Why do bad things happen to good people?

I'm sure many of us if we were honest have asked this question of the Lord at some point in our lives. We see someone we care about going through hard times that never seem to end, and we wonder why God allows it to happen.

This question has been on my mind lately. I recently had and "Acquaintance" (I call this person by this title, because I do not want to reveal their identity) who has become an Agnostic, and even questions the existence of God because he does not understand something that happened recently to someone he knows. I do not want to go into detail because what happened is that horrific, but just take my word for it...it was really bad. It is at times where I hear stories such as this that I even begin to wonder how God could allow such things to happen. But it is at times like these where I must turn to God for the answer...and this is what I have learned.

There are evil forces at work in the world that are bent on trying to see us turn away from God. These evil forces will do anything they can to destroy our lives.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
I Peter 5:8

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12

At this time we may ask the question...well isn't God in control? If God is in control, why would a loving God allow things like this to happen? I can honestly say that I do not have a solid answer to this question. I can presume to know His plan in what happens, but I do not know for sure. So I will attempt to explain it in the best way that I can.

I believe that God allows things like this to happen. I don't believe this means He wants it to happen, but He allows it to happen. For what reason, again I can only presume. Perhaps it is at times an attempt to get our attention. Perhaps these things happen as a test, just as they happened to Job. God allows them to happen to us in order to test our faith...to see if we will trust Him that He is in control, or will we "Curse God and die"...as Job's wife so eloquently proposes to her husband. Will we come through the trial stronger and closer to God, or will we turn from him? I believe that often how the Lord reveals Himself to us in the trial...this is where the most poignant answer lies. I've often noticed for me that when the trials come, and I pray to God to help me through it, it is at that time that I feel His tender arms around me as He carries me through. Just like the well known poem "Footprints in the Sand," the only thing we can do in a time of trial, where we don't understand the Lords plan...is to simply rest in God's arms and trust Him that he is in control. Is that always easy to do at times? No...it is often in these trials, and these times where we may lose someone that we love, that we don't want to talk to God. But we should...He is the only one who can comfort us. He is the only one who can comfort us...because you know what? He sees the end of the trial...He sees the end, and He sees how in the end, in spite of all the pain and suffering we may endure...if we trust in Him, we will come forth on the other side stronger than when we went through.

I have often found this to be true in my life. I don't know if I have ever explained this on my blog...but as it is a part of "My Life...", it is applicable to this blog. Anyways...when I was 11 years old my Dad attempted suicide. He was later diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, and is now stable and on medication...but let me tell you, after that event, I really struggled with my faith. I did not understand how God could allow something like that to happen to my family. I was angry with God. But I've realized over the years, that God was able to use it to make me stronger. Were it not for that event, I'm pretty sure the testings that I would endure in the Navy, would have probably broken me at some point. But because I had been through that event, and many more before the Navy, that I (with God's help of course) was able to stand against the temptations that I would endure in the Navy. Can I take the credit for this? Absolutely not...it was God that brought me through them, and it was the Lord who strengthened me through it.

Anyways...getting back to the point at hand. There are bad things that happen in this world...and we might not understand it...and we may get angry at God. Being angry at God is a natural human emotion when we go through a trial. But is God in control? Yes! Do we see the evidence of that? Yes...at least I know I do! I know if He weren't in control...things would be a whole lot worse in this world! Do we need to trust Him that He's in control? Yes...because I know He's always come through for me in the past.

Well...I really hope that this blog was an encouragement to you all. I really hope and pray that this blog may touch someone's heart who might be going through a trial right now...or maybe it would be a comfort to someone who has lost someone they love recently.