Can anybody help me with this?

[reveur]

The Word says that God is our protector, and that He loves us more than we can understand, etc. What about the four year old girl who is r*ped? (I am not trying to go to extremes to make a point here- I am a psychology student, and when I worked in a psychiatric hospital I met more than one woman with such a history). Where was God when she needed protection? I understand that evil is in the world because of man's choice, but that little girl did not choose it. Furthermore, she did not take a bite of the forbidden apple; she was born under a curse that was not in any way her fault, she is victimized because of it, and chances are her life will be ruined by it. God has been good to me. I have been protected from all things. However, when I meet women with these types of stories, I can't help but wonder, "where was God on that one?"

Can any Christians out there give me some guidance?

[Far Rider]

Wow, is that all?

[reveur]

he he. sorry if it is harsh, bloody near blasphemous, but these are my questions. I've heard some really bad things, Rider, and I don't understand why God saw fit to protect me but not so many others. And he said he would!! how many Psalms praise God for protection from enemies, etc. When I began work at that hospital, I was dumbfounded by the things I heard, and my life has never been the same

[Far Rider]

What I meant was, couldn't you have come up with something more difficult?

I'll take a crack at this one later today when I have more time.

I have to wonder, though, what it is that makes you think God is protecting you and not these rape victims, and vice versa? What makes you think these crimes are not just a manifestation of mankind's inherent evil?

[reveur]

Thanks!! I need all the help i can get. I've been stuggling with this for about 2 years.

I feel like I have been protected from things, because nothing bad has ever happened to me. A woman (or man, for that matter) who has been through something like that is changed by it forever. As for inherent evil, that is why i mentioned the fact that none of us made the choice to sin. We were born with a sin nature- doomed. We are born into a world full of misery, and none of us made the choice. However, we have to live with it. At the same time, my life is great. So what does that mean for the nature of God?
(just a heads up- if it seems like i'm being argumentative or frustrating, it's not on purpose- i go round and round with this in my head, and i drive myself crazy!)

[Merceditas]

I dont' know if I can answer your question, but if you don't mind me giving you my views, I'll try to show you how I understand things.

Let's see. The first thing that comes to mind is the parable of the wheat field. You know the one about not trying to separate the wheat from the weeds until harvest because if they tried to rid of the weeds some of the wheat would be damaged also?

In general, I would suppose that God allows evil to occur because there has to be a fight on our part to fight that evil in our lives and souls, or else how it is we can prove to Him that we, with our free will, are doing all we can (with His grace) to prove to Him how much we love Him?

As for individuals who suffer from evil, I do not know why. We do know that God is merciful, He knows all of us intimately, He won't give us more crosses to bear than we are able, so He is always there to help us through our sufferings. If He knows us so well, better than we know ourselves, I assume He allows some of us to suffer for a greater reason than we can see. And what happens to us in this life is tailored to the needs our individual souls will benefit most from.

How many people do we know who have suffered evil and hardship and find their faith is stronger because of it? And how many lives does this good touch, also?

[reveur]

Thanks, Merceditas. You might be on to something with what you said about how God knows us. I have just seen firsthand the things that can happen to people, and how it affects their lives. I get so annoyed by the fact that God knows that we are frustrated by not being able to understand how He can allow evil in the lives of innocents, but he does nothing to help us understand. To speak frankly, it pisses me off that He won't tell me what I need to know (I'm young, can't you tell? he he) to make sense out of what His true nature really is.
Again, thanks for sharing your views with me, I'll keep what you've said in mind as I continue to try to figure this all out

[MrDoublel]

reveur, First off, I appreciate your comments earlier.

As for your questions, I'm no biblical schoolar...or any other type of schoolar for that matter. What I do know is he has been there for my family and myself in times of need. There are times when you think "where are You?" and later, in hindsight, you realise He was there all along.

As for him talking to you. I feel he does, you just don't know it at the time. You make a snap decision, an idea pops into your head, whatever, in hindsight I realise it was His message/plan/influence. Looking back, the hard times are what made me a (I hope) better man today, and a better husband. He puts hurdles in our path, through these we grow, we learn. But one must trust in Him and his love of us. The God awful things that happen? I am but a simple man, how ca nI begin to understand the complexities of the Creator? How can we show him that we a just and good people? You are dedicating your life to helping those in need. I would hope you do this with Him in mind and that it is for the betterment of your fellow man. In this you help others and show Him who you are, this done selflessly will be rewarded.

[Far Rider]

reveur, you wrote:

We are born into a world full of misery, and none of us made the choice. However, we have to live with it. At the same time, my life is great.

This too shall pass. You'll get yours eventually. We are all affected by the fallen nature of this life, some more than others at one time or another. But what keeps nagging at me is how clear your calling appears to be.

Teresa of Avila wrote:

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

To attempt to know why people suffer is like trying to imagine what a rug will look like by examining the first thread. However, this is a high calling you are hearing, to be the hands of Christ, as it were. You will be tested, to be sure. You'll get to the point eventually where you'll wish you were them, because it would make the pain easier to bear.

It doesn't sound to me like God is protecting you from anything. Rather, He is raising you up as their champion.

[101ABN]

"A woman (or man, for that matter) who has been through something like that is changed by it forever. As for inherent evil, that is why i mentioned the fact that none of us made the choice to sin. "

Just a quick comment.

Yes, her life will be changed. Why do you presume it will be for the worse?

Sometimes the darkest things that occur in our lives are the very things that lead us to the light.

[AmericanPride]

Well -- it certainly depends on what you mean by "protection". God might or might not protect you from rape, murder, assault, and any other physical harm. He might or might not protect you from financial ruin, family loss, or damage to your social reputation.

But He will certainly protect you from the "lake of fire" should you decide to accept His help.

[101ABN]

"But He will certainly protect you from the "lake of fire" should you decide to accept His help. "

"Who wants to ride that chrome three-wheeler?
Who wants to make that first mistake?
Who wants to wear those gypsy leathers
all the way to Fire Lake?" ~ Bob Seger

[reveur]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your input very much. I haven't given up on Him, and thankfully, He hasn't given up on me either. I think maybe I just need to grow up a bit