How could a good God allow such evil, pain, and suffering to take place in this world? And why doesn’t He intervene to save good people or young children when disaster strikes? The aftermath and utter devastation caused by Hurricane Helene has many questioning, “Where is God when things go wrong”? What is the best way to address these questions and how can we find God and meaning for life in the midst of these tragic events?

Life has been especially hard for those in the western part of North Carolina since Hurricane Helene struck last week, leaving residents without access to food and water, and claiming the lives of countless victims due to unprecedented flash flooding and fallen debris. During this week’s podcast episode, Frank sits down with Dr. Clay Jones (instructor of the upcoming OCC course ‘Why Does God Allow Evil?‘) and Dan Hodges (CrossExamined Board Director and Hurricane Helene survivor) to discuss the problem of evil and some of the heartbreaking stories emerging in light of the recent storm. Frank, Clay, and Dan will answer questions like:

• What led Clay to write one of Frank’s all-time favorite books on evil, ‘Why Does God Allow Evil?‘
• How can ordinary people commit extraordinary evil?
• What’s the difference between being “good” and being “nice”?
• Why do difficult times often bring out the best in people?
• What did Dan see and experience after the storm in WNC and how can we help the survivors and volunteers?
• Why didn’t Jesus save 7-year old Micah who was swept away by floodwaters? What did his aunt say about that?
• How has Clay’s personal battle with cancer impacted his writing and teaching on this topic?
• How can you help victims with physical and spiritual needs?

There will undoubtedly be tough days ahead for Helene survivors as they move forward and try to pick up the pieces. This is a sobering episode, but we trust that it will not only bring hope to those who are in a dark season right now, but also remind us of the good news of the Gospel when we inevitably encounter hardships in our own lives. We know you’ll benefit from hearing even more of Dr. Clay Jones’ insights on the problem of evil, so consider signing up for the PREMIUM online course ‘Why Does God Allow Evil?‘ which kicks off soon on 10/23!

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Resources mentioned during the episode:

Micah’s Story (New York Post article): https://bit.ly/3Yb4JU3

Clay’s Online Course: Why Does God Allow Evil?

Clay’s Book: Why Does God Allow Evil?

Give to Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/