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Over the lifespan of humanity, this is a question that has plagued so many. People often wonder, “If I am a good person…If I make good decisions…then why do bad things happen to me?”
Innately, we believe that bad things should only happen to those that “deserve” it. Unfortunately, this is not the way that life truly works.
While doing my Bible reading, there was a story that gave me a different perspective on why bad things happen to good people.
The Blind Man
In John 9:1-12, there is a story of a man that was blind from birth.
The disciples were curious and asked Jesus why this man was born blind? As they searched for their own answers, the disciples wondered if it was this man had some sin that caused him to experience this “bad” in his life.
Well, since the man was born blind and an innocent baby at the inception of his disability, obviously, his sin could not put him in this state.
Next, the disciples wondered if it was the sins of this blind man’s parents that caused his disability. The passage points out the man’s parents were at least church-going people.
In verse 22, it shows these parents were afraid of testifying because they did not want to be expelled from the synagogue.
Simply put, this family did not consist of bad people. We had an innocent baby and church-going parents, but yet, they bore a son that was blind.
Now before you go thinking, the disciples were silly for asking Jesus if there was some wrong that led to this man’s state.
Don’t we sometimes ask God these same kinds of questions?
Questions like:
- God, why did my business fail when I did everything right?
- Why was I born into an abusive family?
- Why did you allow sickness to afflict me?
- Why did you allow me to get into this bad marriage?
- Did I do something to cause all of this?
Some may even wonder:
- Maybe if my parents were different, this would not have happened.
- Perhaps if I made better decisions.
- Maybe if I didn’t sin.
Just maybe….
The Answer
The answer is that we live in a broken world. For as long as we live on this earth, we will experience hardships and trials.
Your behavior will never be the sole determinant of your life experiences, good or bad. There is no such thing as, “If I make all the right decisions, then I will live an easy life free of troubles.”
Actually, The Bible tells us this.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NLT)
Despite these hardships, as believers in Christ, we are guaranteed eternal life and that we can lean on God to be our strength in life’s difficulties.
Here is some good news.
Even in the worst of circumstances, even when we question why do bad things happen to good people, God desires to use the bad. Ultimately the good, bad, and ugly all come together for the good of those that love God.
How you may wonder?
Well ….
God’s Power Being Displayed
Back to our story.
While I’m sure Jesus could have given the disciples many answers, He said, “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins….This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”
God in His all-knowingness knew there was a day coming when His power would need to be displayed. While He did not strike the child with blindness, God knew that He could use this “bad” to display His power.
Miracles are created in impossible circumstances. If you have never been in a situation that was simply impossible to overcome on your own, how would you know it was the power of God that got you out?
God’s power is perfected in human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
This is why God often used those that were barren to give birth. Those that were poor to do great exploits. Those that were young to demonstrate His power.
Onlookers Coming to Christ
God did not just display His power for the sake of doing it. Being God, He knew that several onlookers would need proof that He is God before coming into a relationship with Him.
God desires every human being on earth, not only to live their best life but their best eternity. The only way that this can happen is when you and I choose to believe in Jesus and accept Him into our lives.
This miracle of the blind mind opened the hearts of so many others that witnessed it. This is what God wants to do with your own personal defeat.
Although you may be in a bad situation, God desires to bring you out so that your unsaved family and friends stand in awe of what God did in your life.
This can ultimately soften their hearts to let God into their personal lives.
Breakthrough For Future Generations
Not only will your family and friends hear about the miracle that came from what you perceived as bad, but even generations to come.
Those that walk after you will hear your story, all because the power of God showed up in a way that is unfathomed to the human mind.
Imagine, over 2,000 years later, we are still talking about the blind man. All because something bad happened to someone good.
While I do not have all the answers to why do bad things happen to good people, I do know that God is the Master of producing good out of bad.
In the end, when it’s all said and done, God will make it all make sense, and He will get the Glory out of any bad you may experience in your life as long as you let HIm.
As always…
Be strong, Be courageous, Serve God Wholeheartedly.
Gilberta Thompson
