Creator, Father, King #326

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

HARDSHIPS ARE INEVITABLE IN a fallen world. If you aren’t going through any now, you will one day. That’s not cynicism. It’s just reality in a sinful world.

But there’s a thorny question that lingers. It’s one that every human has asked since the dawn of time . . . and no, it’s not, “That small caramel frappé costs how much?”

The question is, “How can a loving God allow bad things to happen to good people?” In fact, a slightly rephrased version of the question—“Why do bad things happen to good people?”—entered into an Internet search engine will produce nearly two billion results.

Clearly, it’s a popular and fascinating question. But there are erroneous assumptions we must address to reach a biblically based conclusion.

So grab your overpriced flavored coffee, and let’s dive in!

What’s It Mean?

First, we must dispel the notion of “good people” in that question. What’s the definition of “good,” and who is the arbiter of that? Jesus told the rich young ruler in Luke 18:19, “No one is good except God alone” (ESV). Don’t assume God is somehow wrongfully burdening exceptionally upstanding citizens with undue trouble. That’s a deeply flawed misunderstanding of God’s character and human nature.

Our rebellion against God plunged his perfect creation into its current state—a world of great beauty that also bears sin’s terrible scars, which manifest into hardships and adversities (Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 8:18-23). Ultimately, we have no one to blame but ourselves for the trials of life.

Scripture, in fact, consistently bears witness to a far more magnificent viewpoint. Yes, bad things happen to people—even terrible, unexplainably awful tragedies. But in his divine sovereignty, mercy, and love, our loving Creator takes the wretched consequences of sin and “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them,” as today’s verse says.

In his mysterious wisdom, God allows us to endure trials. But Christians can consider them “all joy” because we know they are ultimately for our spiritual good. The Lord flips the script on sin’s curse out of his great love for us!

Now What?

Prayerfully thank God that he sovereignly ordains a good purpose in the trials of all believers.

Did You Know?

James 1:12 tells us that “God blesses those who patiently endure testing” by blessing them with “the crown of life” in eternity.