“Why Do Bad Things Happen To Me?”

We don’t know God’s plans. Life seems so filled with uncertainty sometimes, that we forget who is in control. We forget who we are, children of God, and we ask, “Why do bad things happen to me?”

God Uses Trying Times to Test and Strengthen Our Faith

God allows trials in our lives to mold us into who he wants us to be. James writes about how to deal with times of trial. James 1: 2- 12 says:

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything…. ⁹The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. ¹⁰But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. ¹²Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Consider it pure joy! This requires that we give up control of our lives to God. Is life messing with our plans? Well, there’s your problem. You had plans of your own. We can consider bad things happening to us pure joy, because we know that they are part of God’s plan to draw us closer to him. It will happen if we remember our first course of action, whether things are going well or badly: go to Him!

Philippians 4:4-7 ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God Uses Bad Things That Happen To Us For His Glory

Romans 12:1 says that we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices. Our lives are altars and every day is an offering to him that we place on the altar. Sometimes he pours water on the altar of our lives as Elijah poured water on the altar when he was challenging Ahab and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel 1 Kings 18. They poured twelve large jars’ worth of water on the altar, soaking the wood and the offering and filling a large trench of water around the altar. The miracle God worked by sending fire down from heaven to consume the altar would have been amazing enough, but God used Elijah’s water to really show his glory. The people who were there “fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!’” (verse 39) Our sacrifice is that much more pleasing to God because we stayed true to him while going through hard times. When things just seem to be pure chaos around us, one bad thing after another, praise God, because he’s getting ready to show how faithful he is!

Times of Tribulation Give Us A Great Testimony

We are called by Scripture to give our testimony to those around us. “Why do bad things happen to me?” So that God can give you a better testimony. When you call on God’s Name during the hard times in life, you can rest assured that he will see you through them. Then you can share that experience with others who are also going through bad things in their lives.

God Uses All Things For Our Good

If you have a relationship with God, then hopefully you love him more than anything in this world. God honors that love. You are precious to him, and one way or another, God will use your hard times for the good of those who love him…

Romans 8:28-30 ²⁸And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Of course, it’s important to note that, again, we don’t know God’s plans. It may not be evident how getting in that car accident will be used for good, but we can have faith that it will. Also, bear in mind that God may use something of misfortune to you in order to bless someone else. If our hearts are in the right place, we can praise God for that too!

God Never Leaves Us When Bad Things Happen To Us

You’ve probably recited or at least read Psalm 23 before, maybe hundreds of times, but for some reason, when bad things happen to us, we frequently seem to forget what it says, and we feel alone. Remember…

Psalm 23
¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

And Psalm 139 reminds us that no matter where we go, we cannot be parted from His Spirit:

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

So, “Why do bad things happen to me?” The answer is, so that God can be God in your life. If something bad has happened to you, and you’re hurting, know that he is there and that he loves you. He hurts because you’re hurting. His love for you knows no bounds. Jesus died for your sins.  He loved you that much. After that, everything else is temporary and unimportant, and will pass away. Only God remains and he is enough.