It’s a common question many people ask when disaster strikes in one form or another, “How could God let this bad thing happen?” But God never allows bad things to happen. God causes only good things to happen.
The belief that God allows bad things to occur stems from a misunderstanding of God.
God is Spirit. Everything that God made is spiritual, not material, and it is wholly good.
Material things and circumstances are temporal. In the eternal scheme of things, they are “here today, and gone tomorrow.” But the good of God is in Spirit, and it lasts forever. No good thing created by God is ever hurt, harmed, destroyed or threatened—ever.
The realm of matter and its frequent evil experiences is not God’s realm. It is what we call in Christian Science, the realm of “mortal mind.”
Mortal mind is a false sense of God’s reality. It is a limited, short-sighted, and temporal view of what exists eternally in the Mind of God as a spiritual creation. It is not the true sense of reality. It is a false sense. And there is nothing fixed or permanent about it. It is changeable, and can be improved, with a correct spiritual sense.
Jesus gave us the cure for mortal mind when he taught, “Know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). The healing truth is knowledge that God’s creation is wholly spiritual, eternal and forever good. There is no evil in God’s universe, there is no danger, no threat, no disease, and no death to fear or see.
As we understand the truth about God’s creation, we can overcome and defeat the lies of mortal mind. We can heal disease, reverse the bad effects of natural disasters, and restore harmony and peace where anger and rage once warred. What appeared to be “real evil,” can be turned around and replaced with real good.
So, never be tempted to blame God for evil occurrences. God has nothing to do with evil. God is good and causes only good. When evil appears real, the need is to turn from the false mortal sense of the situation, to the spiritual reality, and then that evil can be overcome and defeated.
Side with good and triumph over evil! God causes only good things to happen.
Thank you so much for these uplifting thoughts this morning!!! sure do need them. I never did know how to look at these situations that appear quite real and evil. It always seemed Schizophrenic to see these kinds of things and say, Their is no evil.” Same with the Political environment. Couldn’t see past the all the chaos . Once again, Thanks you.
Corrections: Couldn’t see past all the chaos… and Thank you. It’s pretty early in the morning.
Great thoughts, Evan ~ Thank you! I think we sometimes have to change our Total perspective and understand that things are not always as they appear to be. There Seems to be so much evil in the world, but mortal thinking is not always truthful and can be very misleading. I think a lot of things are coming to the surface to be healed and altho they appear to be chaos are actually an awakening of thought to what is True and Good.
At times all the print does not show. Today was one of those days.
Thank you Evan for this clear answer to this oft asked question.
Thanks for this. In the midst of all the rains and flooding of Florence, it is wonderful to know that good is really what is going on.
A wonderful explanation of what “seems to be” going on at times:
“Mortal mind is a false sense of God’s reality. It is a limited, short-sighted, and temporal view of what exists eternally in the Mind of God as a spiritual creation. It is not the true sense of reality. It is a false sense. And there is nothing fixed or permanent about it. It is changeable, and can be improved, with a correct spiritual sense.'” Excellent, Evan, thank you!
Dilys Bell, Thanks so much for your testimony in the September 24th Sentinel, in which you quote a prayer you wrote using the 7 synonyms for God: “I stand on Principle and walk with Love in the footsteps of Truth, directed by Mind, with the grace of Soul and the zest of Life, in the power of the Spirit.” When I saw it I thought the name was familiar but didn’t know from where. It was so inspiring. Now I know since you were the first to comment yesterday!
Evan, I somehow became unsubscribed so re subscribed yesterday, and really enjoyed today’s message particularly, but cannot find how to print
as before. Can you send me the procedure please. Thanks, Ray
Hello Ray. You were wondering how to print Evan’s good articles. Between Evan’s article and our comments can be found a row of colored icons. The PRINT icon is located there near the end. Best wishes.
Evan, I somehow became unsubscribed so re subscribed yesterday, and really enjoyed today’s message particularly, but cannot find how to print as before. Can you send me the procedure please. Thanks, Ray
Hi RayRandall,
it is really simple to print Evan`s SpiritView out. Below the end of today`s blog of Evan, you find several coloured squares; and then you click on the forelast green square with a drawn printer on it and then you can print this SpiritView text.
