QUESTION: Why Do Bad Things Happen?

This is a fundamental question of life. For many people, the question implies, “Why does God allow bad things to happen?” But that’s wrong thinking. We will never understand why bad things happen without first understanding that death and destruction are definitely not God’s will for mankind. God created man to be good, and He placed man in a wonderful garden—but through willful sin, mankind has fallen away and is now in need of salvation (Genesis 1:26-31; Genesis 3).

God gave man dominion over the earth to bless it, but when man sinned he gave the dominion he had over to the devil (Romans 5:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Now, there is an outlaw loose on the earth whose name is Satan. Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Terrible events, natural disasters and catastrophes can be caused by many things. These include 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). The Bible in James 4:1-10 tells us violence, wars and fighting’s come from the hearts of men. Many people choose to reject the counsel of God, and the results of those actions bring about death.

When bad things happen, cast all your care on God for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).  He will keep you in perfect peace as your mind is stayed (or fixed) on Him (Isaiah 26:3). Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper!”

Don’t let any situation rob you of what you know about God’s love and His faithfulness to His Word. God is a good God all the time (Psalm 145:9). He has said, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:1). Nothing and no one can change that.