Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Why did God take my baby?
Why did God take my daddy?
If God is all powerful, then why doesn’t He do something about the evil in the world?
If God is a loving God, then why does He allow the innocent to suffer?

The lists of valid complaints could go on and on. This is a difficult topic for most people and it is probably one of the most common excuses for rejecting God.

I believe for most people, this will always be a problem until they come to a realization of the irony of the question. If there is any good in this world, it can always be traced to the influence of God. Yet we who believe we have any measure of fairness and justice in our hearts, which origin can only have come from God find ourselves in an arrogant position of judging God. This doesn’t necessarily answer the question, but I would hope it would bring us to a more humble perspective.

It is difficult to find an answer to a question if you are predisposed to reject every answer that you are unable to understand. Understanding cannot come without an open mind and you cannot know the Truth without an open heart.

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
(Matthew 19:17)

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
(Romans 5:12)

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
(Romans 3:10)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
(James 1:17)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
(1 Peter 5:8)

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
(2 Peter 3:9)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(John 3:16-19)

A harden heart will always be unable to accept the Truth but yet it shakes its hands in anger against a God it refuses to know. We might be surprised to find out what we blame God for is also what God holds us accountable for. You might even consider why God would teach us to pray the following prayer?

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
(Matthew 6:10)

The problem with getting a satisfactory answer to this question is that there is a misdirection of blame. I am not saying the the innocent are to blame for the evil that befalls them, but we may want to consider why the devil needs to seek whom he may devour.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
(Luke 13:34)

The voice of Wisdom in Proverbs 8:36 makes a bold statement. I would actually recommend reading the whole chapter.

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
(Proverbs 8:36)


I do not consider myself to know everything, but I do love to consider knowing Him who knows everything.

Clay in the Hands of the Potter.