Fires in California have been destroyers. Lives, houses, buildings are among many of the losses from these devastating blazes. Despite people’s best efforts, wildfires keep happening in the Golden State at alarming rates.
In the most recent fire, meteorologists claim that the winds were blowing the burning flames the length of EIGHT football fields. Every. Single. Minute. There were reports of winds gusting up to 70 miles per hour and humidity levels dropping into the single digits in the areas surrounding Paradise, California. Add to that a lower-than-average rainfall, and extremely dry conditions are its result. This all spells disaster for potential fires.
People died in their cars trying to escape the blow torch of this fire in Paradise. With one road in and one road out, there were too many cars on the road that prevented the ability to outrun the deadly flames.
My heart goes out to the victims. I can’t even imagine.
One desperate woman cried to CNN reporters:“How could God take a town away that’s called “Paradise?”
One desperate woman cried, “How could God take a town away that’s called “Paradise?” Share on XThis is a common response in times of sorrow. We cry out, wondering why God would allow suffering? If God is good, then why did He allow this to happen?
But is God to blame?
According to the Sacramento Bee News, the hot, dry and windy weather conditions carry fires for thousands of acres, and “California’s urban sprawl into formerly undeveloped land is another culprit,” said former Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District chief, Kurt Henke. Where natural fires typically burn off chapperel, houses now stand. So the chapperel doesn’t get burned off, and is now easily ignited in these conditions. Paradise burned.
We Lost Paradise.
What I have learned in my theology studies is that God allows bad things to happen for the overriding good of free will. He doesn’t want robots. So when He created humans, even though everything is His, God allows people choices. We suffer the consequences of those choices. Because of free will, we can do great things, or we can do terrible things.
When God created the first humans, He said don’t eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The consequences to eating from this ‘knowledge tree’ was death. God warned them, but they went their own way regardless of the consequences (and we’ve been doing that ever since). We then got kicked out of Paradise, the Garden of Eden, and we’ve been trying to get back in ever since by creating systems of government designed to alleviate suffering.
The problem of evil and suffering is a huge stumbling block for people. It causes some to lose faith in God or some to never even consider God. They argue God can’t be good if He allows so much pain and suffering. Yet when we look at the narrative throughout history, the biggest perpetuators of suffering are people themselves—we merely need to look in the mirror to find the evil within.
This is why Jesus Christ came to save us. Not only did He die in our place, to pay the penalty for our sins, He came to show us what it’s like to be truly human: to love others and esteem them higher than ourselves; to pray for our enemies, and forgive those who seem unforgivable. He calls us to such high standards that without His help, we could never achieve it. Thank God, we don’t have to do! When we believe in Christ, His Spirit comes to live within ours, and the process of becoming more Christ-like, and ultimately more human, begins. This is a profound mystery, but in my thirty-plus years of being a Christian, it is one I’ve witnessed time and time again—people get better when they let Jesus inside.
Practical Steps to Help Fire Victims
Again, my deepest condolences to the victims in this fire, and those fires yet to burn. We must try, as best we can, to care for everyone during tragedies because in doing so, we are “loving our neighbors as ourselves.” (Mark 12:31.)
AT&T and the American Red Cross are partnering to help. You can choose to donate to “California Wildfires” or other causes at, or by texting “CAWILDFIRES” to 90999.
Side note:The American Red Cross is a Christian organization. Many of the relief organizations throughout the world are based on the Christian worldview (i.e. The Salvation Army, Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision, Compassion International, International Justice Mission, to name a few.)
Please remember that the next time someone tells you religion has done more harm than good; they need to be corrected (to start, tell them about these organizations), as they’ve bought into rhetoric that is simply not accurate.
Final thoughts.
Today, the town of Paradise burned. That can’t be undone. But for those remaining, when we turn towards God, He can make beauty out of ashes (Isaiah 61:3). He certainly did that in my life. He can in yours, too.
Good job with this blog. It’s a tough topic, but very timely. I really enjoyed the “Final Thoughts” section.
Thanks, Susan, for your kind comments. I did get another comment suggesting I may have posted this issue a bit too soon, as the flames are still destroying areas of California and the emotions are raw for many victims. But I felt the need to address why bad things happen in the midst of that woman’s cry of angst against God. I am not saying that free will caused this to happen, but attempting to show why God doesn’t always step in to intervene. He does sometimes and not others. There is not a randomness to it, as everything has a purpose that is bigger than what we can see. We can’t know the mind of God but we can know His plans, in the long run, are for our good. Many people have stepped into heaven recently, and that is never a bad thing. Blessings to you! Lisa Q
Lisa, this post was written with such love, compassion and understanding. Thank you for helping us think through the most horrific events in our lives with truth and wisdom. God does not desire robots and so free will is the greater good. Sometimes that gets lost along the way. And the gift of Jesus Christ is one the transcends all evil and suffering for all time. There is no greater gift. Thank you for including information about the Red Cross and other relief organizations, often formed by the work of God’s people. God bless you!
