“Why would God allow such a tragedy to happen?” Anne replied

Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of famed American pastor Billy Graham, was invited to appear on a U.S. television show in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The host asked, “Why would God allow such a tragedy to happen?”

With the wisdom of God, she said, “I’m convinced that God is as distraught about this as we are. But Americans have driven God out of our schools, kicked Him out of our government, and cut Him out of our lives over the years. I believe God has only silently and helplessly faded out of our lives. We told God to leave in the first place, so why are we now asking Him where He really is? Why do we have the right to question God as to why He is not protecting Americans? How about we review the moral development of America over the years, shall we?”

One year, someone suggested that there should be no prayer in the school because the school should be religiously neutral and the school has no right to ask students to pray. We said, “No problem!”

One month, someone thought that the Bible, which teaches “Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and thou shalt love thy neighbor,” was outdated, so we should take it out of the school. We said, “No problem!”

Another person said, “Children have human rights, they have the right to have an abortion, and they have no responsibility to inform their Parents.” We said, “No problem!”

He said, “Instead of blinking, why don’t you take the initiative to teach your child how to use a condom? Kids are curious anyway, premarital sex, no big deal!” We said, “No problem!”

Some people say, “Modern people should be open-minded, the pornography and violence on TV and movies are just reflecting the social reality. Lyrics about drugs, rape, murder, and magic are just catharsis and stress relief. …… Why make a fuss? If you want to do it, do it!” We said, “No problem!”

We are the ones who invite God out in schools, in hospitals, in companies, in government, and say to Him, “Sorry, we don’t need you.” It is interesting that people turn away from God and then question why God allows the world to fall into misery. If you forsake God, don’t complain that the world is not like this! –God’s will is not the will to send calamity, but the will to give peace. He is your refuge from both natural and man-made disasters!