Where is God When Tragedy Strikes?

Through his time with Papa, Mack learns that although God does not orchestrate tragedy, he can make good come out of that tragedy and that he never leaves his followers in the midst of their pain. Mack never had a close relationship with God but when his youngest daughter, Missy, was kidnapped and killed, Mack’s distance turned to anger. He believed that God had abandoned Missy and that he had allowed, or even planned for her to be killed. It is not until Mack understands the true nature of God that he is able to accept that God was not responsible for Missy’s death.

One of the aspects of God that allows evil in the world is God’s respect for the free will that he has given his children. Even when he sees that they are going to...