Two different people can look at the same evidence and draw different conclusion.
Years ago I knew two brothers. One never touched alcohol because their dad had been an alcoholic, treated his wife with great respect because their dad had mistreated their mom, and dedicated himself to a solid career because their dad could never hold down a job and take care of the family. The other brother drank like a fish, divorced four women, and went through jobs like Congress through a budget, all because of how their dad had been.
You see? Same “reasons,” different ways of looking at them.
The “problem of pain” has been a challenge for those considering the existence of God for the all of human experience. The book of Job, perhaps the oldest book in the Bible in terms of when it was written, wrestles with this very question.
As John Ortberg notes, the same “because” leads different people to different conclusions.
Despite pop religion and what it says (“God will never give you more than you can handle,” a statement found nowhere in Scripture), God doesn’t promise to protect us from the challenges of a fallen world.
He does promise to go with us through it, just as he promised Israel through Isaiah.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched
and flame won’t burn you. (Isaiah 43:2, CEB)
Just as a child can manage something scary with Daddy holding his hand, so can we manage what life throws at us if we remember that God goes with us.
Peace.