It’s one of life’s toughest questions. When something bad happens, we may wonder why God didn’t stop it. After all, He’s all-powerful!

An article in Gospel Living provides two ideas to think about:

1. We grow from hard experiences.

Everything the Lord does is for our benefit. Every. Single. Thing.

“He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world” (2 Nephi 26:24; emphasis added).

So that’s one insight into why God may allow bad things to happen: He knows that somehow, someday, we’ll benefit from the experience.

After all, the point of mortality is for us to experience happiness and sorrow, pleasure and pain, and grow to become more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

2. God respects agency.

Some challenges are a natural part of mortality. Other trials come from people making bad decisions.

God respects the agency of each of His children. He (and we) can encourage, plead, warn, and teach—rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior. But in the end, it would go against His nature and plan to force anyone to do anything.

So what can we do?

God didn’t send us here to fend completely for ourselves. He sent a Savior to experience every pain and pay for every sin. Jesus Christ knows perfectly how to help you. When bad things happen, keep turning to Him! And know that God loves you.

Explore More

• Study the verses listed under “Affliction” in the Topical Guide. What do they teach you about life’s challenges?
• Read more great articles like this in the Gospel Living app and in the inspiration feed on the Church website.