When Bad Things Happen to Good People

“As [Jesus] passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:1-3

Why do bad things happen to good people? There are times that I’ve caught myself buying into the mentality that good things happen to good people, and that bad things happen when we’re bad.

It’s like karma for Christians.

 

Although we as Christians claim loudly that we do not deserve the goodness of God in the sacrifice of His Son on our behalf or any of His gifts, we balk and question and accuse when bad things happen to good people. We feel hurt and miffed with God when the stormy days loom and our world falls apart. I tend to defend myself to God, wondering, “Why me? What have I done to deserve this?”

And so —

When her husband leaves her…
When she can’t get a job…
When God doesn’t bless her with a spouse or children…
When she’s battling depression again…
When God doesn’t heal…

Do I fall for the gospel-less trap that the friends of Job believed? “If you are pure and upright, surely now He would rouse Himself for you and restore your righteous estate.” (Job 8: 5-6) “Yield now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.” (Job 22:21)

Do I believe that there must be SOME lack of goodness or some unworthiness in her life that God wouldn’t bless her, that He wouldn’t keep her from this pain, or that He would take her through this valley of death?

God had choice words for the friends of Job, saying, “My wrath is kindled against you…you have not spoken of Me what is right…” (Job 42:7)

If we believe the lie that good things happen to good people, and that death, poverty, divorce, depression, and illness visit those with limited faith, those who don’t pray hard enough, or those who don’t measure up to God’s standard, then WE DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE GOOD NEWS.

None of us measure up to God’s standard (Romans 3:23). None of us deserve the never-stopping, never-giving-up, always-and-forever love of God (Romans 8:37-39). And none of us can try hard enough to earn brownie points or receive favors from God, for that is a false prosperity gospel and one of moralism, not one of salvation.

God calls on us to trust Him and believe Him THROUGH the darkness, IN death, and WITHIN the pain. As Job said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

Good things happen because God is good. He showers blessings on both the righteous and the unrighteous. He loves us.

Bad things happen, and God works His glorious power in and through “jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

The story that God is writing in and through your trials is for His glory. Every tear and every sorrow that comes to you has been filtered through the loving fingers of a holy God, the God who not only gives you grace for the trial and peace in the storm, but the One who sacrificed His Son to BE your peace that He may abound to you in abundant grace to help in your time of need.

If you are walking through a fiery trial, let the good news of Emmanuel — God with us — encourage your heart today. For, although bad things happen to both the lost as well as to the children of God, the children of God are promised to never walk alone through affliction, pain, and hardship.

“I am with you always,” says Jesus. “I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you.” (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5)

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God…your Savior…you are precious in my eyes…and I love you.” (Isaiah 43:1-7)

May God give us the faith and the grace to trust Him fully, resting in His righteousness alone, both when the sun shines as well as when the storm clouds burst.

With love,
amanda

If you are walking through the flame, feeling like the river will pull you under, may God give you grace to praise Him through this song, straight from Job 13:15… “Though You Slay Me”