Last night as we were having family devotions, the reading gave me this thought. We talk about how God has allowed all this suffering. We wonder why a good God has permitted evil to run amuck. We question the goodness of God because how bad things get. BUT, consider these verses.
"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NAS)
"He prayed to the LORD and said, "Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity." (Jonah 4:2 NAS)
These verses show that God is patient. He is slow to anger. When we get upset because God is allowing things to go wrong, we should consider the alternative. God could have stepped in right when Adam and Eve sinned and said, "alright, that's enough!" and punished mankind on the spot, ending the human race. Instead, He is patient. Even though it means that evil people will take advantage of his mercy and patience to get away with murder, He waits, allowing generation after generation to be born. There are people coming to know Him all the time and they are worth the wait to Him. He will not wait forever, but he is patient and slow to anger. We should be grateful that God has waited, and realize that although he waits, he will not wait forever, and when He comes, it will be fearsome for those who have not accepted his offer of free forgiveness.
