Why Do Bad Things Happen?
When trouble arises, the most natural thing to do is to place the blame for it on someone or something. Sadly, many Christians have been falsely accusing God of being the cause of their troubles. They wrongly believe that trials and tribulations are God’s tools for developing and strengthening our character. Even worse, they may have been taught that God, Himself, is the author of our troubles or that God is the One who makes us sick in order to teach us something.
This is absolutely against the Word of God. Why? Because the very basic principle of the Christian life is to know that God put our sin, sickness, disease, sorrow, grief and poverty on Jesus at Calvary. For God to put any of this on us now to teach us or to strengthen our faith would be a miscarriage of justice. To believe that God has a purpose for sickness would mean that Jesus bore our sickness in vain. What an insult to His love, care and compassion for us!
Death and destruction do not reflect God’s intention for us. God originally placed Adam and Eve in a wonderful garden and gave them dominion over all creation. Ultimately, through their disobedience they gave the dominion they had over to the devil (Genesis 1:26-31, 3; Romans 5:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4). In response to man’s sin, the ground became cursed (Genesis 3:17) and the whole of creation became subject to corruption (Romans 8:20-21). Now, there is an outlaw loose on the earth whose name is Satan. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief [Satan] cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Those scriptures speak for themselves. It is your decision whether you want to be the head and not the tail.
God is always looking to turn our situation around for His good. Romans 8:28 tells us, “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love [Him].” Because God is often able to use those situations for good to teach and correct man, some have wrongly credited Him for the harassment. We can learn from our mistakes and even from negative circumstances, but this is not the primary way God teaches us. God has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to teach us (John 14:26, 16:13). The Bible says, “Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness…so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17.
The truth is that bad things happen for multiple reasons, and only the Holy Spirit can reveal the source of trouble in any particular situation. Trouble can be caused by bad choices (Deuteronomy 30:19), the sinful nature of men (James 4:1-10), the devil and demonic forces (John 10:10), and the forces of nature that have been corrupted because sin entered the earth (Matthew 24:7). James 4:1-10 tells us violence, wars and fightings come from the hearts of men. The wicked deeds of the flesh are described in Galatians 5:19-21. Satan draws upon and gains entrance through these sins lodged in men’s hearts and many have been used as instruments of violence, wrath and destruction. Many people choose to reject the counsel of God and the results of those actions bring about death.
Jesus said He came to destroy the works of the devil and to bring abundant life. The responsibility of the Body of Christ is to enforce God’s will in the earth. Despite what the enemy tries to use against us, we can rest assured that we are not powerless! Everything which pertains to life and godliness belongs to the believer. We can take up our shield of faith and thwart all his fiery darts. The weapons of our warfare are not of this world, but are mighty through God to pull down strongholds. Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper!”
In order to choose life and blessing, we must choose the Word of God, for it is life! We have to become Word-minded instead of trouble-minded, and life-minded instead of death-minded. We have to become single-minded on the Word of God. We become Word-minded when we realize that He who raised Jesus from the dead is residing in us, and He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world.
Pray this prayer of confession to acknowledge your decision to choose life and to stand on the Word of God:
Today I will be single-minded on God and His Word. I make the decision to choose life and blessing in Christ Jesus. I decide to win and overcome through Him. Because I’ve made this decision, I come out on top! There are times when I will have to stand and be patient and consistent in the Word of God, and I will be—for I know the truth and the truth makes me free. The Word of God says the Holy Spirit dwells within me and He will bear witness with my spirit. He will teach me all things, guide me into all truth and show me those things which are to come. Today I hold up the shield of faith which quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And today I stand with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, for it is life. I have chosen life!
Prayer References: James 1:6-8; Deuteronomy 30:19; James 1:4; John 8:32; Romans 8:16; John 14:26; Ephesians 6:16-17
Written with permission from Kenneth Copeland Ministries©