When Bad Things Happen to Good People
For whatsoever (whosoever) is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith… 1 John 5:4
Bad things will happen. They will happen to good people. They will happen to people who are believing God and standing on the Word. When bad things do happen what are we to do?
There will be issues we must address:
Why did this thing happen?
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do innocent, good, spiritual, God-serving, God-fearing people suffer as if God is not concerned? Where is God when everything falls apart? Why doesn’t He do something? Why can’t preachers and pastors produce a logical, truthful and scriptural answer to these perplexing questions?
Why do people worshipping God on Palm Sunday lose their lives in a church that is destroyed by a tornado? Why do Godly people who pray and seek God not get healed from their sicknesses and diseases? Why are the most innocent and committed believers savagely attacked and devastated by demonic circumstances?
The only answer that is legitimate is “we do not know.” We can lie and tell people we know why but the truth is “we do not know.” This really seems like a cop out. However, we need to remember that the devil is a mean devil and demonic forces are ruthless and intent on destroying those who love and fear God. The most vicious attack is always aimed at those who are the greatest threat to the kingdom of darkness. Satan is not fair. Satan is mean. Satan is the source of death, destruction and defeat. Bad things happen and they are caused by the devil.
“If those who are really committed to Jesus and who need a life-saving miracle can’t receive it, then, nobody can…”
God does not answer our praying on the basis of how good we are. God’s relationship ship to us is not based on our “goodness” or our “performance.” God’s love for us is not based what we do or what we do not do. God does not work in our behalf on the basis of how spiritual we are. God does not come through for us on the basis of our living right, or praying right, or thinking right or being right. God does not send us miracles because we are baptized in the Holy Ghost and because we speak with other tongues. God’s grace is not given because of our goodness. God answers us on the basis of the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It is by the shed Blood of Christ and through the righteousness of Jesus.
“Well, what’s the use… I don’t have confidence in what the Bible says anymore…”
Do you realize that this is exactly the position the devil wants us to take? If we doubt the Word and lose confidence in God, then the purpose of Satan’s attack is accomplished. The very place of victory is our faith.
…..and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. I John 5:4
If our faith is damaged and our confidence in God is diminished, then Satan has won and we have lost. Where ever our faith is weakened is where Satan is strengthened. Whenever we begin to lose confidence in God, we begin to have confidence in the devil. To leave one is to side with the other. To deny one is to agree with the other.
Then, what are we to do?
This is the time for us to REINFORCE OUR FAITH. We should make our most powerful confessions in the times of our darkest trials. We should not back out of our faith just because we got broadsided. This is the time to fight the good fight of faith. This is the time to be aggressive. This is the time to get on the offense. The best defense is a good offense.
Stand strong. Speak boldly. Sing. Shout. Dance. Rejoice. Read the Bible to the devil. Call him in and make him sit down and have a Bible study with you. Hit him where it hurts with the Word. Attack with the Sword of the Spirit. Resist him and watch him run in terror.
Bad things happen because we live in a flawed world. We live in a world that has suffered a crippling blow by the entrance of evil resulting from the fall of Adam. As long as evil exists, bad things will happen. They will happen to good people and to people who are not good. It is a result of the sin curse under which the world (and world system) exists.
The ONE thing we always need to remember is that God is not the author of bad things. God is a good God. Bad things are caused by the devil and can be the result of bad choices people make. They can also be a result of sin, disobedience and refusing the mercy and grace of our awesome loving God. However they can be random and totally undeserved but an opportunity for the works of God to be revealed in you.
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. Jn 9:1
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jn 9:2
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Jn9:3
When bad things do happen…. Remember, God is right there with you and He will never leave you nor forsake you. Intensify your determination to press on and press through. Let the devil know that he does not have anything that will separate you from the love of God. Search the scriptures and find those verses that speak to your need and stand on them unwaveringly. Talk to the devil and command him to back off. Let him know that you are not ignorant of his devices and that you will never let him get away with his lies and his attacks. His devices are all flawed and God has given you some mighty unfailing and super powerful weapons that are able to pull down his strongholds and break his control over your situation. The more you strengthen your faith the weaker the devil becomes in his strategies and plans.
Every bad thing that happens to you is an opportunity for you to discover deeper levels of God’s grace. In the very midst of it you will receive greater revelation of the goodness of God and the grace of God. Understand that no test or trial is unique but it is common to man. God is faithful and will with the trial also provide a Way of escape (John 14:6).
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1Co 10:13
dickbraswell 
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