them even more than we do.

• Clergy sexual abuse
  
• Murder
• Adultery
• Selfishness
• Broken families
  
• Illness
• Child abuse
• This list could go on, obviously...
  

I don't presume to know the mind of God, but my best guess is that it's not in His WILL for bad things to happen (not that some of them aren't in His plan, when He knows it will bring a greater good), but I believe it would never be in His will for a child to be abused, for example. However, He set the universe up so that humans DO have FREE WILL. When we make bad choices, it must make Him sick, since He sees all, and knows what will come of it.

But know this, He can and does bring good out of crappy things in our lives. My conversion is a good example - He took something so horrible at the time, and turned it all around. He can do the same thing in your life. Don't doubt it.