Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People

Have you ever wondered why bad things happen to good people? We all can define what a bad thing is but what defines a good person? Job 1:1, gives us an example found in the life of Job. He was Blameless (innocent), Full of Integrity (honest with issues of the heart), Feared (revered/honored) God and Stayed away from evil. I’d say that’s a good person, wish we could all be like that. Job’s life is exemplified in Pro.16:6, “Unfailing love and faithfulness makes atonement for sin. By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.” And here lies the problem, we often don’t avoid evil. In fact, evil seems to follow many of us, even the good. It’s here the story of Job gets interesting. In Job 1:6, we see evil coming up to the Throne of God where the devil and God get into a conversation about what Satan was up to. He responds using 1 Pet.5:8, “Just patrolling, prowling, walking up and down the earth, watching and listening to everything that’s going on.” What evil is waiting for, are words that come from our mouth that can change a blameless man into a blamer. Satan says, you’re right, Job is all that, but it’s simply because You have put a hedge of protection around all he owns, including his children. Just let me take them all out and he’ll Curse Your Name.

Bad things happen to good people because we live in an evil influenced world that wants to curse God. It started in the garden when the Serpent tricked Eve into eating the apple, who then gave it to her husband (who should’ve known better) was cursed by God to crawl on his stomach. It’s my opinion that Satan want’s to get even with a Good God by getting good people to curse the Name of God to His Face. There is a fight for America and good people need to guard their hearts when bad things hit them because they will. This is why Pro.4:23 is so important, “Guard your heart with all diligence (great effort) for out of it flow the issues of life.” Here’s one of the greatest issues, Pro.18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat it’s fruit.” There’s always a choice when bad things hit you, life or death, the one you buy into will be your lot. The one you love will be the fruit you’ll eat and the consequence you’ll have to live with.

Evil didn’t work in trying to compromise Job in the 1st chapter nor in the 2nd chapter but in Job 3:1, we see a blameless man become a blamer, as he cursed the day he was born. In essence, cursing God for giving him a life that was full of pain and heartache. It was 39 chapters later, arguing with his 3 friends and a young truth teller thrown in before Job and God come to a reckoning. This is how good people can resolve the pain of great losses in your life. It might seem a little strange but it works. Job 42:5-6,”I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen with my own eyes. I take back everything I said and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” It’s always been a repentant heart that brings our healing. It’s learning, out of our brokenness that God will bring not only our healing but healing for those who have watched our testimony being lived out. Remember it was after his repentance and forgiveness of those 3 friends that God restored double-fold all that was lost and destroyed. Psa.51:10,17, “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit in me. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and repentant heart, O God you will not despise.” This is true restoration for all we’ve lost when the storms of life hit us.