[Phlyer]

. . .mainly bad things happening to good people.

I think it's interesting that while the Creator God (I AM, Yahweh, Jehovah)) is sometimes referred to as the Father in the old testament (usually as an analogy more than as a label), Jesus referred to Him almost exclusively as "The Father."

So I think about what a perfect Father might be like, and it seems to me that it is necessary for a father to let his children make mistakes in order for them to grow in wisdom - to learn that His way is the best way.

The example I use here is looking both ways when you cross a street. As a child, you do it because your parent insists, but as you grow - perhaps after being scared a time or two, or seeing/hearing about others who were hurt - you learn that it's the best way. And so you look both ways even if your parents are not watching.

So, in my mental model, God has set up a world where we are free to make choices - even bad choices - so that we learn that God's way is better and can be happy in Heaven where all choices are in accordance with God's will.

However, in the meantime, the Devil is whispering in our ears about bad choices. God allows that - even though it grieves him - because in his long-term view it is better for us.

But that's just part of my attempt to put a logical, rational structure in the world.

[telescope115]

Yeah, I have my mental model, too. I guess we work out what works for us, mentally to try to make sense of everything, good and bad.

I only know one thing for sure- this ain’t the world we grew up in. I’m 70, and I do remember better times.