Why does God let bad things happen?

There are times that my soul absolutely soars when I worship God. Our church has some pretty amazing worship, and it's always a highlight of my week. Yesterday worship set had some powerful songs, and as we sang "my fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your love", a friend joined my side. I had been singing with joy before she came to me, but I was suddenly hit with an overwhelming flood of thankfulness and joy. Thankfulness of walking through some of our darkest nights, and how God had blessed us through it all. I remembered all the fear and sadness we have gone through. This was the young woman who I had sat with and cried with in the cemetery as she mourned the loss of her twin baby girls. Just over 2 years later, our baby girl, Ayvah Rose, was buried in the same place. I pictured them in heaven, encountering even greater worship and glory than we can imagine. Standing next to us was the woman whose shoulder I had cried on after the loss of our baby Christian. So I stood, worshiping, barely able to sing from the emotion that overtook me, beside these women I may have never met -  and definitely not formed such a deep bond with - had we not all gone through the pain of loosing our children. Not only that, but thankfulness for grace to reach through the awkwardness and become vulnerable to each other; to really embrace each other's pain and walk through life together. My mentor, a woman who has gone through pain and agony of losing children, but has clung to God. The woman I have reached out to in the depths of my sorrow. The woman who pointed me to look up to God. And my young friend, the woman who I wanted to be there for when I found out about her loss. Connection is such a beautiful thing. And so often we let shame or embarrassment, or even time, get in the way of truly reaching out and connecting with others. It's not easy to be vulnerable with someone you don't know well. But when you realize they've walked through similar pains in life, made similar mistakes, it is so freeing!!!  I am so amazed at all the things God has brought us through. And through it all, God has blessed us all so much with children we adore, and with a desire to live a better life. A more focused life. An understanding that things will happen that we can't control - anything, including death can happen at any time, we can't control it. But good things can still come from pain.

The beauty of it all was topped off by the title of the message - "Why did God let this happen?" Why does God let bad things happen? I don't know. But I do know that through the most painful situations, he does make something beautiful. Sometimes it just takes a change of view; looking at something head on is different than being up above a circumstance. It doesn't look as big or scary when you're above; it looks smaller, you can see the bigger picture. Maybe we all need a little of that right now. This year has been rough. But I want to look at it "seated with Christ in heavenly places." It takes practice and effort, it doesn't feel like it comes naturally. But I want to train my eyes to see what God is doing, not just the chaos and destruction that we see in the natural. Yes, this year has been rough. Life can be rough in general. But this life is temporary. Let's embrace connection with others and not hold onto the things of this life too tightly.