Thanks, Melissa! I wasn’t sure if the timing of this blog post was sensitive enough to the victims. But the quote from CNN that the woman posed was one I felt needed to be addressed in a timely manner. It is a hard world in which we live, but with God at our side, He gives us the strength to get through it.
Lisa, I agree with Melissa. This was a hard topic but you wrote about it with love and compassion. At the end of the day I do agree that it comes down to the issue of free will vs safety. We even saw this in the aftermath of 9/11 when President Bush asked us if we were willing to give up more liberty so the government could make us more safe. It’s simply impossible to have it both ways. Ravi Zacharias has a book called 100 Tough Questions about God where they deal with this issue. One of the things they say is (and I will butcher it) that this isn’t a perfect world but it is the perfect way to a perfect world. E.g. our ability to choose good or evil now (even though it brings about good or disaster) ultimately leads to a reality where God will cement those decisions in the next world. Those who here decide to freely submit to him will in the next world be made perfect. That helped me make sense of what seems senseless.
Thanks, Stephanie. I love that one sentence… “That this isn’t a perfect world but there is a perfect way to a perfect world.” That perfect way is Jesus Christ. He is our hope in times of tragedy. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment.
He does indeed make beauty from ashes and we can pray and trust He does that here. Great post! God bless!
Thanks, Nancy.
I think this is the best explanation of free will I’ve ever read. Great post. Thanks for reminding us that God is good … all the time.
Now that is quite the compliment! Thank you so much, Debby. Yes, when our foundation is that “God is good all the time”, it helps our perspective when bad things happen. We have to trust God is in the midst of the mess. With God’s help, it’s amazing how people get through devastating times.
I am glad that you decided to write that blog. Good job!
Thanks, Sally, for your advice!
Wow a tough topic Lisa – hats off to you for a compassionate and thoughtful message.
Your post reminds me of a book – Why do bad things happen to good people? Questions like this come at times of both national and personal disasters. Your thoughts, as with those in that book are heartfelt and comforting.
As you rightly say “God allows bad things to happen for the overriding good of free will…..God allows people choices. We suffer the consequences of those choices. Because of free will, we can do great things, or we can do terrible things”
As Jesus was on the cross for us – he was with everyone who died and he offers release and eternity to all those left behind
Thanks, Bob!
The whole situation with the fires is heartbreaking. Praying for every person and every animal affected.
It’s absolutely heartbreaking. Your prayers are valued. Thanks, Melissa.
Lisa, my heart also goes out to all the people in California and especially those who have been directed impacted by loosing a family member and/or home. There is also the trauma that everyone will experience as whole neighbourhoods and the infrastructures are destroyed. The pictures are horrifying so I can only imagine what it is like for those who are directly impacted. I just finished an OT course in my seminary program and it focused on the Book of Job. And of course one of the themes focuses on why does a good God allow good people to suffer. And although Job and his friends intensely debate this and never land on an answer and even when God appears in the epilogue, He never answers the question directly. He just challenges them and says because He is God He knows why tragedies and hardships happen – but most often the reasons remain a mystery to us. We are mere humans. He is the almighty, powerful God who deeply loves us. And we must learn to trust in Him and call on Him in the suffering. And He will be there to help walk us through it. Praying for everyone who has been impacted. Blessings.
I hear you, Anne. There are mysteries that our simple, finite minds just cannot comprehend (at least this side of heaven). So, the best thing we can do in circumstances like these is to help with basic needs, to pray, and to eventually talk to them about God. Knowing God is good is an important foundational aspect to understanding. Thank you for your comments!
This really ministered to me although I am miles and miles away from California. When I’m feeling defeated, it isn’t because God wanted me to fail. It’s because I chose to use my free-will in a way He couldn’t approve. I suffer the consequences of my own choices. Thank God for His amazing grace and mercy that He extends to me every day . . . and even every moment of the day. You made some valid points. I’m glad you shared your thoughts.
Your post reminded me to pray for the hurting people in California. It’s easy to forget when you live far away and are in the middle of preparing for the holidays. How much different the holidays will be for these people this year.
God is full of grace and mercy and He can help us when we turn to Him. Even though we make mistakes, God forgives.
Prayers for all those affected by these horrible fires and for all those putting their lives on the line to help them. This is a tough topic for many and you explained it well. God is with those people even when they lost everything. He will walk with them. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Thank you so much for your prayers. Heaven knows, they need it!
