WARNING: Awkward theological concept to follow. Every analogy falls apart when applied to the infinite Creator of the cosmos so there WILL be misunderstandings.

If you believe that God is all-powerful (omnipotent, sovereign, etc.) then consider this a ‘heads-up’ from a brother who shares your belief. Claiming that God is the ultimate authority over the entire Universe heaps the responsibility for EVERYTHING on God’s shoulders, including all the ‘bad stuff’ that you’re currently blaming on other things (like fate, or nature, or luck, or Satan) .

“JOHN, YOU HERETICAL JERK!!! THIS IS THE WORST THING YOU’VE EVER SAID!!! GOD DOESN’T CAUSE BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN!!!!”

I think you’re trying to say that God doesn’t sin and I agree with you. The Bible tells us that God doesn’t sin AND God doesn’t tempt anyone to sin. But…(take a deep breath…brace yourself…fight the urge to shout at me again…) since God could eliminate evil from the Universe and yet evil still exists in the Universe, God is ultimately responsible for that evil.

“JOHN, YOU JER…”

Hold on! I asked you to fight that urge! I’ll try again using an illustration.

Suppose an arsonist throws a lit match in the dry grass next to your garage and runs off. A tiny flame is just starting to grow when I come along carrying a bucket of water. I could easily extinguish the fire but I choose instead to watch it turn your garage into a roaring inferno. While I didn’t set the fire, it’s absolutely true that I am responsible for your garage (and whatever was inside of it). I had omnipotence over the fire and chose not to act.

If you believe God is all-powerful, then He stands next to every fire in the Universe with a bucket of water. He may not have lit the fire Himself but He absolutely is responsible for what that fire consumes. If you believe God is unable to extinguish certain fires, then you don’t believe He is all-powerful.

Be encouraged! God isn’t squeamish about taking responsibility for disasters. In the book of Jeremiah, God straight up tells us that he’s responsible for letting the Babylonians burn down a bunch of garages.

“I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the Lord. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.” (Jeremiah 21:10)

God’s omnipotence allows Him to control the outcome AFTER disaster strikes. After your garage burns down, God isn’t stuck with ashes. He’s able to redeem every tragedy no matter how hopeless it seems to you.

(Romans 8:31) “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”