CD - The Third Petition - Romans 8:28

Why do bad things happen to good people is the question we often hear and even ask? The problem is, that this question is a wrong question. The question begins with a wrong assumption, that is that we are good people. The fact is, we are not good people. We are by nature spiritually blind, spiritually dead and enemies of God. We are “shapen in iniquity and conceived in sin” (Ps. 51:5). We are born with original sin and to that we add our actual sins, our sins of omission and our sins of commission. We daily sin much and are in need of God’s forgiveness.

The question we should ask, then, is this, “why do good things happen to bad and sinful people?” The answer to that question brings us back to God’s will. God’s will is that all people are saved. God’s will is that only the best things happen to us. God’s will is always what is best for us. And we should add, God’s will is always what is best for us according to what He knows is best for us. God’s usual way of working with us, the way He “likes” to work with us, is through the Gospel. God’s alien work is the work of the Law. We see this time and again in the Bible when God threatens to punish and then we are told that He “changes” His mind. God is changeless, so how can He change His mind. Of course, we are trying to put God into human words and that is our first difficulty. It is hard to express the unexpressible. The point is, however, that God is always looking for ways to show us His great love for us. His greatest way of showing His love is that He gave His Son to give His life for ours on the cross.

Paul says it well in our Bible reading, God works out the best in all circumstances for those who love Him and who have been called according to His purposes. We may not see what good is coming out of any given situation while we are in the middle of it. Maybe we will never know what good is coming out of any particular situation. Sometimes it is not until weeks, months, even years later that we finally realize what good God works out for us. The fact is, God’s will is always the best for us and He always works out His will for us. As we think about the “bad” things that happen to us and as we recall the “good” things that happen to us, we will want to think about them in connection with God’s good and gracious will. As we pray for strength in any given situation we also pray for God’s will. The difficult part is that we need to also pray, “Lord, help me to abide by Your will.” As the man who came to Jesus for healing for his son said, “Lord I do believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

Our Father in heaven, forgive me when I doubt that You will work out the best in any and every situation in life that I face. Lord, I do believe, help my unbelief. To You be the glory for Jesus’ sake. Amen.