| Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People? |
| Written by Matt Hellstrom | |
| Sunday, 01 February 2009 | |
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There is a lot of pain and suffering in this world, and sometimes it seems that God just sits back and watches and doesn't care. Why is that? I don't know if we're ever going to find an answer to that question while we're still alive, but I'd like to give my opinion.
There is a lot of pain and suffering in this world, and sometimes it seems that God just sits back and watches and doesn't care. Why is that? I don't know if we're ever going to find an answer to that question while we're still alive, but I'd like to give my opinion. Why does it seem like God doesn't want good things for me? Why wouldn't he want me to have good health, and to be happy and safe? Why wouldn't he want me to have enough income to pay my bills, help my kids with school, and go on a vacation once in a while? It doesn't seem like these things are that much to ask for. I don't think He's that concerned with these things because there is something that is much more important to Him. I've read many books by Dr. Larry Crabb, best-selling author, psychologist, and counselor, and while they are always excellent and insightful, most of the ones I've read have been kind of hard for me to follow, because they're so intellectual. Some of the books he's written are "The Marriage Builder", "Inside Out", and "Finding God". Recently, I discovered another book by Dr. Crabb called "Shattered Dreams - God's Unexpected Pathway to Joy". I started reading it and I realized it was different than the others I've read by him. It was actually much easier to read, and I could tell from the writing style that this book was intimately important to him, that he had really lived what he was writing here. The premise of this book is that joy and happiness are two distinctly different things. Most of us believe that the most important thing that we can have is happiness. Plenty of money, a loving spouse and obedient kids, good health, a good job, a nice house, etc. The list could be quite long. But my belief is that this isn't necessarily what God wants for us. What God really wants for us is to have joy. While that may include happiness, it doesn't mean it has to. In fact, the Bible does say that as we like to give good things to our children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him! So why doesn't he always give us those things? It's because sometimes they hinder us from experiencing the true joy of knowing Him. You see, when we achieve that point of supposed happiness, where we have the earthly things that we desire, sometimes we become content with that and don't seek God anymore. Or we might become so involved in hanging onto that happiness that it consumes all of our time, and keeps us from relationship with God. Therefore, God is willing to allow to experience some suffering to build that relationship. How we react to this pain is what determines whether we'll have joy or not. Most of us will do whatever is necessary to minimize the pain. "Shattered Dreams" encourages us to allow ourselves to feel that pain, to mourn, and to grieve. It is in the midst of these trials, and on the other side of them, that we encounter God, and only then are we able to experience the true joy that He desires. It is not comfortable or fun, but it is ultimately the only true path to joy, and in my opinion, the reason that bad things happen to good people, and why God allows suffering. The Article Author: Matt Hellstrom is a husband and father of five wonderful adopted children. Here are some tips for effective parenting skills that Matt has discovered in the last 15 years. You can learn his feelings about why God allows suffering. |
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