If God is good, then why do bad things happen?

Last week I talked about why prayer matters. If you haven’t read it yet, you can read it here! I was tempted to try and answer a few questions that I have asked, too in that post but decided it deserved its own. So in this post, I want to talk about the common question “If God is good, then why do bad things happen?”

If you’re new around here, I have had a few things happen in my life that would normally make anyone question, “If this is happening, is God really that good?” and I think most people have asked this before. That is ok.

You’ll quickly learn that I love the human brain! It totally fascinates me to learn how they work and WHY we make the choices that we do.

Last week a nationwide known pastor took his own life. He openly shared his struggle with anxiety and depression and helped many people. There have been a lot of people talking about this. When things like this happen, it brings a lot of questions about God’s goodness and faithfulness. I can see how it is easy to look at someone who believes in something wholeheartedly then does something completely against what they believe as a hypocrite. But aren’t we all? Aren’t pastors humans, too? I am not saying this is ok, but I am saying they get the same amount of grace as you and I. It is all covered.

I have read through a few posts’ comments to see what people are saying about it. Mostly to try and understand how people receive these posts. And hopefully, see what people need encouragement on. Also, I don’t comment on these posts, argue with people or try to start online debates. These comments are often full of hate and can be hard to read. Though it broke by heart and I cried many tears for his sweet family and wife, I was really inspired to write this post.

Anyways, a lot of times I hear people say or comment “If God is good, then why is He letting this happen? If God is real then where is He during all of this?”

I was working at Chick-fil-A, probably about 16 or 17 yrs old, and this comment still rings in my ears… As I was talking to some of the girls about someone who was asking me about Jesus, one of them looked at me and said: “Just be prepared for when she asks why bad things happen.” I remember it like it was yesterday. I had never even thought about that, let alone know how to answer it if someone asked me.

My point here is this is a very very common question. And to an extent its valid, which is why I am so so excited to chat about it. PLEASE know I am not coming from a place of “I know it all”. I just know God has given me these ideas and this platform to chat with each of you about HIM, so that is what I am doing.

Sadly, I will not always say what is right, but that is ok it is not my job to, it is to do the best I can. And I give my best through this blog. I don’t have all of the answers, but neither does anyone else. Even pastors.

If anything, READ THIS
Don’t let someone’s miss interpretation of God drive you away from Him. Let HIM teach you who He is and what He says by spending time with Him and seeking Him.

Ezekiel 18:32 says: For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!

This brings me back to the same question: Why do bad things happen? I believe He feels the same about watching us suffer and our hearts hurting. It does not bring Him satisfaction. Considering He keeps track of how many tears we cry, just goes to show He really does care. Considering He doesn’t make us do anything says He really loves us, because true love doesn’t force anything. He lets us choose how we want to live and be who we want to be.

When bad things happen, usually it is out of human emotions and decisions. Pretty much anything you can think of that causes someone hurt (except for diseases and mental health, that is mentioned below) are all human actions that WE CHOSE to make happen. These are not things that God has done TO someone. People do this.

We have free will. We get to choose everything in our life. And again this brings me back to how he doesn’t enjoy watching us suffer. Picture this: A parent making every decision for thier child, out of fear of them making a mistake. But how much better for a parent to lovingly let their children make their OWN decisions? In order for them to make mistakes, learn from them and grow.

Just the same, God is a loving Father because he does let us make our own choices and decision. Although, he is always there for us to love on us and pick us back up again when we mess up and ask for His help.

Disease and Mental Health…

I realize we don’t choose depression, anxiety, addiction, cancer or any other illness that causes death and suffering every day. This is obviously not what I am referring to above. We aren’t perfect people, and doesn’t happen perfectly. We are human, Adam and Eve made mistakes and so do you and I. Every day. I don’t understand it all and like I said I don’t have all the answers. I just know I can trust the God that I serve and I KNOW that I know that I know He is good. He has the answers and that is enough for me.

You’re probably led to the next question: Why does God just let it happen?

God knows we are going to make mistakes. He knows we are going to make choices that will hurt ourselves and the people around us. So why does he let them happen? I think because of His love for us He gave us the freedom to choose. He also made it so that we could go to Him and find comfort. He will be there for us ready to listen and guide us, day or night in any given place. There is no place on earth we could go where He isn’t also. I believe life as a whole even exists in order for us to experience Him and the relationship He has available to us. Life is empty without Him, and will always be lacking true fulfillment until you choose Him.

What kind of a God would He be if He made us follow Him and made every decision for us? That just isn’t love.

God restores broken things. He revives beaten down and hopeless people. He is a perfectly loving and generous Father to people who don’t know what a good parent is. And best of all, He does it better than we ask for and more than we could imagine.

Let‘s touch on this one more time…

Bad things don’t happen because God isn’t in the midst of it, or doesn’t care or wants to punish us. Bad things happen because we are humans, and humans are messy. Sloppy. Mean. Hateful. And sadly we make horrific choices that make the people around us suffer for the crap they don’t deserve. God is in the midst of it, or there wouldn’t be any life at all.

I hope I am starting to gain some ground with you. Originally I had a lot more written for this post but I am going to leave it out and save it for another day. But I want to leave you with this last idea…

Can you think of any other religion or god or idol that gave up their life, through one of the most horrific deaths, to show their love to their followers? Even to the ones who caused it. There is only ONE. Jesus is the ONLY God that gave up His life to show His love for His followers.

When you think about a perfect spouse or parent, or even a perfect friend, people usually say that would be someone who loves you unconditionally and is there for you at any time, no matter what. But also someone who would give up their life for you.

How much more does that prove to you someone’s love? If they actually took a bullet so you could live, and you didn’t deserve it. Y’all Jesus did that. For literally everyone on this planet, even the people who killed him. It blows my mind how we question His goodness or love for us when I actually break this down and think about it.

I don’t know about you but that is a God I will serve because He will give up His life for me, in fact, He already did. And He did it for you too.

I hope all of this makes sense, if not or you want another point of reference here’s another great post to check out! Check it out here, it is super short and to the point!

I hope this inspired you or encouraged you to send this to someone you know who is struggling! It would mean so much to me if you dropped your email address in the subscribe box on the right or at the bottom if you’re on your phone! You will get an email each time I post, which is Tuesdays and Fridays. Unsubscribe at any time!

Between posts on the blog, follow me on Instagram and see what I am cooking, diffusing and everything in between over @mrshopehavens! Thanks for being here, see you back here on Tuesday!

Until next time- HH