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The above cited question is one that has been asked repeatedly down through the years. It doesn’t seem fair, many times, that good people suffer, especially at the hands of an evil-doer. Why do bad things happen to good people?
• Bad things happen to good people as a result of sin (cf. Gen. 3:14ff; 4:1ff; Joshua 7:1ff).
• Bad things happen to good people so that they will learn to trust God (cf.Ex. 14:1ff; Matt. 14:28ff).
• Bad things happen to good people to make them stronger (cf. 2 Cor. 12:10; James 1:2-4).
• Bad things happen to good people so that others might come to know Christ (cf. Matt. 5:43-48; 2 Cor. 4:7-12; Acts 8:4; 16:25ff; 28:1ff).
• Bad things happen to good people for the benefit of others(cf. Gen. 45:5; 50:20; Psa. 105:16-17; 2 Sam. 9:1ff; Isa. 53:5; Heb. 2:8-9).
• Bad things happen to good people so that they might be better equipped to comfort others in their affliction (cf. 2 Cor. 1:3ff; 1 Thess.4:18; 5:13; 1 Kings 19:1ff).
Bad things are going to happen, and they are going to happen to everyone. To help us when bad things do happen, it would help to remember the following Divine promises:
• As He suffered, so too will we (John 15:20; 2 Tim. 3:12).
• He will never leave us nor forsake us (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5-6).
• We will never have more temptation than we can bear(1 Cor. 10:13).
• Victory awaits all who overcome (Rev. 2:10; 3:5ff; 1 Cor. 15:57-58).
Terry R. Townsend
Curry church of Christ
Jasper, AL