God has supreme and ultimate power over everything. True? So, if God loves you and has knowledge and control over all things, why doesn’t He stop bad things from happening?
Unfortunately, Christians are not exempt from experiencing the natural processes of this world; Christians get to experience the physiological and natural systems in this sin-cursed world just like everyone else.
If this fact is ignored, it might appear that God seems to protect one person, but not another. You will hear of people talking about how God delivered, blessed or protected them yet you stand there tormented by life. This might lead you to ask, “Why isn’t God helping me? Why did God let this happen to me? He could have stopped it! Why didn’t He protect me!!?”
Psalm 79:5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
Asking God “why?” is appropriate, but we have to acknowledge that this question might come with some strings attached to serious assumptions. When we ask this question, we are making God the owner of our pain by causing it in some way, or assuming that He could have prevented it if He wanted to. So why is this notion harmful? Because it is human nature to avoid pain, and if you believe that God is the instigator of pain in your life, you might inadvertently avoid Him instead of seeking Him for comfort and guidance in a time of difficulty.
The Lord brought this conversation to me at the perfect time after our church building experienced a major fire. It happened late at night so the fire had time to spread and do major damage before someone noticed. It was significant. When I saw the damage, I was shocked. It hit me hard. We had put so much time, effort and love into physically building that building. I couldn’t imagine having to do it again. I heard people say, “I wonder why God did this,” or, “God must have a plan for allowing this.” Neither of these statements settled well with me. I did not want to make this tragedy God’s fault. All I knew was that God was going to help us through this.
So why do bad things happen? It is because of nature, sin, and consequence.
We live in a physical, tangible world and we are at the mercy of nature and biology. We can’t jump off a building and expect that God would save us. Gravity wins. We will catch colds during the cold-and-flu season. It is not an indicator of the lack of God’s protection in our lives, it is biology. When natural processes cause difficulty in our lives, it is wrong to assume that God should push aside this natural world for our convenience. Why do bad things happen? Because of nature. It’s not God’s fault.
We might be touched by the sin of others. Our lives can be made miserable because someone near to us refuses to listen to God and change. Is our misery God’s fault? No. God is not going to force anyone beyond their will. In Acts 14:19 Paul is stoned because the people refused to believe. Did Paul blame God for the near-death beating that he sustained? No. Was it God’s will that he be stoned? No. Paul understood the source of his trial. God was not going to force these people to believe, and Paul experienced the result of their unbelief and anger. People have the choice to do bad things, and unfortunately, we might feel the effects of their choices. God is all knowing. He knew the stoning was going to happen and He knows everything that is going to happen to you. However, He can and will use the situation for His glory. Why do bad things happen? Because of sin. It’s not God’s fault.
We might be experiencing trials because of our sin. Every decision we make comes with consequences; pleasant and unpleasant. God is not going to force us to do right; God is not going to force us to listen or change, but He will reward us for our actions regardless.
Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Unhealthy decisions usually result in uncomfortable consequences. The Lord lovingly corrects us, changes our course and brings us to change our mind about our decisions. If we are going through difficulty because of the guiding hand of God, then it is because of our wayward decisions. A loving parent will correct her child because his actions are harmful to him and others, so why would we believe that God would be any different? It is not the parent’s fault that the child is corrected and guided. It is the child’s actions that needed correction and guidance.
| A peaceful life is not an indicator of God’s love. A difficult season of life is not an indicator of His absence. |
A peaceful, happy life is everyone’s objective, but it is not an indicator of God’s love for us. Our contentment or happiness is not a scale that measures God’s love for us. In the same way, hard times and pain are not an indicator of the absence of God.
Deuteronomy 20:4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.
God is with you, and you have the privilege to have Him by your side as you experience the pains and joys of this world. This is how you know God loves you because He promised to be with you.
Don’t deceive yourself by believing your trial is His fault. This will cause you to distance yourself from your only true source of comfort, help, and guidance. Don’t go through life alone because you believe that God has forsaken you. Don’t miss God’s deliverance because you are blaming Him for the trial.
So, what should you do when faced with disaster and disease? Draw near to God. What should you do when you experience someone’s bad decisions or sin? Draw near to God.What should you do if you feel the guiding hand of God because of your unhealthy decisions? Draw near to God.
Related Bible Passages:
Deuteronomy 20
Psalm 79
Proverbs 3
Acts 14
Have a face to face conversation with your Lord:
Lord, have I blamed you for my discomfort?
Lord, when I have felt pain and difficulty, who or what was at fault?
Lord, how will blaming you taint my relationship with you?
Lord, I know you are true and just; you are also caring and loving. In my trial and discomfort, I want to draw closer to you and not believe anything that will cause me to run from you.
If you are interested in having a collection of these devotional conversations, consider purchasing the books. They are available from Amazon by clicking here.
Glory, Strength, & Beauty 