Nothing ever catches God by surprise; He knows everything that’s going to happen to us. As the Psalmist wrote, “His understanding has no limit” (Psalm 147:5).

Why, then, doesn’t He intervene and keep evil things from happening to us? This isn’t an easy question to answer; God is far greater than we are, and His wisdom is far greater than ours. He also sees the whole picture, while we see only a small part. The Bible says, “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” (Romans 11:34).

The Bible does remind us, however, that evil is real, and although God is at work, Satan also is at work. We are part of a great spiritual battlefield, and every day spiritual warfare rages around us. Satan isn’t a cute figure with a red suit and a forked tail (as we often picture him). Satan is powerful and absolutely evil — and in this present age he is doing all he can to impose his will on the world.

But Satan is a defeated foe — and some day Christ’s victory over evil and death and Satan will be complete! The proof is Jesus’ triumph over the power of death. Don’t get discouraged, and don’t build your life on the wrong foundation. Instead, by faith give your life to Jesus Christ and build your life on Him. He alone gives us hope, because He is with us no matter what happens to us — and some day we’ll be safely in His presence forever.