During distress if someone turns away from Krishna and becomes an atheist, what is the role of God’s will in their misuse of free will?
Answer Podcast
During distress, if someone turns away from Krishna and becomes an atheist, what is the role of God’s will in their misuse of free will?
Question:
When someone is in distress and turns away from Krishna, saying, “There can’t be a God—otherwise, this wouldn’t happen to me,” what role does Krishna’s will play here? How does God’s will interact with the person’s free will?
Answer:
This is a very thoughtful question. Let’s explore it step by step.
1. Krishna’s will and our free will:
The Bhagavad-gita (9.6) says:
“Just as the wind moves freely within the sky, so all living beings move within My will.”
This means Krishna’s will is always for our ultimate well-being—He wants us to come closer to Him. However, within that divine will, we are given free will.
So, when distress comes upon someone, it’s part of the larger arrangement of Krishna—not to punish, but to provide a situation where the soul can either turn toward Krishna or turn away.
2. Why are there so many wrong choices in life?
Once, while I was in Australia, someone asked me:
“If God wants us to do the right thing, why are there so many wrong options and so few right ones?”
I replied: That’s how any multiple-choice exam works! The examiner (or teacher) gives wrong options—not because they want us to choose them—but to test our understanding. When we choose the right option, it proves that we’ve learned properly.
Similarly, life’s challenges—including distress—are like tests. They present us with multiple choices:
- Turn toward Krishna, or
- Turn away from Krishna
If someone turns away, it’s not that Krishna willed them to fail. It’s that they were not adequately prepared, or perhaps, their understanding of Krishna was incomplete or immature.
3. When God is seen only as a problem-solver
Many people approach God with the idea:
“I’ll worship God, and He will keep problems away.”
Now, is Krishna a problem-solver? Yes, in the ultimate sense—He delivers us from material existence, the root of all problems. But even great devotees like the Pandavas, Mother Sita, and many others faced severe challenges.
So, if someone approaches God with the expectation that devotion guarantees a problem-free life, they may feel betrayed when difficulties come. Then, in frustration, they may say:
“There is no God. Why didn’t He help me?”
This response indicates that their conception of God, and their motivation in approaching Him, were still not fully matured.
4. Distress is not the cause of bhakti—faith is
Sometimes, we hear stories of devotees who became very serious after being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness like cancer and then had a glorious spiritual departure. Someone else may think:
“If I get cancer, I too will become spiritually advanced.”
But cancer doesn’t cause bhakti. Otherwise, every cancer patient would become a pure devotee.
Bhakti comes from:
- Krishna’s mercy
- Devotee association
- Sincere longing in the heart
Distress may trigger spiritual reflection, but the response depends on our inner maturity and understanding.
5. Evolution in our understanding of God
In Bhagavad-gita 7.16, Krishna says four kinds of people approach Him—one of them is the distressed. Then in 7.19, He says:
“After many lifetimes of spiritual practice, one who realizes that Vasudeva is everything surrenders to Me.”
What does it mean to realize Vasudeva is everything?
Initially, we see God as the fulfiller of our desires. Eventually, we evolve to see God as the fulfillment of our desires.
So rather than thinking:
“I’ll worship Krishna so that I get worldly things,”
We begin to realize:
“Whatever I get from the world, I can get even better—eternally and purely—through Krishna.”
This maturity of devotion takes time to develop. If someone hasn’t yet evolved to that point, they may value the world more than Krishna. And when the world disappoints them, they may blame Krishna and walk away.
6. Keeping the door to devotion open
Even if someone turns away from Krishna temporarily, we should:
- Stay connected with them
- Let them know devotees are there to help
- Avoid judgment or condemnation
If they stop coming to the temple, at least let them retain respect for devotees. That emotional connection can serve as a bridge for them to come back when the time is right.
Eventually, after going through more experiences, they may realize:
“I gave up Krishna for something I thought was more valuable. But now I see, it wasn’t worth it.”
That realization can become the turning point in their spiritual journey.
Conclusion:
Krishna never desires that anyone turn away from Him. But He allows free will so that love can be real.
Even when someone misuses their free will, Krishna still guides them from within, as the Paramatma. And whatever devotional service they have done, it stays with them eternally.
So, if someone says, “I lost faith in Krishna,” we can gently help them keep faith in devotees, faith in goodness, and faith in the process—until their heart is ready to reconnect with Krishna again.