“Why does God allow horrible abuse without stepping in?” To answer this type of question, begin by explaining that God has given man a true free will. Mankind has been given the freedom to exercise his will – for better or worse – in this life. But eternity will be the great equalizer. God will mete out justice to the guilty and show everlasting kindness to those who trust and obey Him.
However, this answer may not fully satisfy the listener, particularly if suffering is close to home. For those who question God’s goodness, you can point out what we do know about God establishes His perfect character. 1) We know from creation that God is wise and powerful. The heavens declare His glory, and the wonders of creation testify to His power, wisdom, and care. 2) We know from conscience, that God is morally upright. The reason we are concerned when an atrocity is committed is because God’s moral law – written on our hearts – shows us it is wrong. In other words, we would not even know right from wrong unless our moral Maker revealed it to us. 3) We know from Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross that God is loving and gracious. God has demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
So while God has not given us all the answers, we can trust Him with complete confidence knowing that He will always do what is right.