Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

To start off the World’s Biggest Small Group, Wally shares how this question kept him from following God for a long time. He shares how he wrestled with it and the powerful conclusion he came to.

One of the biggest questions that holds people back in their faith is, “If God is good, why do bad things happen to good people?”

Truth be told, this very question kept me estranged from God for many years. What is so interesting about this question is, in addition to the question of suffering, it also includes our sense of justice. Why do bad things happen to good people? In our minds we can almost justify or wrap our heads around bad things happening to bad people. However, the reality is, God loves us all the same and does not make any distinction between good or bad people with regard to both blessing and suffering.

Matthew 5:45 says, “For He gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” So where does that leave us? The question is still out there, and the truth is I don’t have a definitive answer. While I was wrestling with this question I had a pastor tell me, “People suffer so that God can be glorified.” I took a minute to process this and then exclaimed, “Are you kidding me, what kind of narcissist would intentionally cause people to suffer just so He could receive praise?”

Enter 6 more months of me not following God…