Why do BAD Things Happen to GOOD People?
“Why does God let bad things happen?”… There has been a lot of deception surrounding these important questions. Honestly, how do you trust someone with the secret things if you believe they might do something damaging to “teach” you a lesson? You don’t! This shadow-question is a MAJOR wall against the three things we’ve been studying: intimacy, peace, and hearing God speak.
“How can a God who is loving and good, allow bad things to happen?” This was July 2013. I woke up from a vivid dream, where God had expressed His heart. In the quiet before dawn, He wanted to talk about it with me. (Confirming the spoken word through the Bible)
First He said: Life and death are set before mankind. (Deuteronomy 30:19) “I do not want them loosing their health, relationships... and finances. So I urgently told them the answer: ‘Choose life, that you and your descendants might live.’” He went on to emphasize, “I came that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly, to the full, until it overflows. If it’s not overflowing, inquire of Me what you should do.”
So He (Jesus) said to them, "When you pray, say: … Your will be done (your ideas and plans for today be done) on earth as it is in heaven. - Luke 11:2
Ask Him His will… “He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you… Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.” - Isaiah 30: 19, 21 (NKJ)
Why do bad things happen to people? Some people say, “Everything happens for a reason, and that God is in control of everything.” Everything does happen for a reason: it’s called choices.
God, who is in control, put the power of choice into men’s hands. If bad decisions are made, how can God be accused for our choice when tragedy follows?
There is a devil and he, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” John 10:10 Don’t give him that opportunity through your choices.
When my sister’s horse died of a chronic respiratory disease, God had been dealing with me about my hatred for a particular dog for a while. “General” had harassed my babies (the horses) and I hated him for it, absolutely refusing to forgive. Listen to me, all choices that lead to death are rooted in sin (obvious or not) All Sin equals Disobedience to God’s instructions.
The months leading up to Merry’s death, God had also been teaching me about doing the works of Jesus and raising the dead. It is so obvious now that He was trying to lead me and prepare me for the storm ahead…
August 10, 2012 came and I felt like Peter, “If you ask me to come, I will jump out of this boat and walk on the water.” I believed and jumped where raising the dead was concerned. The atmosphere was so thick with the glory of God, and the anointing on me to do this thing – I could not deny it. But as I obeyed and did what God told me to do, I looked up and the waves came… That black dog came sauntering up to the grave and peed on a nearby tree. Hatred rippled across my heart and I chose death. In an instant, the power that had been so thick in the atmosphere around me dissolved…. I failed when the test came because I chose death over and over instead of life/forgiveness. This should not have ended this way… You know, it was not until later that I saw the answer to all this and the importance of choices/obedience (in this case forgiveness.) The problem is NEVER with God! He didn’t let me down. He warned but I chose to follow my feelings!
For a long time after, my soul was tender and asking questions and yet not wanting to look.
You may still be asking questions…questions that you are still trying to file in your mind… why did this and that happen? Through seeds of uncertainty, faith is shaken. “Why didn’t God…?”
THIS IS IMPORTANT: No matter how painful it is to look at failure, hurt, or delays in your life - don’t accuse God! You trap your healing by doing so. You imprison your happiness and invite all stages of depression by blaming. This will fester like a tumor into every area – all because a snake got you to believe your Savior is responsible. Moreover, by running from the past, from feelings, and failure, you take failure into tomorrow. Failure is not a location; it is a mindset. Until confronted, the baggage will follow wherever you go. Questions and hurt are faced by TRUTH. God’s word equals TRUTH throughout all times, space, and happenings. (John 17:17) “Let God be true and every man a liar [including you].” (Romans 3:4)
His word will even cut through the lies you’ve told yourself because you don’t want to hurt anymore. (Hebrews 4:12)
The Unfiled ANSWER… “Why God…” This question needs to finally be put to rest.
TRUTH declares: God is very passionately in love with (you). He’s not going to kill or harm you to “teach” you something. What a demonic, and abusive father that would be! And He’s not out to squash your hopes and dreams. Any good father wants to advance his children. When they make mistakes, he doesn’t discipline them with hostility! He DISCIPLES them, or in other words: teaches them. Sin’s consequences aren't dealt out by God. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, walking about seeking whom he may devour. (John 10:10) If your Dad says don’t touch the stove and you touch it, did your Dad burn you? No the stove’s heat did. Sin will burn you. All disobedience = sin, even something “little” like staying to talk to him/her when God said “walk away”.
Today, if you hear Him knocking, don’t harden your heart – no matter what it’s about. That is your Shepherd’s voice guiding you around pitfalls into green pastures (in your relationships, money, health, etc…) Psalms 23
“For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: "Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness…” - Psalms 95:7-8 (NKJ)
"…I have set before you (the power to choose) life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;” - Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJ)
Two months after Alicia’s horse died, my horse literally got himself poisoned. By his symptoms, the vet books declared he’d be dead in 24 hours. I had just been through the previous defeat and my heart felt afraid. But this time, I chose life… Long story short, I obeyed my God’s instructions and saw a miracle. God is no respecter of persons… it has to do with faith, and choosing life.
Cut loose the past. You have no need of it. God’s the God of new beginnings and unfailing mercy. (Ps 100:5, 145:8) These are the LAST days… and you have been brought into the kingdom for such a time.
Philippians 3:12-15 - “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. (NKJ)
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