Why Do Bad Things Happen To People?

April 2024

   “God allows bad things so we can be different,” says Matthew, age 9.

   Matthew, aren’t there better ways of being different?

   “Some of the people are bad, and some are good,” says Grant, 8.

   Bad stuff happens to good and bad people, but an extraordinary amount of bad comes to those who reap the consequences of their own bad actions. I love the old cowboy movies because the bad guys always got what was coming to them. Wouldn’t it be great if real life were that simple?

   Is it OK to pray that bad guys who refuse to change will get it? King David did: “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I escape safely.” (Psalm 141:10).

   “God knows we were born to sin,” says Reece, 8. Yes, a lot of bad things happen because we live in a world where people sin. But we shouldn’t think God overlooks our sin just because we inherit the tendency to sin from our original parents, Adam and Eve. Sometimes, “bad” things happen to Christians because God is correcting us and bringing us back to His way (Hebrews 12:5-6).

   A lot of bad things happen when Christians believe lies about their true identity. If you believe you’re a sinner, guess what you’re going to do.

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