This week the letter for the ABC Wednesday Meme is Y. I will use the letter the way it sounds - why? As in the question, why do bad things happen to good people? More specifically, why do bad things happen to me? This post is made up of words that I wrote on September 11, 2012 that address the question of why.
Today is the 11th anniversary of 9/11. Most Americans can remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard the awful news that airplanes had crashed into the World Trade Center. I was at work when Gina called me to tell me what she was seeing on TV. I turned my radio on, and listened all day as the news reports came in. I think that most people wonder why God allowed something so terrible to happen.
There are many events that have caused people to ask, "why". I don't have the answers as to why so many tragedies happen. I do know that ever since sin came into this world through Satan there have been terrible tragedies. I suppose that Adam and Eve asked "why" when Cain killed his brother Abel.
The only promise that a Christian has in this life is that there will be trouble. Our trouble free existence will be in Heaven where God will wipe away all tears.
When a tragedy happens, God says ask your questions, but don't stop there. God has given a much greater opportunity. God challenges us to turn to Him for answers. God challenges us to argue with Him. God challenges us to trust Him explicitly.
Bad things happen in this world, to good people, and to bad people, although it seems like the good people get the worst. Murphy's law seems to be all too true. Why do bad things happen to good people? More specifically, why do bad things happen to me? God rarely answers that question. He would pour out only goodness on us all the time, if He could, but because we live in a sinful world, He can't. Men have free will, and God will not override it.
Why do bad things happen to good people? Because we live in a sinful world. I know that's not the kind of answer we like, but there is no better answer available.
Once you have learned this and deepened your faith that God has everything under control, then maybe there is a better way to approach the bad things that happen. Don't ask "Why Me, Lord?" when something bad happens. Ask God how He wants you to respond, and then leave the consequences in His hands.
It is all in the response. God can always bring good out of bad, but He needs us to cooperate with Him to bring out the greatest good. This is why Paul can say "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." Rejoice when good things happen, rejoice when bad things happen, because we can trust God to do what is for our eternal best.
The ABC Wednesday Meme is a fun way to see some great blogs.
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I've often wondered why, also. But then I tell myself that either God gave me the gift of endurance (where others have none) or he's still teaching me. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteLeslie
abcw team
Existentially difficult questions. Why does it seem that the bad guys prosper?
ReplyDeleteJust spent an hour on the phone with a woman whose husband had a complete thumbs-up physical in April, and died in May from some stomach anomaly.
Constantly asking "why" but I find a more productive question (at least for me) is HOW. How do I move on? How do I best cope? And probably most importantly, how can I help myself by helping others.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great post and posing important questions.
I really like Meryl's comment about HOW...how do I move on? How do I cope? A great answer is to get our eyes off of our selves and on to those around us and putting our trust in the Lord. That's the only way I can live.
ReplyDeleteThere's another side to that why question...why does God choose to save us despite ourselves. We deserve death and he gives us life. We have life because God chose to let His perfect Son die in our place for our sins...Amazing love how can it be that thou My God should died for me...
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for that day when there will be no more whys....
Amen! The bible never guarantees a smooth life for believers. In fact, many times it seems like it's just the opposite. I think these things happen to help us turn back to looking to God for guidance and not our own lame solutions. He may not take the situation away, but he can give us the strength to endure if we want it.
ReplyDeletewonderful post and i am so sorry your son is having health problems...prayers that he heals quickly...
ReplyDeletePrayer is the answer to all ills, so sorry about your son's illness and I will pray for him and you, when I have my daily chat with our saviour,
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Di,x