Comfort in Times of Crisis-How God Views Wickedness

The Bible explains how God views the distressing conditions of our day. Though he foresaw the present troubles, he neither approves o them nor intends to tolerate them indefinitely.  "God is love," wrote the apostle John.  (1 John 4:8) Jehovah cares deeply for people and deplores all badness. Quite rightly we may turn to God for comfort, since he is good and compassionate and has the power and will eliminate evil from the.  The psalmist wrote:  " "[God's appointed heavenly King] will deliver the poor one crying  for help, also the afflicted one and whoever has no helper. He will feel sorry for the lowly one and the poor one, and the souls of the poor ones he will save. From oppression and from violence he will redeem their soul, and their blood will be precious to his eyes." -Psalm 72:12-14. 

Do you feel sorry for those who suffer? Probably you do. Fellow feeling is a quality that Jehovah put in us, for we were created in his image. (Genesis 1:26, 27)  We can be confident, therefore, that Jehovah is not insensitive to human suffering. Jesus, who knew Jehovah more intimately than anyone else, taught that Jehovah is intensely interested in us and is full of tender compassion. -Matthew 10:29, 31. 

Creation itself testifies that God cares for humanity. Jesus said that God "makes his sunrise upon wicked people and good makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous." (Matthew 5:45)  To the people of the city of Lystra, the apostle Paul said:  "[God] did not leave himself without witness in that he did good, giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons. Filling your hearts to the full with food and good cheer." -Acts 14:17. 

Next time: Comfort in Times of Crisis-Where Lies the Responsibility?

From the Watchtower magazine, 2002