Sometimes, it’s hard to understand how evil seems to win every day. It seems like good people suffer while those who do whatever they want whenever they want without regard for morals or consequences seem to prosper. It all seems so unfair.

Someone goes into a private school and shoots and kills 3 little children. Another faithful pastor sees his wife suffer the effects of a stroke and watches her painful road to recovery. Still so many others have seen loved ones slip away before their time.

But Jesus promises that one day we will understand. One day it will all make sense. One day, whatever we’ve lost won’t even begin to compare with what we gained in the end.

I read a beautiful verse recently that I hadn’t noticed before:

“The righteous perish,
    and no one takes it to heart;
the devout are taken away,
    and no one understands
that the righteous are taken away
    to be spared from evil.
Those who walk uprightly
    enter into peace;
    they find rest as they lie in death” (Isaiah 57:1-2, NIV).

What seems cruel to us may very well be a mercy. Those taken are spared from the increasing evil of these days. Instead of chaos and turmoil, they enter into peace and rest.

Ultimately, God never promises us answers because He Himself is the answer we need above all others. Apart from Him, no answer could explain or satisfy our longing and desire. Nothing else could sooth our holy discontent in this beautiful but broken world.