7 Ways That God Loves Even The Bad People

Have you ever wondered if God loves even the bad people? How can God love those who are in darkness? How can He love those who hurt others?

It seems to be a natural human response to be repulsed by evil. We may fail to live up to our own standards of goodness, and we may sometimes be confused about what is evil or not, but if we consider something as bad, we naturally find it repugnant.

Perhaps this is the reason why we find it so hard to love our enemies. Intellectually, we can easily say that we hate the sin and we love the sinner, but how does that reflect in our words and deeds?

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of self-righteousness, having this air of holiness while having an attitude that reveals our true inner state.

In the face of good people, we are also kind and gentle. We are respectful with our words, we give our very best and we do what we can to serve them.

In the face of bad people, however, we can easily lose our temper. We start saying bad words, and we sometimes get to the point of wishing for their unhappiness and misery. After all, that’s what they deserve, doesn’t it?

On the contrary, Jesus told us to love even our enemies:

“But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful.” – Luke 6:35-36 NABRE

And just in case we want to know exactly how we can love our enemies, the Bible couldn’t have been more detailed:

“But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” – Luke 6:27-31 NABRE

Now, if God would command us to go this far, should we think that He wouldn’t do so much more than what we could for those who are bad?

God is love. That is His nature. He can’t stop being good or loving just because we are bad.

Let us try to ponder upon this truth by thinking about the many ways God can still love even those we deem as the “bad people”:

1. God’s gift of life

If God were that vengeful, He would have eradicated everyone who committed evil deeds long ago. The murderers, the thieves, the adulterers, the liars, and all of those who offended Him.
God, however, continues to give us the gift of life. He sustains even those who mock Him and those who don’t even believe that He exists.

2. Time for repentance

God does not cut us off as soon as we fall into sin. He gives us time to realize our faults and to repent. He gives us enough time to know Him and to accept His love.

3. Provision of daily needs

Jesus Himself said that God makes the sun shine on both the good and the bad. He also blessed both with rain.

God, through nature, provides us with the air we breathe and the water that we drink. He causes the plants to produce their fruits so that we may eat of them.

That’s how love shows His kindness even to sinners.

4. The capacity for happiness

God does not withhold, even from bad people, their capacity to derive happiness from objects of beauty and delight. He still allows them to appreciate the pleasure of hearing good music, of laughing at good jokes, of being pleased at beautiful sceneries and of the satisfaction derived from their hobbies and jobs.

5. The gift of a conscience

Even after committing an evil deed, God does not immediately take away one’s conscience. He leaves us a compass so that we may continue to have guidance about what is right or wrong. If we listen to our conscience, it can keep us from falling into deeper evil and sin.

6. The love of other people

Evil people are not isolated by God in such a way that they are barred from being loved by others. On the contrary, other people are free to love them and make them feel loved.

7. The gift of salvation

Jesus Christ died for everyone at a time when we were all in sin and darkness. Even today, He continues to offer us His salvation, a gift that He paid for with His passion and death on the cross.

Loving Sinners Out of His Goodness

God does not choose whom to love. He is Love Himself. His love overflows from His entire being and He continues to reach out to everyone so that all may come to repentance and salvation.

If you think that you are living in sin, do not think that God has given up on you. He loves you! And He is waiting for you to be found.

God’s goodness abounds in your life. He makes the sun shine each day for you and allows you to experience happiness and delight.

May you find the grace to turn to Him, the only One who can give you true peace and everlasting joy!

“So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’” – Luke 15:20-24 NABRE

Jocelyn Soriano is the author of Mend My Broken Heart, Defending My Catholic Faith and 366 Days of Compassion. She also writes about faith and writing at Single Catholic Writer.