Why do bad things happen?

We live in a world that has been fractured by sin. It is filled with pain and suffering and that can be hard to understand. God is sovereign, so all that happens must have at least been allowed by Him, if not directly caused by Him. This makes it hard to reconcile bad things happening with God being good, but we must keep several things in mind.

First, we do not have a perfect, all knowing perspective of the future and so we can never fully understand God’s purposes and ways.  He tells us that he will redeem all he allows so we have to look past the pain of the moment and consider what else may be happening.

Second, bad things may happen but this world is not the end. Those that trust God know we can look past this life where all things will be renewed one day. This allows us to look beyond what we see today and focus on what God promises in eternity.

Third, God can use bad things for an ultimate, lasting good. Sometimes we only see truth or God’s love through experiencing things we would never sign up for and want. This happens throughout scripture as people have stories that start with horrible circumstances only to see those bad things make God’s story that much greater.

Fourth, Bad things can equip us for deeper relationship with God and ministry to others. God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. Those that grow closer to God and see how those difficult times changed them are now able to offer a similar hope to people experiencing the same challenges.

Lastly, we can take comfort in how Jesus himself experienced terrible things. He suffered more than we can imagine and did so for our sin. Christ’s example is encouragement that God has a plan and will bring you through it. Jesus knows your pain.

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.

Whether you believe God is with you in hard times is a difficult question and we would love to discuss it with you.