"Why, O God, why?"

That anguished question cried out from millions of people on December 14 when they learned the unspeakable news that 20 very young children and six teachers had been savagely killed in Newtown, Connecticut. As we unfortunately know from experience, there exists a depth of tragedy that is all but incomprehensible. It is the kind that if one is not firmly grounded in biblical teachings, it can shatter one's faith in both God and all that is good. Such is the depth of evil that visited an elementary school in Newtown. When I heard the shocking news, I—like millions of others—quickly prayed for God's mercy and intervention.

As the publisher of The Good News magazine we are personally asking that you join with us as we continue to pray. Parents and community alike are now rightfully engulfed in disbelieving grief, a tortured state similar to when David cried out: "Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief" (Psalm 31:9, New International Version). They, perhaps like others across the globe, are saddened beyond measure, for the moment understandably inconsolable.

But thankfully there is hope. The Bible declares that God is indeed a God who provides the miracle of comfort in the face of tragedy (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). The Bible promises us that: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18, NIV). In faith we now ask that God would provide these miracles to those who have suffered the incomprehensible.

Why didn't God save them?

But then come the honest questions: Why does God allow hideous acts as those of gunning down young innocents? Why didn't God protect them? These are hard questions. And they deserve solid answers. I'll touch on part of what the Bible reveals.

This world is not currently in an age of God, but in a time that is governed by an evil being described by the Bible as "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4). This is the fallen archangel, Lucifer, known commonly in the Bible as Satan. Satan, as the Bible reveals, hates humanity (1 Peter 5:8-9). Jesus called him "a murderer" (John 8:44). To a twisted being like Satan, a Newtown slaughter is advancement of his evil purpose to destroy humankind.

To be sure, God is not locked in some kind of struggle for power with Satan. God is all powerful. Nothing can subvert His will. But in this present age, an essential part of God's plan for humanity is to allow all humans the choice of free will—the freedom to do good or to do evil. This has allowed human beings unlimited opportunities to experiment with every imaginable method to solve mankind's problems. By the time Christ returns to the earth, mankind will have proven that true peace, prosperity and happiness are only certain when humanity seeks out and obeys God by yielding to His laws and commandments. Until that time, Bible prophecy foretells "perilous times" when evil "will grow worse and worse" (2 Timothy 3:1, 13).

But the story will have a happy ending! When we contemplate the deaths of loved ones, the greatest possible comfort comes from knowing that God loves every single human being and will resurrect every one of them (John 3:16-17; 1 Timothy 2:4; Acts 24:15). Every person who has ever lived will have an opportunity to live again and enter into a direct relationship with God that leads to eternal life in the Kingdom of God!

That's why Jesus instructed us to pray: "Your Kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10)! In the coming Kingdom of God Satan will be put away, together with all unrepentant murderers (Revelation 21:8). Further, we have the glorious promise of God that when the Kingdom is fully come: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4, NIV).

May God speed that day!

For an in-depth study to help understand the unspeakable events of Newtown, write for or download our free Bible study aids, Why Does God Allow Suffering? and Is There Really A Devil?