Sadly, it is a very common false belief by Christians today that the moment you believe in Jesus, all your problems will go away and you will not have bad things in your life.
However, that is so far from the truth of what Jesus promises saying…
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
Notice Jesus did not say you MAY have trouble or you WON’T have trouble but instead, He tells us you WILL have trouble.
Unfortunately, preachers or Christians focus just on Jesus overcoming the world so therefore you will not have trouble but that’s really out of context with what the verse is saying.
It’s because there WILL be trouble, you need to hang on to Jesus to overcome them.
You Live in A World of Pain & Suffering
You cannot deny the fact, that the earth you live on today is filled with lots of pain and suffering. However ,as a Christian, you got to remember that God is sovereign!
You got to realize that everything that happens in your life today is not an accident. God allowed them. To understand the key question “why God allows bad things in your life?” You need to first read and understand the book of Job which does address this and answer this question.
Why God Allow Bad Things To You
Job was a righteous man (Job 1:1), yet he suffered in ways you cannot even imagine was possible. I would encourage if you can read up your bible and read Job chapter 1 and 2 below
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=job+1-2&version=NIV
God allowed satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him, and satan did his worst.
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” – Job 1:9-12
Did you notice, how deceiving satan was to question God on Job fear for God. Do not think for a moment God did not know satan was about to ask that question, God already knew it. But noticed in the verse above satan actually needed permission from God in order for satan to do evil on Job.
How To Response To Bad Things Today
However even though Job suffered from satan’s plan, he lost his children, business, got really sick and his own wife even ask him to curse God! But his response was amazing and something you can learn from today as well.
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” – Job 1:21-22
A few things is happening here
- Job did not hate God what happened to him
- Job acknowledge God was sovereign and knows what He was doing
- Rather then being angry with God, Job choose to praise God instead
- Job acknowledge everything he has today came from God
- Job acknowledge if God can allow blessings, He also has the right to take away too
- Job did not sin by charging or cursing God with wrongdoing
If this is your first time hearing this, I understand it’s very shocking to even consider the kind of response Job gave God.
That was why God spoke so highly of Job earlier stating
“Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” – Job 1:8
Did you notice God acknowledge Job to be someone who is blameless, upright and most important of all FEARS GOD and shuns evil!
As a Christian today yourself, do you even fear God and shun evil even?
As Job suffer the plan of satan, he also did not understand why God would allow but noticed the attitude that Job is teaching us today on how to respond in times of trouble and bad things.
Instead of cursing God or complaining to God which many Christians today sadly do a lot today, Job decided to surrender to God, praise God and trust that God knows what He is doing.
Why God Allow Someone To Die?
People do die every day, did God allow them to happen. Yes, He did. What some Christians fail to remember or find it hard to accept, is these people whom you love the journey has ended on this earth is not the end.
Christians have an eternal perspective of being in heaven after God decided to take them with Him.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” – 2 Cor 4:18
Instead of fixing your eyes on the lost of your loved ones or friends, fix your eyes of the eternal journey they are going on now and be willing to let go of that person you loved so much to God to take care of them. You need to trust God today that He will take care of them.
God Uses Bad Things As Ways To Use & Mold Your Character
In the book of Genesis, Joseph was innocent and was sabotaged by his own brothers to suffer in prison.
But God allows the suffering of Joseph because He has a bigger and better plan for him.
“But Joseph said to them (the brothers), “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” – Genesis 50:19-21
What happened eventually was God used Joseph life not only to bless him later but also through the authority Joseph was given, Joseph was able to save many lives including his own family!
God Allow Bad Things So That We Can Comfort Others In the Same Situations
I know this might be a bit hard for some Christians to accept but God do allow bad things in your life so that as you go through these bad things and endure them. God can use the experiences you are going through today to comfort others in the same situations as you.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” – 2 Cor 1:3-5
So for example, maybe you are suffering from cancer and you do not understand why God allows it. But it is possible God allow this to happen so that you can also encourage those who have cancer today so that you can encourage them today and understand what they go through today! Yes, that’s so possible.
I know also of Christian ministry friends who have cancer and they pray for cancer patients in the name of Jesus in our healing outreaches for Jesus. Praise God they get healed from the prayers my friends praying for them in the name of Jesus!
However, some of my friends still have cancer and it’s not healed yet but God has a purpose to show them to trust in God and who knows one day God may deliver them and heal them as they stay faithful in Christ.
The key point here is do not focus on the problem or disease but learn to see it as God allowing it to happen what are you going to do about it to comfort others and help others in similar situations!
Remember God Allows Things To Happen For A Reason
It is up to individual Christians to find out what’s that reason. It is so easy for us to conclude that maybe God is not loving or does not care about me. That’s so not TRUTH! Instead of complaining or blaming God why not be open to asking God to show you what you can do in the situation you are in today.
You will never know as you obey the Lord today, and are willing to listen to His commands and Will today. It is very possible God will heal you along the way as you journey in the bad things allow you to experience today for a reason.
Whether or not you understand His reasons a not, you must remember that God is good, just, loving and merciful (Psalm 135:3).
Often, bad things happen to us that we simply cannot understand. Pastor also do not have the answers. The answer you seek can only can come from God, so I recommend you spend time today praying to God today.
Instead of doubting God’s goodness, your reaction should be to trust God more. Why?
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” – Proverb 3:5-6
I know you do not understand why, so do I why people ask me why they are suffering. But God knows! So here’s what I recommend you should do today if you are suffering today
Practical Exercise To Overcome Bad Things Today
- Acknowledge firstly God is sovereign, He knows what is best for you
- Acknowledge and pray God I thank you for my life today as He still keeps you alive today.
- Be thankful and reflect back the past many years of your life and how God was there all the time helping you
- Acknowledge and pray and say “Lord you know better & I want to trust you today even if I do not understand the current situation”
- Pray and ask the Lord today, “ Lord I surrender my situation to you today, show me what I do not see in this situation, tell me what to do for you Lord”
- Start to realize, God ways are not your ways, and repent from all curses or complaints that you previously had with God today.