I have had people ask me, “If God exist’s then why do bad things happen to good people. God fearing people?”

I have seen many bad things happen to good people.  I have wept with parents who have lost children.  I have seen cancer drain the lives of young people.  I have seen lives crushed and destroyed over an assortment of tragic life events whether from natural disaster, fatal accident, disease, financial collapse, mental illness, and addiction.  It is saddening.

When you look at some of the tragedy in the world it can be both frightening and heart breaking.  There are atrocities happening every day.  Senseless deaths, and radical terrorist attacks taking the lives of innocent men, women, and children.  There is pain and there is suffering and when it comes close to home, when it affects someone you love, it can be devastating.  Sometimes you may say, it just doesn’t make sense.  Maybe questioning your faith and even questioning God.

It may be hard, but we must try to see hope and realize all the good things that still happen. There is an often used cliche,  a “glass half full, or “half empty,”  It is meant on how we try and approach things.  If someone truly searches for the good, no matter what, it is often found.

So what about all the good things? Things like freedom, liberty, friends, family, health, church, roof over your head, a job, food, clothing?  You may know the saying; “A person once complained he or she had no shoes until her or she met the person who had no feet.”   What about all the good things that happen?… Like the shear fact that you woke up this morning, that your children are healthy and made it back home safe.  That you live in the U.S. and are blessed with freedoms and opportunities that people in many other countries don’t have.  How about that a  natural disaster didn’t happen or a war was prevented or ended…  We can’t ignore the good things that happen.  Miracles still happen every day.

But we may still ask the question, “Why do bad things happen, especially to good people?”  There is a very good book written by Dr. James Dobson titled, “When God doesn’t make sense.”  It is a powerful read that I recommend and to be considered a place on your book shelf.

The thing is that a fall occurred after Adam and Eve. Sin fell upon us all.  They had a free will.  Just as we all have a free will.  Adam and Eve had it all.  They lived in a paradise with everything they ever needed. They spoke to God directly and He spoke to them.  They were simply asked by God, Himself, not to eat from one certain tree.  Yet they fell into temptation from the most evil one and did eat of that tree, and the result was the fall of mankind into a world of sin.

When sin fell upon the world, it became broken. We were separated from that close relationship with God.  It now didn’t make any difference how much good we did, we were still marked with sin.  Later God provided a covenant and a promise of a future salvation and a future kingdom with a future King.  That future King is Jesus. God loved us so much that he made a way through the broken world and broken road. It is through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

Just because you are a believer does not mean you will not have tragedies and tough times. Trials will happen.  You will endure tough times.  Times of loss and times of sadness. However we find peace in knowing Jesus Christ and having a relationship with Him.

Jesus does care.  He became human to live with us.  To teach us and be an example for us.  Jesus Christ Himself wept.  It is actually the shortest verse in the bible. “Jesus wept.”  He wept at that time over the sadness of the loved ones for the loss of Lazarus.  Even though He knew He could and world resurrect Lazarus, He still wept.  He was overcome by the sadness and the loss that was being experienced by those who loved Lazarus.

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.” Washington Irving

If the creator of the universe cries it is certainly acceptable that we cry whether you are a child, grown woman, or grown man.

Jesus Himself said:

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 NLT

He has given us hope and a path back to God.  Jesus overcame the world, suffered, died and resurrected for us all. All we need to do is to accept Him and believe.  A free gift of salvation.  A free will to choose and accept and to love.

If you are going through a tough time. If you have lost your job, lost a loved one, or experiencing a life threatening illness. Know there is peace in Jesus Christ. Pray, ask Him to heal you, or handle the situation. Ask Him to walk through it with you. Ask Him for peace and understanding. Cast your burdens unto Him. He is listening. Even though we exist in a broken world, God still loves us.  Jesus is that path through a broken road and a broken world.

“God is our refuge, a very present in time of trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

“The Lord is my shepherd.  I shalt not want. Ye though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil for thou are with me.  Thy rod they staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table in the presence of they enemies; Thou ointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.  And I shall dwell in the house of The Lord forever.”  – Psalm 23

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee, be not dismayed. For I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea. I will help thee. I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10

When things get tough and the road seems rough.  When things seem hopeless and you think no one cares.  Jesus is still there.  God is still listening.  May you find strength in Him and comfort in what is called the Body Of Christ which is the church; also known as the fellwoship of true believers.

If you are reading this and you are uncertain if you have faith, or maybe you don’t even believe in God.  It’s okay, He still believes in you.  Pick up a bible.  If you don’t have one, stop in a chuch and ask for one. I am rather confident that they will give you one.  Start by reading the book of John.  It’s an excellent testament of love and Christ’s love for us.  Then walk through Romans.  It’s a great book with clear instructions on salvation.  If you want to know more about faith, read through the book of Hebrews.  It talks about many of the common and most unlikley people who became great examples of fath and describes faith in good detail.  You want to know just about all there is to know about wisdom, read the book of Proverbs.  Looking for a release from some anxiety or if you like poetry, try reading the book of Psalms. Want to know where it all began and inspiration from some very courageous profits and miracles, start from the beginning at Genesis.

What do you have to lose by reading the bible whether you believe it or not?  If you think it’s fiction, don’t you read fiction books and watch fiction movies?  You have nothing to lose by reading the bible, however you have everything to gain.

I am a believer. However, I am not perfect.  I have made my fair share of mistakes.  My faith has been tested and I have even had my fair share of doubts.  I do not have all the answers by far. I am still learning and God isn’t done with me yet.  Faith is a constant journey and is challenged by life.  However I do believe, and I do have fath.  If I believe, and if I am wrong, I lose nothing.  However, if you don’t believe and you are wrong, you lose everything.  Make sense?

Just give it a try, pick up a bible today and take a few moments out of your time for a few days and read it.  If you want to know more, or if you have more questions, send me a note, or post a comment on my blog.  I would love to hear from you.

Blessings,

DW