Why Does God allow Bad things to happen to Good people?

Scripture: “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” Romans 11:33

Thousands of people throughout history have asked this question. It is hard to understand how a good and loving God can allow bad things to happen to his children.

We Need a Right Perspective

As finite creatures living within the bounds of space and time, we have a limited view of our circumstances. On the other hand, God is infinite and all-knowing, and can see things that we can not. He can see into the future and knows the ripple effects of a present-day event. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

God’s priorities are eternal, not temporary like the things of this world. What is “bad” and who is “good”? The “bad” thing you experience may be the one thing that brings you, or someone else, to eternal salvation through Christ. In God’s view, that is the ultimate “good.”

Can we Trust God?

Often we are like a small child getting a vaccination. All the child knows is that his parents are allowing someone to inflict pain on him. He doesn’t understand that this painful event is preventing him from getting a horrible disease that may cause his death. What seems bad can actually be good. “God is good and His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1 The Bible tells us that God is good, righteous, holy, loving and completely in control. Will you believe this to be true no matter what happens?

God Wants The Best For You

Joseph suffered for years as a result of being betrayed and sold into slavery by his own brothers. But in the end he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good...so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20 In the same way, God knows your name and your troubles. He has not fallen asleep or grown weary. When you trust in Him, He will give you the strength to make it through. (Isaiah 40:26-31)

“We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 When your life seems to be falling apart, you need to hang on to the unshakable truth of who God is. Trusting and resting in his perfect love will help you overcome your fear with faith. Then we all can say with the apostle John: “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.” 1 John 4:16

Help! My Partner Is Not a Believer

Scripture: The Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage.” 1 Corinthians 7:14

Perhaps you, or someone you know, is married to a non-Believer. The Bible has advice for God’s people about this. The Bible teaches, “Don’t become partners with those who reject God” (2 Corinthians 6:14). But if you’re already in this situation, be encouraged! The Bible says the godly life of a Christian can testify to unbelieving spouses, who “will be won over [to God] by observing your pure and reverent lives” (1 Peter 3:1-2).

Advice to Those Not Yet Married

Find out where your partner stands spiritually -- and only move forward when you know their life has been given to Christ. The Apostle Paul asked, “How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can a Believer be a partner with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). Seek God’s wisdom and get advice from mature Christ-followers on whether to continue the relationship. Marriage is one of the most important partnerships people enter into. Don’t simply trust your feelings. The Bible tells us “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9) No matter what your feelings say, make your decision based on the wisdom in God’s word.

Advice to Those Who Are Married

The Apostle Paul wrote, “If a Christian man has a wife who is not a Believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her. And if a Christian woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him (1 Corinthians 7:12-13)*. If you are married to a non-Believer, be encouraged: your Christian example and godly living could help your spouse decide to follow the Lord, as well. Go to God in prayer for your spouse and pray that they will accept Christ.

3 Questions to Strengthen Your Marriage

Scripture: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. ” Galatians 5:16

How can you build a stronger marriage that ultimately glorifies God? This week’s questions will guide you toward a stronger godly marriage. And as today’s scripture tells us, it all starts with living in the power of the Holy Spirit.

1. Are We Lovingly Honest with Each Other?

We are called to “speak the truth in love” and grow “in every way more and more like Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15). A healthy marriage is built on mutual trust. Dishonest actions such as keeping secrets, telling partial truths, or hiding information about finances or relationships can hurt your spouse.

If you are concerned or hurt because of dishonesty in your marriage, use the example of Jesus to be lovingly honest with your spouse. Jesus often used scripture to speak the truth to others. Use scripture to remind your spouse of the covenant the two of you made before God and point out the expectations God has for each spouse. By doing this, you aren’t approaching your spouse with your emotions and accusing them, but you are approaching them with the word of God.

2. Are We Forgiving Each Other?

In all close relationships, people will offend each other. But the Bible tells us to “make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.” We must remember that the Lord forgave us, so we must forgive others. (Colossians 3:13)

In strong marriages, forgiveness should be asked for and freely granted. We shouldn’t hold a grudge. Holding a grudge will quickly build an emotional wall between you and your spouse, and worse yet, it will invite Satan into your marriage (Ephesians 4:27)!

3. Are We Defending Each Other?

Speaking badly of your spouse to others can hurt your spouse emotionally and have a negative impact on your relationship with them. Make it your goal never to insult, correct or humiliate your spouse in front of others. This is a direct violation of the commands to love and respect each other.

If you must correct your mate, wait until later when you’re alone. In Matthew 18:15, Jesus says "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense.” Use this example in your marriage by pointing out an offense privately, not in front of other people. Your husband or wife should be able to trust you to be considerate of their feelings.

3 Questions for Being the "Perfect" Spouse

Scripture: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21)

Last week we talked about finding the “perfect” spouse. Believe it or not, finding the “perfect” spouse starts with being the kind of spouse you desire. This week, we’ll focus on looking inward.