I haven’t seen much coverage of the fires since I don’t watch the news. Thank you for explaining what’s going on there and answering the woman’s question.
I don’t blame you for not watching the news these days. A lot of it is just terrible! So thank you for your comment and thank you for your prayers.
Hi Lisa. Living in California and imagining losing everything to these fires, this was hard to read. It must’ve been especially hard to write. It’s comforting to know that God prepared a perfect place for us and we who know His Son will soon be there.
Hey Stephen. I was born and raised in Orange County, California, and I remember the fire seasons and the winds. It is a frightening thing, to be sure. Years later, I moved to Santa Barbara and became a reporter. I covered the Painted Cave Fire back in the late ’80s, and it was horrific. I was reporting live on the radio (KTMS News), and was driving through areas where flames were licking at my car. My adrenaline was running high, and I ended up reporting on that fire for 36-hours straight. 500 homes burned, one woman lost her life. That tragic night is embedded in my memory.
The CampFire is so much worse! This fire is the worst in the state’s history, to my knowledge. And fires will continue to be devastating in California if the weather patterns continue to be hot and dry. With all the populated areas, it is a great concern to those living there. My prayers are with you guys. Bless you, Lisa Q
This is beautiful. God is always with us. Thank you for your compassion and love.
I love this post, Lisa! You seized the timely moment with this wildfire to explain how the natural consequences of our choices continue to bring the same type of results that they have since the beginning in Eden. I love how you put this: “God warned them, but they went their own way regardless of the consequences (and we’ve been doing that ever since). We then got kicked out of Paradise, the Garden of Eden, and we’ve been trying to get back in ever since by creating systems of government designed to alleviate suffering.”
This is our ongoing struggle. The blessing of placing our faith in Christ is not that bad things quit happening once we invite Christ into our hearts and lives, but that once we’re in Christ through that relationship, he promises to work ALL THINGS — the good and the bad— together for our good.
Hey Melinda! Thanks for your comments. When we remember that we live in a season before all things are set right again, life makes more sense. When we think all things should be perfect now, then we will live in continual disappointment. Many people don’t know the narrative between humanity and its Creator. We fail to even read the words He inspired, and believe it’s not divinely inspired. Secularism has chalked the Bible up to “myth and legend”, and yet, when bad things happen, God is the first person we point our accusatory fingers at, as if He owes us a perefect life now. He doesn’t. But the hope is that He will make all things new for those who chose to believe in Jesus, the bridge between God and humanity. God bless you, sister! Lisa Q
Powerful thoughts on such a sad situation, Lisa. I liked how you unpacked this. Started with a town called, Paradise, made the analogy to the Garden of Eden, and gave us wise spiritual insight.
Love both these thoughts, “Because of free will, we can do great things, or we can do terrible things.”
“Yet when we look at the narrative throughout history, the biggest perpetuators of suffering are people themselves—we merely need to look in the mirror to find the evil within.”
You are great at what you do. Driving home spiritual truths from real life. And so good to give practical tips to help the fire victims too.
I think my reporting background influences my apologetic writing, which is why I “drive home spiritual truth from real life.” I have often heard that people don’t know how to incorporate their Christian worldview with practical, every day living. I hope to do that in my writing and in my teaching, occasionally. I appreciate you, Karen! Thank you for your encouragement. Blessings, Lisa Q
I don’t think it’s too soon. People are processing… this helps. And so much good information here. I had been wondering how on earth they didn’t get better warning, leave sooner, etc. I just didn’t think this kind of devastation could hit us in this modern, connected, prepared world. 8 football fields a minute is crazy!! One tiny road in & out.. now I get it.. kind of.
I didn’t know the Red Cross was Christian.. that’s cool to know.
One more thought fascinating to me… not sure if that’s how you meant it, but that “All things work for good…” (Rom 8:28) connected to free will. I never thought of free will being the greater good. And the evil in the world.. we need look no further for than ourselves – so true. This helps me make sense of some my own sufferings. Thank you!!!
Thanks for your comments, Christina. Life can be brutal at times, and as Christians some of the best things we can do is to pray, “weep with those who weep,” and help survivors rebuild. Blessings, Lisa Q
This is one of my favorite theological topics: God and suffering. I find it fascinating – probably because it’s been my greatest struggle – to fully accept His sovereignty. Thanks for tackling a tough topic and for the practical steps we can take to help those recovering from the fire.
This topic is a hard one to be sure. Thanks for stopping by to read it. Blessings, Lisa Q
We don’t always understand God’s ways but His character is loving and just!
Yes, we can know His character is loving and just. We can also learn to address the problem of evil as a compassionate answer to people’s angst against God in why suffering happens. We need to be able to answer these hard questions as best we can in this age of skepticism. Thanks for stopping by!