Why Does Bad Things Happen To Good People

Last week I spent a little time talking about balance and how important it is to have a balanced life. Did you take time to practice balance in your life last week? I hope so.

One of my Face Book friends asked this question and I think this is a very valid question to ask: Why does bad things happen to good people? I thought I’d take the challenge of attempting to answer this question to the best of my ability, both practically and spiritually. This may be a smidge lengthy but if you read it all, you will have a greater understanding of this aspect of life. In my walk with God, I have come to understand that there are 4 main reasons why bad things happen to good people:

First: Our fallen nature – Before the fall of Adam and Eve EVERYTHING was perfect and complete. Our bodies, surroundings and spirit were perfect before God and for all intents and purposes that is the way it should be to this day. But unfortunately, once Adam and Eve fell our nature turned from being perfect and complete to being in opposition to God. Our fallen nature now prevents us from doing the things that please Him. Adam and Eve were cursed by God because of their disobedience and now the whole world suffers because of it. Before the fall, Adam and Eve committed no murders. They did not have sicknesses. The curse that was placed upon them does not care who is good. Without Jesus (who was able to defeat the curse) we are doomed to live according to our sinful natures and pass the curse along to our generations that succeed us. So there will be murderers killing your good children and there will be thieves stealing you good daughter’s money, and there will be sicknesses that ravage the bodies of your good co-workers. Curses were not meant to be good. They were meant to accomplish death and destruction. But the good news it – with Jesus, CURSES CAN BE STOPPED!! HALLEUJAH!

Second: We have an enemy: Satan – Another reason why bad things happen to good people is because of Satan. Satan has three functions that are clearly spelled out in the bible: John 10:10 – The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to STEAL and to KILL and to DESTROY. That means that there is NO OTHER REASON THAT SATAN SHOWS UP except for one of those three purposes. Satan is angry because He wanted to be like God, but could not be, so he is taking revenge by destroying everything that God created…even human beings. Satan will try to destroy your family, your plans and your future if you let him.

Thirdly: We reap what we sow. We live in an age now where people to do not want to take responsibility for the things that they do. People do things and never expect any consequences or repercussions for their bad behavior. I truly believe that many people die before their time due to the principle of sowing and reaping. Galatians 6:7 states: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. If a person keeps sowing bad things, they will reap bad results. The cigarettes we smoke, the drinking that we do, the “living our lives on the edge” that we are so proud of can ultimately lead us “good” people straight to our deaths! No, sowing and reaping may not happen instantaneously, it normally happens over an extended period of time. Then, consequences sneak up on us and snatch our lives away or leave us in a state of despair.

Lastly, there is God’s sovereign plan. I have learned over the years of walking with God to never question God’s sovereign plan. Do I always like it – NO!! Do I get mad sometimes – ABSOLUTLY, POSITIVELY!! But who am I to question what God wants to do in my life? Job had to learn that question the hard way. (Read the book of Job for the full story). He, I believe, was the perfect example of bad things happening to a good person. He was extremely wealthy, loved God and lived an upright life. But then in a span of only eight to ten months, he lost all of his money, his children died, he became extremely ill and he was left with three nagging friends and a wife who tried to persuade him to turn his back on God and commit suicide!! But just as the bible states, In all that, Job kept his integrity!! WHAT A POWEFUL MAN! I wish I was 1/3 of what Job was. Job hollered at God and tried to diagnose his own situation. But what Job did not know was that Satan asked God’s permission to test Job to see what he was made of . God had so much faith in Job that he allowed Satan to touch all Job’s belongings and even his health. In the end, Job got twice as much as he had before, which made him DOUBLY WEALTHY! I believe God allows things to happen to us because he has faith in us that we will pass the test. He gives us tests for US to see what we will do and he tests us to let Satan know that he can not defeat us. If it were not for these types of tests, we would not know how strong or weak we are, how much faith we really do have, how much we really do love God, how obedient we really are and how much dedication we really have.

I believe this devotion was a little rough because it challenges us to look at ourselves, our walk with God, how we view God in our lives and in the lives of others. But if you made it through this devotion, you will make it through the rest.

Maybe the next devotion will be: Why do good things KEEP happening to bad people?? Lol.

See ya!