This should help because it is easy to do! Love from Uta 🙂
The print icon doesn’t work for me. I end up copying the text and pasting it in a document if I want to print.
Thanks, Evan, for this clear message that God doesn’t allow bad things to happen. He also doesn’t do bad things. I just finished reading the book of Isaiah in the Bible. My motive was seeking healing. As a teenager I was healed of multiple warts on both hands. I hadn’t prayed specifically about this, but I had read Isaiah as an assignment in Sunday school. Shortly after completing this assignment, I was sitting in the last row in church with my friends at a Wednesday testimony meeting. A man gave a testimony of being healed of a (just one) wart on his hand. After he sat down I looked at my hands – no warts, absolutely none – my hands were complete clear. Isaiah, up until about Chapter 40, is full of stories about God’s causing devastation and killing, even children were targeted. There are a few familiar citations scattered throughout, but not the inspiration I was hoping to find. It certainly didn’t result in healing, but caused me to reflect on who God really is, what he created spiritually in His image and likeness since he is Spirit, and that He maintains His creation as absolutely perfect and harmonious because He is also Love. God’s Love is constant and unconditional for all of us, always under all conditions. This is true today everywhere no matter what appears to be happening. If it’s not good, it’s not from God and it isn’t real.
Thank-you so much Evan!!! Concise explanation to a very common question. So grateful to Christ Jesus for showing us the way and Mrs. Eddy for clarifying it.
Thank you Evan for sharing this wonderfu encouragement and these inspiring truths. It is so important for us to stay steadfast and Dig in deeper to our spiritual study to see and prove more good for ourselves and the world.
I’m with YOU, Carol…at 6:07 a.m.!! “This material world is even now becoming the arena for conflicting forces. On one side there will be discord and dismay; on the other side there will be Science and peace.” P. 96, Science and Health. Keep Reading…it explains Everything we are going through on this Planet right now!! Thanks for your Beautiful Understanding, Evan! Hugs!
What a great explanation for an often asked question that always stumps me! I always find myself gaping a bit stupidly when someone fires that question at me “WHY does GOD allow these things to happen?” I feel like printing this out and keeping it with me so I can quickly whip out the piece of paper and say “HERE READ THIS for the correct explanation!”
I think these sentences above, could be accepted by many people……”God is Spirit. Everything that God made is spiritual, not material, and it is wholly good.
Material things and circumstances are temporal. In the eternal scheme of things, they are “here today, and gone tomorrow.” But the good of God is in Spirit, and it lasts forever. No good thing created by God is ever hurt, harmed, destroyed or threatened—ever.”
I never believe evil comes from God, all good; I have to remind myself that I am spiritual. What is always a problem for me to understand is where is God for the innocent, such as children, when they are in a place such as Syria. I have to believe if the adults around them understood the truth they would be protected from this collective nightmare around them. When there has been conflict around me, I am aware of the duality of mortal mind- the done to and the doers, etc. You can remain outside of that nightmare by being steadfast about the truth. I have heard miraculous stories when children and animals are spared but this is still something I have to work at to find any peace about it.
Great reminder! Sometimes we don’t see what is good in a situation and must be alert t8 see it. Thank you!
Thank you Evan. A definite keeper!
Thank you very much, dear Evan, for this wonderful SpiritView explaining us so deeply metaphysical and lovingly what Mary Baker Eddy says in short but very firm in SH ”God is only good” This one simple sentence from the beginning I read that in Science and Health has phascinated me, and still does.
It is so simple and clear that God cannot be anything else but g o.o d !!
Am so thankful for the seven synonyms God is, and that Love is the greatest above all.
Thank you Evan.
I often feel uncomfortable when asked continously to contribute financially to charities and the United Nations. By responding am I adding to the problem by not seeing Good as in control? By not contributing am I being tight fisted and not helpful. It feels like a cross roads,
Now I have decided to give once and so help practically and any future requests to meet with prayer, a CS response.