Why does God let bad things happen to good people? How many times have you heard or asked that question? I bet it has been more than once or twice. Often it is offered by non-believers as some sort of backwards proof that God doesn’t exist. Why is my food burnt? Well, clearly chefs don’t exist! Gordon Ramsey is lie!
Another damaging response I’ve heard is that the person was being punished for the sin in their life. While we can see in the Bible that God will correct people that are sinning, this response has too many holes in it to be a blanket answer. I also believe if this is the case you would already know you were being corrected and would not need to be informed by a third party.
Bad things happen to all people of all ages. If bad things are an answer to sin then how do you explain babies and toddlers that have cancer or are abused? What could they have possibly done to deserve that punishment? And how would you explain natural disasters? They strike all over the world and without warning. Every time I’ve read about a disaster in the Bible people were warned: The Great Flood – Noah was warned, Sodom and Gomorrah – Abraham was told, not only was Jonah told about Ninevah, but they repented and were spared.
As I said before, I believe the person being corrected would immediately know they were being corrected and why. The reason is because God is our heavenly father and discipline doesn’t work unless the why is clear. If I send my son to time out 10 times but never tell him why, whose fault is it that the incorrect behavior continued? Mine! I never gave the punishment purpose. I punished but didn’t correct. That doesn’t sound like the action of even a decent father much less our perfect Heavenly Father. Corrective action also has to be timely to be effective. So, you aren’t in an abusive marriage now because you stole some candy as a child.
Does God have the power to prevent bad things? Of course He does, and I believe He does do it all the time. Sometimes we hear about it. Sometimes we don’t recognize that we were at risk, because God shielded us from it. However, God has also given us the gift of freewill. We get to choose to do right or wrong. We can serve God or serve ourselves. We can accept God or deny Him. We can follow or flee. Before I move any further, let’s accept that we love that we have freewill. We don’t want to be slaves or mindless drones. We love that we are allowed to think and decide for ourselves. The problem is what we don’t love. The thing we don’t love is that our choices have consequences. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, some big and some small, but all choices have consequences. If God didn’t allow the consequences to play out then the choice was meaningless and therefore freewill would be a lie. Sometimes we are the victim of our bad choices; sometimes, and more painfully, we are the victims of other peoples bad choices.
We are a broken people living in a broken world. A world where Satan reigns over non-believers and operates to destroy all God has created. In that brokenness, some horrible things happen. Lives are destroyed and ruined. But please understand this is Satan’s doing not God’s. We, Christians, are called to be a light to this world and Satan wants nothing more than to snuff out that light and eliminate that hope.
I know that explanation isn’t exactly hopeful, but it is the truth. That’s not say to there isn’t hope. God is still more powerful than Satan. He can restore all that Satan would destroy. He can work all things for good. He can take your most desperate times and use them to bring hope to others. He can turn your pain into a beacon of light to shine as a guide to lead the lost to Him from the darkest depths. He can shield us from attacks and defeat our most powerful enemies.
I can already hear the naysayers, “well, what about Job? God told Satan he could do whatever he wanted to poor Job.” You’re right. God did allow a lot to happen to Job, but Satan was still restrained by God. God would not let Satan kill Job. So how do I explain this? Well God used this suffering not only as a lesson to us of how even in our darkest time God is still there, but He also strengthened Job. God reminded Job and us that all things, even the scariest and deadliest creatures, move on His command. Even Satan can’t deny God’s power. Job was restored stronger and richer than before. Why? Because God redeems what Satan destroys.
The truth is I think we go through life and don’t recognize even half of what God does for us. I believe angels are protecting us from attacks that we never even see. Because quite simply: God’s got this! Maybe some of those bad things that happen to us were God protecting us from something worse later on, or preparing us for a greater mission.
Has something bad happened to you? Have you been hurt? Broken? First, let me say I’m sorry, but more importantly let me assure you: God loves you, God still loves you, God has always loved you! Does the pain still haunt you? Does it still hold you captive? That is exactly what Satan wants it to do. He doesn’t want you to be healed or to become stronger. He doesn’t want you to overcome. But Jesus is our healer; He will pick you up, heal you, and strengthen you.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Have you given it to God? “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) You don’t have to carry that pain. Jesus wants to carry it for you. In fact, on the cross, He already did. He suffered, so you don’t have to. I believe what we keep inside, what we keep in the dark, Satan twists and corrupts. But what we let out, what we put in light, God heals and redeems. Please, call on Jesus and allow Him to heal you.
Just a final thought. Next time you are running a little late and you catch yourself thinking, “God why are you turning all these lights red?” Maybe, this is a result of you not leaving early enough or… maybe, just maybe, God stopped you at this light so you wouldn’t end up in a head-on collision a mile down the road.
It is so much easier to embrace our pain than allow God to use it to mold us into stronger people. In misery we have lots of company. In strength we may be required to lead. Thanks for reminding us that God always wants to turn our sorrows into joy.