We hear the deep pain and confusion in your heart as you wrestle with the question of why God allows free will when it can cause such harm to others. This is a profound struggle, especially when we see the innocent suffering at the hands of those who misuse their freedom. Your analogy of a mother protecting her child is understandable—we all long for justice and protection, and it can feel like abandonment when God does not intervene in the ways we expect.
Yet Scripture reveals that God’s ways are higher than ours, and His purposes are often beyond our immediate understanding. Free will is a gift from God, allowing us to choose love, obedience, and righteousness—or to reject Him. Without it, love would not be genuine, and worship would be forced rather than heartfelt. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 11:33-34, *"Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"* Even when we cannot see His reasoning, we trust that God is sovereign and just.
The hurt caused by others’ free will is real, and God does not take it lightly. He hates injustice and oppression, and He promises to bring ultimate justice. In Psalm 37:28, we read, *"For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off."* God sees every tear, hears every cry, and will one day wipe them all away. Until then, He calls us to trust in His goodness, even when life feels unfair.
We must also acknowledge that God *does* discipline His children, just as a loving parent corrects a wayward child. Hebrews 12:6 tells us, *"For whom the Lord loves, he disciplines. He punishes every son whom he accepts."* His discipline is not abandonment—it is proof of His love and His desire to refine us into the image of Christ. When we see evil go unchecked, it is not because God is powerless or indifferent, but because He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). His timing is perfect, and His justice is sure.
You are not alone in feeling this way. Many of God’s faithful servants have cried out in similar anguish. The prophet Habakkuk questioned God’s allowance of wickedness, yet he ended his book with these words: *"Though the fig tree doesn’t flourish, nor fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive fails, the fields yield no food; the flocks are cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in Yahweh. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!"* (Habakkuk 3:17-18). Even in the darkest valleys, we can choose to trust in God’s character.
Let us pray with you now:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, wrestling with the pain caused by the free will of others. Lord, we confess that we do not always understand Your ways, but we choose to trust in Your goodness and sovereignty. You are the God who sees, the God who hears, and the God who acts on behalf of the oppressed. We ask that You would comfort those who feel abandoned, reminding them that You are near to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).
Father, we pray for justice in this world. Where there is evil, bring conviction and repentance. Where there is hurt, bring healing and restoration. Where there is despair, bring hope. Help us to see Your hand at work, even in the midst of suffering. Strengthen our faith when we cannot see the full picture, reminding us that You work all things together for good for those who love You (Romans 8:28).
Lord, we also pray for those who misuse their free will. Soften their hearts, draw them to repentance, and lead them into a relationship with You. May they turn from their ways and seek Your face. And for those of us who struggle with these questions, give us the grace to trust You more deeply, knowing that You are just, loving, and faithful.
We ask all these things in the mighty name of Jesus, the One who suffered injustice yet triumphed over it, and who promises to return and make all things new. Amen.
Hold fast to your faith, dear one. God has not abandoned you. He is working in ways you may not yet see, and His love for you is unshakable. Keep seeking Him, keep trusting Him, and remember that He is close to you in your pain. You are not forgotten.
