5 Minutes with Jesus is a daily devotional series for people in the midst of real life, whether facing anxiety, grief, questions of purpose, or simply needing encouragement and connection. Hosted by Sheila Walsh, each five-minute episode offers Biblical truth, honest reflections on faith and emotions, and closes with a moment of prayer.
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| Sheila Walsh: Why Did God Allow This? | 5 Minutes with Jesus | April 16, 2026
- And we know that god causes everything to work together
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- For the good of those who love god and are called
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- According to his purpose for them.
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- For god knew his people in advance,
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- And he chose them to become like his son,
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- So that his son
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- Would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
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- Now he doesn't write that everything is good
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- Because we know that's simply not true.
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- He doesn't say that
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- Everything feels good or makes sense at the time, but he does
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- Declare that god will bring good from everything
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- In his time.
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- Do you ever find yourself asking,
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- Why did god let that happen?
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- It could be something in your own life
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- Or the life of a friend,
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- Or even something you hear in the news and you just think god,
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- Why did you let that happen?
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- There's a family that i love very much
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- That is going through so much suffering at the moment.
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- They're an amazing family.
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- They're all in full time service for god,
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- All seeking to serve god and his church.
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- But the whole life's.
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- But they're facing one calamity after another.
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- Cancer has returned to one of them.
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- A brother was lost one month
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- To a terrible, life threatening injury.
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- A child died in so many ways.
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- They remind me of the story
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- We read in the book of job in the old testament.
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- I read an article recently that laid out the logic
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- For questioning god's goodness when bad things happen.
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- Here's what they said.
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- Premise one a god who is all powerful would be able
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- To prevent evil and suffering in the world.
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- Premise two a god who is good and loving
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- Would want to prevent evil and suffering in the world.
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- It's a premise.
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- Three evil and suffering exist.
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- Therefore, a powerful and loving god cannot exist.
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- Basically, you have to choose.
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- God is powerful.
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- A god is loving, but he's not.
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- Both.
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- You know that are religions that support part of that view?
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- Karma.
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- For example, you know, we get what we deserve.
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- But the christian faith,
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- The grace of god, is the opposite of karma.
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- We get what we don't deserve.
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- We are promised the love and care and mercy of god,
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- Even in the worst days of our lives.
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- I love the way that my friend oskin
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- Is one of my favorite writers frames this issue.
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- He encourages us that rather than trying
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- To avoid the question and the apparent contradiction,
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- But to face them head on and we get to do that
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- With the word of god.
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- First of all, the bible does not try
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- To minimize the evil and suffering in the world.
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- In fact, it gives it a name.
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- Satan, the one who rebelled against the goodness of god
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- And brought corruption and sin to our world.
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- Not only does it give us a name, but
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- Also gives us the ultimate solution.
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- Christ suffering on the cross.
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- His death and resurrection is god's response to the evil.
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- Christ has won the final victory.
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- Evil and suffering, no matter
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- How hard have a shelf life and their time is running out.
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- Secondly, god has promised that he will bring good
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- From every evil thing that happens.
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- Paul writes in romans chapter eight, verses 28 and 29,
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- And we know that god causes everything to work together
- 00:03:52.922 --> 00:03:56.159
- For the good of those who love god and are called
- 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:59.462
- According to his purpose for them.
- 00:03:59.462 --> 00:04:02.365
- For god knew his people in advance,
- 00:04:02.365 --> 00:04:04.801
- And he chose them to become like his son,
- 00:04:04.801 --> 00:04:08.671
- So that his son
- 00:04:08.671 --> 00:04:09.839
- Would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
- 00:04:09.839 --> 00:04:14.544
- Now he doesn't write that everything is good
- 00:04:14.544 --> 00:04:17.447
- Because we know that's simply not true.
- 00:04:17.447 --> 00:04:19.749
- He doesn't say that
- 00:04:19.749 --> 00:04:21.017
- Everything feels good or makes sense at the time, but he does
- 00:04:21.017 --> 00:04:25.021
- Declare that god will bring good
- 00:04:25.021 --> 00:04:28.658
- From everything in his time.
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- Do you remember the story of joseph in the book of genesis?
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- He was treated so badly by his own brothers.
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- He was thrown into a disused well.
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- He was trafficked into egypt, for he eventually ended up
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- In prison for a crime that he did not commit.
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- When his brothers finally realize that joseph is
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- Still alive, and not only that, he is now a very powerful man,
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- They are terrified that he's going to seek revenge.
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- But this is what joseph said to them.
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- You'll find this in genesis chapter 50, verse 20.
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- You intended to harm me,
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- But god intended it all for good.
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- He brought me to this position so i could save the lives
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- Of many people.
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- You know, he didn't try and pretend that they were innocent.
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- He knew full well that they wanted him dead.
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- But joseph's trust in the goodness of god
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- Was greater than the evil that they had committed.
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- Instead, we have this promise given to the apostle john
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- On the island of patmos that a day is coming
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- When god himself will wipe away
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- Every last tear from our eyes.
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- That's a promise.
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- Let's pray.
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- Lord,
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- We struggle sometimes to understand
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- Why so much suffering and evil is happening all around us.
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- But we want to declare that we believe, lord,
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- That you are good.
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- That you are god.
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- That you are sovereign and that you fulfill all your promises.
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- You have promised
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- That from every situation you will bring good.
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- So we just want to tell you, lord, we trust you
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- And we love you in jesus name.
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- Amen.
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