Question 3: Why do bad things happen?
Of all the questions I received for this series, this one was asked the most. Why do bad things happen? If God loves us, then why is life filled with so much pain, violence, and grief?
Maybe you’d like to share your story of how God brought good out of bad in your life. Maybe you’d like to ask a question. Or maybe you just need to express your pain, confusion, and anger to God like the author of Psalm 22 did. Those are all welcome here. Just use the comment form at the bottom of the page.
(My apologies on the lateness of this posting. The database server was hiccupping and lost it the first time I posted it. Looks like it’s working now…)
– Rich
WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN?
October 8, 2006
My God, my God! Why have you forsaken me?
Why do you remain so distant?
Why do you ignore my cries for help?
Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
Every night you hear my voice, but I find no relief.
– Psalm 22:1-2 (NLT)
1. Is God cruel? Is he evil? Is he an abusive Father?
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. – 1 John 1:5 (NIV)
God is love. – 1 John 4:8 (NIV)
2. Does God not care? Does he not notice? Is he an absentee Father?
Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. – Matthew 10:29-31 (NLT)
You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them.
– Psalm 56:8 (CEV)
3. Is God unable to prevent evil? Is he a weak Father?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. … And God said, “Let there be light,†and there was light. – Genesis 1:1-3 (NIV)
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. – Matthew 9:35 (NIV)
None of those? Then why do bad things happen to us?
1. Because people make bad choices with real consequences.
(God gives us real freedom so we can love him & each other.)
You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. – Galatians 6:7-8 (CEV)
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. – 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. – John 10:10 (NLT)
2. Because we live in a broken world. (And we broke it!)
Then he said to the woman, “You will bear children with intense pain and suffering. And though your desire will be for your husband, he will be your master.â€
Then he said to the man, “You listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree, although I commanded you, ‘You must never eat its fruit.’ The ground is cursed because of you. Through hard work you will eat food that comes from it every day of your life. The ground will grow thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat wild plants. By the sweat of your brow, you will produce food to eat until you return to the ground, because you were taken from it. You are dust, and you will return to dust.†– Genesis 3:16-17 (NLT, GW)
3. Because God can use suffering to help us grow (if we’ll let him).
But we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
– Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)
Endure your discipline. God corrects you as a father corrects his children. All children are disciplined by their fathers. … For a short time our fathers disciplined us as they thought best. Yet, God disciplines us for our own good so that we can become holy like him. We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.
– Hebrews 12:7-11 (GW)
Though he was God’s Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. – Hebrews 5:8 (Message)
Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (Message)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Let’s say God has a plan for everyone and for me.
Then
1. Does that mean God control over my life ?
2. How do I know that is God plan ?