1. Am I Becoming the Person God Wants Me to Be?

We should always strive to become more Christlike -- not a “Christian” in name only, but a true follower of Jesus. Whether you are new in the faith or have been following Christ for years, you should always seek to learn more about our Lord and grow in your love for him. Submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life, and let him make you into the person He wants you to be, for His glory. (Philippians 1:6)

2. Am I Able to Love and Lead God’s Way? (Men)

Husbands are commanded to love their wives “as Christ loved the church” (Ephesians 5:25-28) -- sacrificially and unselfishly. The only way to do this is through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. The Bible calls husbands to “love their wives as their own bodies” because “He who loves his wife loves himself.” (Ephesians 5:28) The Bible says “no one ever hated their own body,but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the Church.” (Ephesians 5:29)

3. Am I Able to Submit and respect? (Women)

All of us, men and women, are to submit to each other (Ephesians 5:21), and ultimately to God. God specifically calls wives to submit to husbands (Ephesians 5:22), and respect them (Ephesians 5:33). God calls husbands to lead. The Bible says “the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church” (Ephesians 5:23). That means, as a wife, you must “submit yourself to your own husbands as you do to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). Are you willing to submit to your future husband and respect him as God has called you to? This means you must trust the leadership that God has given your husband--even if you don’t always agree. Encourage him, pray for him, and stand by him as a godly wife.

3 Questions for Finding the "Perfect" Spouse

Scripture: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?.” 2 Corinthians 6:14

God made us to desire human companionship in the form of a husband or wife. A husband and wife are made to share each others’ lives intimately -- in ways that no-one else should. In a godly relationship, spouses can improve each other, look out for one another, and build each other up in the Lord.

You might think that God has a perfect spouse planned for you. However, as disappointing as it is, no-one can ever be a perfect spouse; “no one is righteous” (Romans 3:10) or perfect. Only Jesus“committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22).

So what can you look for in a spouse?

1. Is He or She a Follower of Jesus?

The most important thing to desire in a spouse -- and in yourself -- is a close relationship with, and submission to, the Lord. Although no one can be perfect like Jesus, we should still try find someone who is Christlike -- and we should try to be Christlike ourselves.

2. What Is Your Goal for the Relationship?

What do you want in a marriage: Do you want him or her to make you “happy”? Do you want him or her to meet your needs? Do you just want to physically be with someone?

The role of a spouse is not to “complete” the other or to constantly fulfill the other’s desire to be “happy”. No human can complete another -- only God can fulfill our lives. The goal of a marriage -- indeed, the goal of your life -- should be “for the glory of God” ( Corinthians 10:31).

3. How Is God Leading You?

How do you pray for your future spouse? Do you pray for God’s leading in selecting him or her? God can guide you in everything -- and that includes the important question of marriage and to whom.

There is no one way to know if God has led someone to an ideal potential spouse. But when you are walking a Christ-following life and seeking counsel from fellow Christians, you can often tell if furthering your relationship into marriage will help you both continue to lead godly lives.

Is Your Church Making Disciples?

Scripture: “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious, I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.”Revelation 2:7

In many parts of the world, the Name of Jesus is unknown or hated, making it unsafe to share your Christian faith. However, God calls Christians to "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone" (Mark 16:15).

Embedded Missionaries

In obedience to this, my church has formed a team that is ready to follow the example of Jesus' original disciples. Quitting their jobs and leaving their extended families behind, they will rebuild their lives in a place where many people do not know the life-saving power of the Lord that can "truly set us free" (Galatians 5:1). Where they will live, it is dangerous to talk about Christianity; so as our missionaries build their lives there, they will also build relationships with their new neighbors and coworkers, striving to live so that people wonder what's different about them and want to know the Lord. With support from each other -- and other "undercover" Christians in the area -- they will live to share God's love with others.

Reaching Out through Relief

My church also shares God's Word through disaster relief. We send teams to stricken areas, where they serve in Jesus’ name -- cleaning and rebuilding structures, and helping those with medical needs.

The Apostle Paul instructed believers to "use your freedom to serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13). This follows Jesus' example: "the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others" (Mark 10:45). The people from my church can tell those whom they serve that they are helping them because of the Lord.

Online Evangelism

Some Christians don't have the ability or opportunity to leave their homes to minister. Therefore, many people in our church use the Internet to share God's Word. Using email, social media, and sites like this one, everyday Christians can touch the lives of people around the world with God's love -- sharing discipleship tools, prayer, and simple fellowship from a world away. This kind of ministry helps fulfill the promise of Scripture that one day "every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).

Churches around the world use these methods to share the Gospel where it's needed most. How does your church share God's love with the world?

Outer Beauty and Inner Beauty

Scripture: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

Lasting Impressions

Have you ever seen a really attractive person -- someone people can't help but turn and stare at as they walk by? People with great God-given beauty may make a great impression, but it will be forgotten when the next beautiful person comes along.

What about a person who really knows Jesus and walks with Him? God’s grace and mercy flow through this person, resulting in encouraging words and good works. Do others pay attention when someone lives this way? We might not notice them at first, but their godly deeds leave an impression of goodness, and people's lives can be changed because of them.

Each of those two people makes an impression. But only the second can impact others with eternal consequences.

Fleeting vs. Lasting Impact

The Bible tells us that “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) God wants women AND men to be more concerned about our character and our “inner” beauty than our outward appearance.

Today’s scripture from Peter tells us not to give so much attention to "outward adornment," but instead to cultivate "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit" (1 Peter 3:3-4). There is nothing wrong with making yourself look nice, but we must remember tha outward beauty will fade, and its impact just as quickly. But inner beauty can keep growing your whole life, so that it’s your character people notice instead of your appearance. And then God receives the glory.

Eternal Life

What lasts longer than forever? Nothing! When we share God’s love with others, we can help them find eternal life: "Everyone who believes in [God's Son] will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). And, "Those who listen to My message and believe in God Who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life" (John 5:24).

So in gratefulness and love for God, and by His Holy Spirit working in us, we can do so much more than leave a fleeting impression of beauty; we can let God use us to change someone’s eternal destiny.