College Writing
Eng. 101
11/16/95
Why DO bad things happen to good people. This is an age old question, that for years
has stumped even the best of scholars.
The thing people need to realize is that there is no black or white, yes
or no answer to this question. It can not be analyzed, or sorted out by
scientists or analysts to create a simple why or why not answer for the lay
person. The simple fact is, heartache,
tragedy, and suffering is something that everyone experiences. The thing people need to grasp hold of is
understanding and the dealing of these tragedies when they arise.
Take the story of a man named Job for
example. Twenty-five hundred years ago
when the earth was ridden by sin and disarray Satan appeared to God and told
him to look at all the sin that was going on in the world. Gods simple reply to that was, Yes, but have
you observed my servant Job? He is
obedient and faithful to me even though all around him are sinning against
me."
"The reason for that is because of all
that you give to him! Take from him all
that you have granted , and then see how loyal he is", replied Satan.
"Very well", said God," It is
done." And with that, he accepted
Satan's challenge. With out warning to
Job, God destroyed Jobs house, killed his children, and slaughtered Job's
cattle. He then cursed Job with painful
boils all over his skin, so to make his every movement filled with excruciating
pain. Many times Job's wife asked him
why he didn't just curse God, and ensue Gods wrath to strike him dead. Job's friends told him to denounce his faith
in God, after all look where it got him.
Yet Job remained faithful to God's will.
When God saw how devoted and trustworthy this humble servant was to him,
he appeared to Job and rewarded him with a new home, new children, and a new
fortune. God came through for a servant
who was faithful and true. Most people
in this situation would have questioned God at the first sign of problems. Job on the other hand knew that God had a
plan for his life, and that the things that were happening to him, all though
painful, were all part of God's intricate plan.
Job put his trust in God even in the worst of circumstances, and God
rewarded him for his faithfulness.
Where is God when things in your life just
aren't making any sense? Is he even
around all the time, or is it just at his convenience? How much does he really care about the little
stuff? These questions pose a great,
thought provoking topic! The fact is,
God is there all the time. He does interact
with us on a daily basis- especially in four specific areas.1
1. God
is working in our lives, even when it seems like he isn't listening or it seems
like he has taken an extended vacation from your life.
Whether it seems like it or not, God is always
working in your life. His intricate plan
is constantly being spun out. Just
because there may be a point in your life where it seems like things are going
slow or that it seems like God isn't working, doesn't mean that he isn't. "With God, even when nothing is
happening-something is happening."2
That is the cool thing about God.
He is always at work in our lives in his own unique way, even when our
prayers seem to be going
unanswered. It is important that your
faith in God is not based on ephemeral emotions, but on the authority of the
written Word.3 Jesus told us that he
would never leave us(Matthew 28:20).4 He
said, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am
also."(Matthew 18:20).5 He is
"a friend that sticks closer than a brother."(Proverbs 18:24).6 God promises to us time and time again in his
Word that he will always be there for us no matter what the circumstances. All we need to do is call on his name and he
will answer.
2. God's
has his timing all planned out and it is always perfect, even when he seems way
off!
Dr. James Dobson once said, "One of the
greatest destroyers of faith is timing that doesn't fit our preconceived
notions. We live in a fast paced world
where we have come to expect instant responses to every desire and need. Instant coffee. Instant potatoes. Instant cash from the
little money machine. Instant relief for
sore muscles and minor backache. It's
all most our birthright to make the world jump at our demands. But God doesn't operate that way. He is never in a hurry. And sometimes, He can be agonizingly slow in
solving the problems we bring to his attention.
It's almost enough to make an impatient believer give up and try
something else."7 It could not have
been said any better. The whole thing
that God want's to know is, how much do we really trust him? Will we ever give up on him just because
things aren't going our way? Take the
story of Lazurus for an example.
Lazurus, a very good friend and devoted follower of Jesus, had become deathly
ill. His sisters, Mary and Martha sent
for the aid of Jesus in their time of need.
For days they watched for Jesus, and for days they saw no one. After days of no response from Jesus, and a
steady decline of health, Lazurus died.
His sisters were grief stricken!
"Why didn't Jesus answer our call?
Doesn't he care?" The fact
is, Jesus cared more than anyone. He
appeared then four days later to the tomb of Lazurus, and called him fourth
from the tomb. You see, Jesus was not
late at all. By His clock he was right
on time. He had used the resurrection of
Lazurus as a display of God's great powers to on looking unbelievers. God let everything play out in his own sweet
time. And He will do the same for you if
you just let him.
3. For
some odd reason, we are incredibly important and precious to God.
After all the trouble that we give God. After all of the times we turn our backs on
him, after all of the crap that we put him through, he still loves us very
much. He would have it no other way. God knows everything about us and cares for
us no matter what we do to him. Psalms
139 says: "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you
perceive my thoughts from afar. You
discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my
ways."8 You see Jesus knows
everything, and everything has already been planned. We can't tell him what is what. That isn't the way it works. His plan is the final law and we have to
trust him and follow his guidience. If
we do this then he promises that he will work everything out for us in the end.
4. You
can't fight with God and hope to win. It
just doesn't work that way.
Picture if you will Richard Simmons, and Myke
Tyson going head to head. Who would win? Um... if you guessed Richard Simmons then I
think you need to loose some unwanted fat...between your ears! This crazy little senario is just a hint of
what it is like for us to try to "box" with God. We can't win!
We can not demand from God. He will
reveal in his own sweet time. I mean he
is the creator of the universe! I think
he has that right! God is a very loving
and caring God, but one thing he does not mess around with is demands. Don't be upset if God doesn't grant a request
or a plea from you. If he closes the
door in your face don't be upset! Know that it was done for a reason, and that
he played out the "peices" just like he wanted too. If we trust in the Lord will all our ming
soul, and strength then he will lead us where he want's to. And a person in God's will, is a person on
their way to heaven.
When heartache, and problems arise it is
important to remember that God is doing everything for a reason. Seek him and know that he is holy. He want's to lead the life that he has given
you in the direction that he want's to.
Just put all your trust in him and remember, he does care for you and
will be there for you. Even when
"bad things happen to good people"(you!).
WORKS CITED
1 Dr. James Dobson, Holding On To Your Faith-Even
When God Does't Make Sense. (Tyndale House Publisher, Inc.: c1993) 45.
2 Dobson 49.
3 Dobson 49.
4 The Illustrated Bible, Living Values
Edition,(David C. Cook Publishing Co.: c1989) Matthew 28:20.
5 The Illustrated Bible, Matthew 18:20.
6 The Illustrated Bible, Proverbs 18:24.
7 Dobson 50.
8 The Illustrated Bible, Psalms 139.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Harold S. Kushner, When Bad Things Happen to
Good People, Schocken Books, Inc.: c1981.
The Illustrated Bible, Living Values Edition,
David C. Cook Publishing Co.: c1989.
Dr. James Dobson, Holding On To Your Faith-Even
When God Dosen't Make Sense, Tyndale House Publisher, Inc.: c1993.
Lewis B. Smedes, Forgive and Forget, Harper and
Row Publishers, Inc.: c1984.
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