Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8
Lesson – Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
No one is exempt from the harsh realities of life and death on earth. We live in a world of pain and suffering. Sometimes we must ask ourselves, “why do bad things happen to good people?” The answer is found with much difficulty, if at all.
First and foremost, God is sovereign. He either allows everything to happen or causes everything to happen. God is good, unfortunately people are not. We don’t start out as good or eternal because of being born into a fallen world.
In fact, the fallen world is why bad things happen at all. Satan is always at work against mankind.
An example is the story of Job. God allowed Satan to do everything to Job he wanted, except kill him. So he took away Job’s health, family, livestock, and other possessions to leave him nothing. After a long, tragic story, Job endured and God restored him with twice as much as he had.
Job 1:1 “There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.”
Job 20-22 “Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.”
More Insight Provided by Gotquestions.org
When wondering why God would allow bad things to happen to good people, it’s also good to consider these four things about the bad things that happen:
1) Bad things may happen to good people in this world, but this world is not the end. Christians have an eternal perspective.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” We will have a reward some day, and it will be glorious.
2) Bad things happen to good people, but God uses those bad things for an ultimate, lasting good.
Romans 8:28 “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. When Joseph, innocent of wrongdoing, finally came through his horrific sufferings, he was able to see God’s good plan in it all.
Genesis 50:19-21. “But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children. So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.”
3) Bad things happen to good people, but those bad things equip believers for deeper ministry.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “Praise be to . . . the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ”. Those with battle scars can better help those going through battles.
4) Bad things happen to good people, and the worst things happened to the best Person. Jesus was the only truly Righteous One, yet He suffered more than we can imagine.
1 Peter 2:20-23 “If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly”. Jesus is no stranger to our pain.
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Despite the sinful nature of the people of this world, God still loves us. Jesus loved us enough to die to take the penalty for our sins. If we receive Jesus Christ as Savior, we will be forgiven and promised an eternal home in heaven.
God allows things to happen for a reason. Whether or not we understand His reasons, we must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful. Often, bad things happen to us that we simply cannot understand. Instead of doubting God’s goodness, our reaction should be to trust Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight”. We walk by faith, not by sight.
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