Sojourner #040: Where Is God In A World With So Much Evil?

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) 

In the ache of the trials of this life, we are left with questions as old as time: Where is God in a world with so much evil? How long will the Judge of the Earth stay silent? Why is the world this way?

These questions are those, that if we're honest, we've all asked at one point in time. Crying out in desperation, we wonder where God is and why He allows bad things to happen. Every headline we read is a sounding alarm that things ought not to be the way they are, and yet seemingly, there is silence from heaven's armies. Andrew Wilson, the teaching pastor of King's Church London, argues that, "the problem of evil is the biggest challenge to Christian faith in every generation" (Crossway). How do we reconcile the fact that there is evil in this world with the belief that we serve a God who is working for our good?

The back cover of Where Is God In A World With So Much Evil? by Collin Hansen offers the following entreatment to those of us who find ourselves asking those kinds of difficult questions: 

"Why does God seem silent when I need him the most? In the face of evil and suffering, many people question God's goodness. Even faithful Christians may struggle to see God's justice when they experience the heartache, pain, and tragedies of our broken world. Through the stories of Job, Jesus, and tragic world events, this booklet illustrates that God not only expects laments but also speaks through the cries of his people. Ultimately, it reminds us of the profound hope we find in the gift of his Son - a suffering servant who is working to make all things new." (Crossway)

In Where Is God In A World With So Much Evil?, Collin Hansen begins by facing one of history’s darkest chapters: the Holocaust. Drawing from the moving reflections of Elie Wiesel, Hansen does not attempt to soften the horror of human sin. Instead, he points us to the clear teaching of Scripture: sin has ruled the human heart since the fall of Adam (Romans 5:12, ESV). Hansen also highlights a moral shift that occurred after the Second World War, as Christ’s holiness was no longer seen as the standard of righteousness. Instead, many began excusing their own sins by comparing themselves to Hitler. Yet the Word of God reminds us that the measure is not other men but the holiness of God Himself (1 Peter 1:16, ESV). Hansen calls readers to return to a right view of sin and righteousness - one that looks upward to the unchanging standard of God's character.

Turning to our present day, Hansen addresses the brutal war in Ukraine, showing that the same evil at work in the past is still alive in the world today. Yet he reminds us that evil is not only "out there" - it lives in every human heart (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV). He exposes how leaders like Vladimir Putin, who ignore God's authority and seek to act as if they are gods, bring terrible suffering. But Hansen also assures us that such evil will not endure forever. History proves, and Scripture promises, that God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7, ESV). No tyrant, no matter how powerful, can escape the justice of the sovereign King. Even now, Christ sits enthroned at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3, ESV), and His rule is sure. In the devastation of war and the sorrow of injustice, God has not abandoned His people. He is present, upholding the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18, ESV) and strengthening those who trust in Him.

Ultimately, Hansen leads us to the foot of the cross - and beyond it, to the empty tomb. Christ has already conquered sin, death, and evil once and for all (Colossians 2:15, ESV). The cross is not only a sign of suffering, but a sign of victory. Today, the Lord Jesus Christ reigns, and His kingdom cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28, ESV). Evil may still rage for a time, but it has been decisively defeated. One day, Christ will return in glory to judge the living and the dead, and every wrong will be made right (Revelation 21:4-5, ESV). Where Is God In A World With So Much Evil? is a sobering yet deeply hopeful book, reminding the church that in a world darkened by evil, we have a Savior who has triumphed - and whose light will not be overcome.

The booklet is organized into clear, concise sections. After the main text, it includes a notes section for further reference, a list of recommended resources to help those ministering to others struggling with questions about evil and God's goodness, and a Scripture index. The index offers a wealth of helpful passages on God's justice, laid out in an easy-to-use format for study and encouragement.

