Why is there so much evil in this world? The murder of "innocent" people, the rape, and all other crimes. Where was God in all this? Does He care?

Often times our tendency is to blame God for evil and suffering. We frequently forget that we often times cause other people's suffering through our own evil deeds. Whenever we steal, gossip, hurt, or cheat people, we cause them to suffer. So why doesn't God just destroy all evil today? Being the powerful Creator of the universe, He could if He wants to. But if God were to destroy ALL evil today, He would do a complete job. This means He would have to include all our lies, our sins, and our failure to do good. If God were to destroy all evil out of the universe today, who of us would still be here at the end of the day?

God can turn evil for something good. . .
In light of many atrocities and suffering in the world, we sometimes ponder, Does God care? How could anything good come out of that? What about murders that have been committed to loved ones? But again, God is not the cause of evil. Rather, He may allow evil to occur, and He may have a purpose in doing so. And God indeed can sympathize with our suffering because the worst evil that was ever done in the history of mankind is the crucifixion of His Son, Jesus Christ. But something good came out of it. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He took upon Himself the sins and punishment of those who would believe in Him. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that God made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf. The men who crucified Jesus meant it for evil, but God allowed it so that a "greater good" could be accomplished. What man intended for evil, God can use and turn into something good.

—Psalm 56:4

"In my situation, how can God use suffering for my good?"
I don't know the particular difficult situation that you may be going through now. And I'm not going to pretend that I have all the answers because certain things can only be known after we get to the other side. But I do believe that God is in sovereign control and that He sees from an eternal perspective. We look from a temporal perspective. But God sees from the beginning to the end. God knows each one of us. God knows my future and is able to work out all things for good. The sovereign Creator of the universe is not wringing His hands in heaven right now, wondering what He's going to do. As someone said, "He, who flung the stars in space, has the whole universe in His hands." God does take care of all His children.

That is why if you haven't believed and surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, I prayerfully hope that you would ask Him for forgiveness of sins and make Him your Lord and Savior. If you are a Christian, others may have meant evil toward you, but if God allows it, then you can rest assured that He has a "greater good and greater purpose" for allowing it in your life. The Bible tells us in Romans 8:28 that "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Suffering strengthened my faith in God. . .
C.S. Lewis said this about pain: "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world." His words resonate in me because I have learned the most about God during the most severe trials and hardships. That's when God has got my full complete attention. At such times, I know that I can only trust upon God solely to help me in my troubles. When the bottom drops out and no one else can help me, God can use the opportunity to demonstrate His power and sovereignty in seemingly impossible situations. Hardships allow me an opportunity to learn the true nature of God -- how indeed powerful, omnipotent, faithful, and loving God is, no matter what storm of life I may be in. Someone once said, "I didn't know that all I really need is God until God is all I've got." I am able to experience and learn certain attributes of God that I may not have learned otherwise than through the storm of life.

Why doesn't God do something about evil NOW?
God has done something about evil. He has done something dramatic and costly by giving His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for evil human beings. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) God will stamp out all evil in the end. As long as I live in this fallen and sinful world, we will experience suffering and evil. But I also know that this world is not my real home. We're all just visiting. Everyone will die one day. My real permanent home is heaven with God.

The Bible tells us everyone who has ever committed sin deserves to pay the penalty in the end in the lake of fire. Have you ever lied? Have you ever cheated? Have you ever stolen? If so, then you deserve a punishment for your sin. But the Bible also teaches that those who trust in Christ as their personal Savior to forgive their sins would be spared from a punishment they deserve in hell. Believing and trusting in Christ as Savior means that you're trusting in Christ alone to forgive you of your sins, and that His death on the cross (not your works) is adequate to pay the penalty of your sins. If you have never done so, I pray that you may also place your faith in Christ today.