The harsh realities of conflict, poverty, and persecution are prompting many people in the Persian-speaking world to ask difficult questions about evil and suffering. Is It God’s Fault? is a new SAT-7 PARS program that is meeting viewers in their pain and lovingly guiding them to biblical answers.
The eleven-episode social media series comes at an important time for the people of Iran and Afghanistan, whose suffering over many years continues unabated.
“Decades of oppression, religious persecution, restricted freedoms, and the violent suppression of peaceful protests have caused many Iranians, along with countless others around the world, to ask: If God is good and all-powerful, why doesn’t He stop the suffering?” explains Reza Jafari, SAT-7 PARS’ Multimedia Senior Manager.
Is It God’s Fault? tackles such questions with biblical wisdom and pastoral care, helping viewers find comfort in their suffering and ultimately encounter Jesus Christ, who Himself was “a man of suffering, familiar with pain” (Isaiah 53:3b). With short episodes, only 12-15 minutes in length, the program is designed to be accessible to a wide range of viewers, including those who are completely new to the Bible.
“Is It God’s Fault? is not a dry, theological lecture,” Reza said. “It creates a sacred space where raw questions are welcomed, doubts acknowledged, freedom of thought respected, and grace extended. It is a journey through grief, anger, and uncertainty toward rediscovering who God truly is, and how He meets us in our deepest pain.”
Depth of Engagement
Since its first episode was broadcast earlier this summer, Is It God’s Fault? has received 65,000 views on SAT-7 PARS’ Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as 7,000 interactions and over 750 comments. The program is also now being shown on satellite.
Responses from viewers indicate the depth of engagement with the program. “Thank God a thousand times for your existence,” said one Facebook viewer. “You have blessed me and my life of faith with your words and teaching.”
Another described Is It God’s Fault? as “excellent and full of blessings,” commenting that she “sometimes listens to each episode several times” and is “getting closer to the Lord.”
Others, like Mitra from Iran, have shared very honest testimonies about their wrestling with life’s biggest questions. “Sometimes I ask myself why God does not intervene when women are subjected to abuse and murder, when innocent children are killed by thugs, and countless other injustices occur,” she said. “Why has He left humanity so free and unrestrained that various crimes happen at every moment?”
Mitra went on to discover profound answers, her story emphasizing just how valuable it is to ask tough questions fearlessly. “God’s Word, prayers, supplications, and surrendering oneself to the divine not only relieve humans from anxiety and uncertainty but also protect them,” she said. “It seems to me that only faith can bring peace in this stormy sea. Perhaps these disruptions on earth exist [so] that humanity can know their Creator and acknowledge Him in hard and trying times.”
Viewer name has been changed for security.
