Why Bad Things Happen

I am often asked, "Why is this hapening to me? Why is God doing this thing to me?"

No one has a completely easy life. Obviously, some have more challenges than others due to health and other unavoidable obstacles. Regardless of how bad you think your life is, you need to realize that other people have trouble too.

First, God does not usually MAKE bad things happen to people. Sin, Satan and our fallen natural world make a lot of bad things happen. God has allowed it to be so, due to our sin. So, pain and suffering can be blamed on sin, (disobediance to God) but sin must be blamed on humanity, we who have chosen to sin. Your pain may be the result of another person's choice to sin. Don't blame God, he did not victimize you, a sinner did. On some occasions God has made bad things happen as acts of judgement. Unless God has very specifically told you that your pain is an act of judgement, it is not an active action of God to cause you pain or trouble. You find in Scripture, that wehn God sends acts of judgement, he also sends warnings (three visitors, the prophets, John the Baptist and others warned of judgement).

Second, some of our suffering is simply paying the price for our past choices. If you eat in an unhealthy way, don't blame God that you are too heavy. If you smoke, don't blame God for lung disease. If you drink heavily, don't blame God for addiction and liver problems. If you have sex outside of marraige don't blame God for unwanted pregnancy. If your relationships never work out you need to evaluate where and how you are finding relationships.

Third, if you are a follower of God's Son, Jesus Christ, there is another element to consider that gives you amazing hope. As one who is forgiven of their sins, you are an heir to some promised goods like healing and other miracles that God provides to his Children. Most importantly, when you are in right standing with God, trouble is not seen as judgement, but as attacks from the enemy of our souls, the Devil. Believers should strive to serve God with perfection and then fight the Devil and his schemes to harm us. His schemes to harm us always are intended to drive us away from God thourgh doubt, bitterness, anxiety, hatred, or various other things that are not God's will for our lives.

Never give up, hope in God! God loves you and paid for your salvation. Fight your trouble like you are fighting the Devil. "What shall we say then in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31.