My Journey’s My Own

Why do bad things happen to good people? A devotional….

Cancer, illness, death, natural disasters, 9/11, I could go on and on. But the one underlying word that is said when things like this happen is “Why?” and if you’re a Christian you may ask “Why did God let this happen?”

I’ve asked this question myself. But lately, after an unimaginable personal tragedy, I have been re-evaluating my thinking. It’s occurred to me that there are several reasons NOT to ask why God allowed these things to happen. We need to change it to “How is God going to lift me out of this?”

A little history.

Lucifer (Latin for “light-bringer” or “morning star”) fell and became Satan (Hebrew for “accuser” or “adversary”). He was an archangel in heaven but he was vain and thought he should be God’s equal. This caused him to be cast out of heaven and out of God’s presence. (Isaiah 14:12-17 & Ezekiel 28: 12-15) The Bible goes on to describe Satan as the “God of this age and Ruler of this world” I won’t go into why God did this as there is obviously no known reason, but it’s done.

So here’s my thought process. If Satan was given rein over the earth then shouldn’t we assume that it’s Satan that brings all the sadness to this world? 🤯

We know we have a loving GOD (1John 4:19) and if He loves us He wouldn’t make us suffer just to save us. That’s the definition of a narcissist, and I hope to hell our God isn’t that!

The only thing left, then, is that Satan is to blame. As much as people don’t want to say his name or think of him you can’t have one without the other. He is literally spoken about in the Bible, he is real (Matthew 4:1). Therefore we must believe he is here and has power. Who else would take a child away from their parents, or cause horrid sickness and famine, cause Cancer to be a thing and make loving people suffer so? Not GOD!

So no, this is not God’s plan. His plan is to save and to heal. He is bringing us up through the ashes of our sadness and pain. He is the one who is carrying us through the fires of this life and welcoming us home when we leave it. His plan is never to hurt but to save. To still give us our free will and to simply pick up the pieces when those natural consequences follow. He is the ultimate parent.

Anyone who has parented a teenager knows that you can raise them the “right” way and they will still make decisions you don’t agree with. With those decisions come natural consequences. They are the same situation. Just as we will help our kids and pick up the pieces it’s the same with God.

Going forward I will no longer ask God “Why?” when bad things happen, I will ask him instead….”How will you bring me out of this darkness?”

I hope you will join me.

Because God didn’t take my son from me, he welcomed him home with open arms. He will forever be safe and he will forever be 16. #TeamAlex

Actions/Questions

How many times have you been angry at God for something you thought he created?

Have you forgiven Him for this?

The next time you encounter hardship pray for God to come and aide you and to give you comfort.

Verses

Isaiah 14:12-17 ” How you have fallen from heaven morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?”

Ezekiel 28: 12-15 ” You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.”

1John 4:19 ” We love because he first loved us.”

Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”