For generations, people have pondered why bad things happen to good people. If God is good, why does He allow evil to occur in the world? The answer lies in God’s gift of freewill. He has allowed us to make our own decisions, regardless of how disastrous the consequences may be. Love requires freewill, so without it we could never choose to love Him.
If He required our love and devotion rather than requested it, we would not have the genuine collaborative relationship He desires. We cannot have freedom without being ready to accept the consequences it carries.