This is what J. Alasdair Groves, the Executive Director of the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation, had to say about the book: 

"As a counselor, I have seen the desperate urgency of hurting people asking how God could allow their pain. At the heart of this concise, tender, humble, and intellectually honest book is the best answer we can possibly give: "God is not asking for silence... [or] demanding the stiff upper lip." Instead, he welcomes our cry for justice as the echo of his own. Thoughtful and highly contextualized for our current cultural instincts, Hansen's book is easy to recommend." (Crossway)

Throughout Where Is God In A World With So Much Evil?, Collin Hansen turns the reader’s eyes to Jesus Christ, the suffering servant - the One who has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4, ESV). Hansen reminds us that Christ did not remain distant from the evil and pain of this world. He entered into it. He took on flesh, endured injustice, suffered unspeakable violence, and ultimately conquered sin, death, and evil through His cross and resurrection. Christ has dealt decisively with evil, and He will deal with it finally and fully when He returns in glory.

In the face of suffering - both our own and that of others - Christ is our sure and steadfast hope. When we wrestle with the brokenness of the world, we can be confident that evil does not have the final word. Jesus does. His resurrection declares that sorrow, injustice, and cruelty are not the end of the story. And because of Him, we can forgive instead of avenge, stand for the truth without despair, and hold fast to hope even when the shadows are deep. Christ has not only made an end to the evil around us, but by His grace, He has begun to cleanse and heal the evil within us.

Hansen also shows that when we live in light of the Gospel — when we comfort the grieving, defend the helpless, forgive our enemies, and proclaim the truth of God’s Word - we are living signs of Christ’s Kingdom here on earth. This is not a call to passive neutrality or retreat, but a call to faithful, courageous living. To stand for truth according to Scripture, to embody mercy and justice as Christ Himself did, is to reflect the rule of the Risen King until He returns to make all things new.

In a world that often feels overwhelmed by darkness, Where Is God In A World With So Much Evil? offers real, lasting hope. It is biblically grounded, pastorally wise, and deeply needed. Whether you are suffering yourself, walking alongside others who are hurting, or simply trying to make sense of the world we live in, this book will strengthen your faith and anchor your heart in Christ. You will want a copy for yourself - and perhaps one to give away to someone else who needs to know that Christ reigns even now.

Here's The Specifics:

Where Is God In A World With So Much Evil? is a part of the The Gospel Coalition Hard Questions book series in partnership with Crossway. According to Crossway, "TGC Hard Questions is a series of short booklets that seek to answer common but difficult questions people ask about Christianity. The series serves the church by providing tools that answer people's deep longings for community, their concerns about biblical ethics, and their doubts about confessional faith."

The booklet is only 64 pages, weighing in at 1.73 ounces, and measures 4.5 in x 6.5 in. The ISBN-10 number is 1-4335-9800-0, the ISBN-13 is 978-1-4335-9800-5, and the ISBN-UPC is 9781433598005. Additionally, the booklet is available in cases of 168 booklets, and was published on March 4, 2025.

To put it simply, Where Is God In A World With So Much Evil? provides a profoundly biblical answer to one of life's most difficult questions using the authority of the Scriptures as the basis for its claims about life, death, evil, and more. Where is God in a world with so much evil? He is right here with us. 

The 64 page booklet has been a sincere help to all of us at Sojourner Magazine as we cover the ever-unfolding events of life around the globe, and we have great confidence that you would be greatly encouraged by the hope of the Gospel message in this booklet as well. If you've ever found yourself asking life's hard questions, then pick up a copy of Collin Hansen's book today - for God's glory and for the good of His people.

You can purchase "Where Is God In A World With So Much Evil?" by Collin Hansen here.

About Collin Hansen:

Photo: The Gospel Coalition

Collin Hansen (MDiv, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is the vice president for content and editor in chief for the Gospel Coalition and the executive director of the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. He is the host of the Gospelbound podcast and adjunct professor and cochair of the advisory board at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. (Crossway)

About Crossway:

Crossway is a not-for-profit Christian ministry that exists solely for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing and other means in order, by God’s grace:

• To bring men, women, and children to Christ as their Lord and Savior;
• To help individual Christians and the church grow in knowledge and understanding of the Christian life;
• To bear witness to God’s truth, beauty, and holiness, and to the Lordship of Christ in every area of life; and
• To glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in every way.

Any surplus that may arise shall be used solely to further the ministry and shall not inure to the benefit of any individual. (Crossway)

Explore more titles from Crossway here.

Editor's Note: The book "Where Is God In A World With So Much Evil" was received from Crossway in exchange for an honest review. All promotional photos, unless stated otherwise, are courtesy of the Crossway Media Pack.

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